Floating classroom set to sail at UW-Superior

The University of Wisconsin-Superior is getting a new classroom — but you won’t find it in any of the buildings on campus.

It’s the Sadie Ann, a 65-foot lakegoing vessel described as a floating classroom. It’s currently getting its finishing touches at a Louisiana shipyard for delivery this spring. 

“What’s really unique about the Sadie Ann is she was designed with dual capacities in mind” — both as a scientific research vessel and a teaching environment, said Matthew TenEyck, the director of the university’s Lake Superior Research Institute, which will oversee its operation.

TenEyck spoke with WPR’s Robin Washington on “Morning Edition” about the vessel and its many anticipated uses. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Robin Washington: Other universities that study bodies of water have boats of their own. The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Large Lakes Observatory has the Blue Heron, which is actually docked in Superior and is shared with your institute. What’s different about the Sadie Ann? 

Matthew TenEyck: She’s being built to carry up to about 49 passengers. We wanted a boat that was stable for the typical person that doesn’t have their sea legs, and the architects suggested a catamaran hull, which differs from what you usually see on Lake Superior.

The other thing that’s unique is the propulsion system. There are two John Deere diesel engines and two electric motors from Belgium. So it’s a hybrid system that will run either diesel or battery power.

Hear the Sadie Ann’s horn

RW: How will the research institute use it?

MTE: The institute works to solve environmental problems. We believe the best way to train researchers is to get them to work hands-on with scientists as we collect water samples and try to understand near-shore and open-lake conditions.

While here in the Duluth-Superior area we’re all used to the western end of Lake Superior, it’s still a struggle for many folks to have access to the water. This will help solve that.

RW: You’ll also use it for general studies, correct? Such as with a liberal arts class like writing poetry about the lake?

MTE: Yes. It’s easy for people to see it being used in STEM education — science, technology, engineering and math. But there’s also a great opportunity to take students out who are studying humanities or the arts. What a great way to get out into the upper rivers or wetland areas to do some bird watching or drawing or painting. If you can dream it, we can do it. 

RW: How are you doing on budget and delivery?

MTE: It’s definitely on budget. The delivery is starting to slip a little bit. It’s always the case when you’re on the cutting edge of technology that you run into some challenges you didn’t see in the very beginning. We are anticipating the arrival in the spring of 2025. 

RW: Who named it the Sadie Ann?

MTE: It was the Swenson Family Foundation who are the contributors to the build. It’s named after Jim Swenson’’s mother Sadie Ann, a 1932 UW-Superior alumna. This is to honor her commitment to education.

If you have an idea about something in northern Wisconsin you think we should talk about on “Morning Edition,” send it to us at northern@wpr.org.