Undergraduate ocean projects course

Abstract

The ocean engineering projects course at the University of New Hampshire was begun in 1965-66 and has been funded since 1968-69 by the SEAGRANT Office of NOAA. It is the only academic year undergraduate education program sponsored by SEAGRANT. The projects course provides the undergraduate student with an educational experience that he would not normally receive in his academic program the experience of working as a member of an interdisciplinary team on a meaningful problem (ocean-related) under real-world constraints. Projects are of three basic types: those that lead to a piece of working hardware to solve a technological ocean problem, those that involve the gathering and analysis of biological and geological data, and those that are comprehensive studies of an ocean-oriented societal problem with recommendations for action. Under the guidance of a faculty adviser, each student team defines a problem, prepares and submits a budget, engages in dialogue with experts in the ocean community, makes progress reports, and writes a comprehensive final report. In addition, students on hardware-oriented projects deal with vendors and design, build and test prototype models, whereas students in non-hardware-oriented projects meet with local, state, and federal officials , do comprehensive library searches and often conduct appropriate surveys. In May, each project group makes an oral presentation and defense of its work, with visual aids, before a jury of experts drawn from the various sectors of the ocean community.