Somewhere in the waters off the coast of Panama, a device built right here on campus is watching sharks swim by.

Student Raj S. '27 designed and built this device — a Baited Remote Underwater Video System, or BRUVS — for MarAlliance, a nonprofit that partners with local fishing communities to protect marine wildlife in places like Panama, Mexico, and Belize. Raj first got interested in marine conservation during a service trip to Belize, where he saw firsthand the challenges facing organizations like MarAlliance and the fisher communities they serve. He also learned about a problem MarAlliance's scientists were trying to solve: their existing equipment kept failing, damaged by saltwater and by the very animals it was meant to observe. For a small research team, a broken camera deep in the ocean means lost data and lost time. They needed a more reliable, transport-friendly tool.

With skills gained in LWHS's metal shop and tech arts program, Raj proposed a solution: sturdier BRUVS built from non-rusting materials like aluminum and stainless steel, designed to survive real ocean conditions. He believed a durable, galvanized device would help scientists and fishing communities more reliably monitor fish and gather valuable data. Inspired, he applied for, and received, an HHH Fund grant to turn his idea into reality.

With funding secured, Raj spent a year designing and fabricating prototypes, working closely with teacher Jeremy Kaplan and staying in regular contact with MarAlliance's team to ensure his designs would meet the demands of their fieldwork. Raj and Mr. Kaplan tried a few different ideas, ultimately landing on a collapsible BRUVS design, so the devices would be less bulky and easier to transport than existing models.

Their iterative process paid off: this summer, Raj finished building two BRUVS and coordinated their delivery to Panama. MarAlliance and local fishers installed them off the coast of Las Perlas, a stretch of coastline that serves as nursery grounds for tiger sharks and home to one of the last known populations of the endangered large-tooth sawfish.

His devices are collecting footage there right now, helping MarAlliance and local fishers understand what's living beneath the surface — and how to protect it. This is what the HHH Fund is for: empowering students to turn ideas into impact.

See a 360 of Raj's BRUVS device and watch some fish!