Feature: Designing People
Few would argue with the notion that a healthy commercial marine industry needs new naval architects entering the business of designing and engineering ships and offshore structures. New naval architects bring new technology and a fresh way of looking at old problems. The University of New Orleans School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) produces a dozen or so people per year who have mastered this very difficult subject. At any given time UNO has about 145 people enrolled in the NAME program leading to a Bachelor's degree, the most students in any program of its kind. The school also offers Master's and Doctorate degrees in the field. There are currently 18 students in the MS program and three in the aspiring Ph.D candidates. The first Ph.D was graduated in May 2003.
UNO Team Garners First Place in Watercraft Competition
A University of New Orleans engineering team sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ship Systems sector recently piloted its solar-powered electric boat to a first-place finish in the sprint division of Solar Splash 2003. fabrication and racing of solar-powered watercraft. The University of New Orleans team, sponsored by Ship Systems' Avondale Operations, won the Solar Splash sprint division for the fifth time in the past six years, covering the 300-meter race course in 25 seconds. This summer's Solar Splash competition provided an example of the possible benefits to Ship Systems from supporting such collegiate projects. New Orleans and its naval architecture and marine engineering programs," said George Yount, vice president of operations at Avondale.
