Initiatives\u2019 website<\/strong><\/a> was recently published, welcoming inquiries from interested partners.<\/p>\nOrganizers say that the U.S. is strengthened through advanced shipbuilding and submarine manufacturing. Efforts like the Shipbuilding Initiatives add to the country\u2019s naval superiority, secure the supply chain, and foster economic growth for the region and the country.<\/p>\n
In a state with a proud maritime history, the Initiatives bring together expertise from across Connecticut and the region. The united programs in the Initiatives seek to deliver basic and applied research, propel workforce development, and provide support for the critical supply chain. They also further collaborations to engage UConn\u2019s research and education with partners in industry, government, and academia.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew England\u2019s maritime sector is experiencing historic demand driven by fleet construction, sustainment needs, and supply-chain complexity,\u201d says engineering Professor Richard Christenson, the Initiatives director. \u201cThe UConn Shipbuilding Initiative provides a coordinated academic framework to help industry and government partners address those challenges while strengthening the region\u2019s role in national maritime readiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
The respective members of the Initiatives have a history of research success at UConn, bringing in over $130 million in funding from federal, state, and industrial sources. They will continue to build on that foundation through deeper collaboration and consistent engagement with stakeholders from the government, higher education, and business.<\/p>\n
\u201cA thriving shipbuilding industry is vital to our economy and workforce, as well as national security and commerce,\u201d says UConn President Radenka Maric. \u201cThe UConn Shipbuilding Initiatives underline our commitment to the research and instruction necessary to meet the evolving needs of such a critical sector for our state, region, and country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meeting Demand<\/strong><\/p>\nUConn is uniquely positioned to help meet demand for advanced shipbuilding and maritime technology. In addition to the faculty and research institutes involved in the Initiatives, the University can utilize a talented pool of students to learn the skills needed to meet workforce requirements for the next wave of production.<\/p>\n
Many of the researchers involved, as well as students, are part of the College of Engineering (COE). Kylene Perras, the assistant dean for Operations and Strategic Initiatives, says the COE faculty are positioned to lead influential research in areas such as advanced materials, systems integration, and undersea vehicle technology.<\/p>\n
The Initiatives also present opportunities for undergraduate and graduate engineering students to participate in applied research experiences.<\/p>\n
\u2018Student researchers work with faculty mentors on projects tied to submarine production, undersea systems, and advanced manufacturing,\u201d says Perras. \u201cThese experiences help build a pipeline of knowledgeable engineers that are prepared to lead shipbuilding efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contributors to the Initiative<\/strong><\/p>\nAt the heart of the Initiatives is the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT). The Institute is a university-industry partnership that collaborates with the U.S. Navy to advance the capabilities of the next generation of undersea fleet by training innovative workforce and by accelerating the research, development, and transition of advanced technologies.<\/p>\n
The NIUVT partners UConn with the University of Rhode Island, General Dynamics- Electric Boat, and the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center. The Institute also provides the region\u2019s innovation workforce with maritime-focused STEM education and graduate programs.<\/p>\n
Complementing NIUVT\u2019s research mission are robust workforce development programs, such as the UConn-URI Navy STEM Coalition through the ANCHOR (Advanced Naval Careers through Higher-Ed Outreach and Research). These programs, supported by the U.S. Navy\u2019s Maritime Industry Base and General Dynamics-Electric Boat, have engaged students across southern New England since 2017.<\/p>\n
The programs build a kindergarten through college pipeline that introduce students to naval engineering and skilled trades, offer hands-on learning experiences, and prepare a diverse talent pool to meet the growing demands of the submarine industrial base.<\/p>\n
AUKUS \u2013 a security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. – presents international opportunities for collaboration. UConn undergraduate and graduate students will be able to participate in exchanges with Australian and U.K. institutions, gaining interdisciplinary and international training in shipbuilding, as well as undersea vehicle advanced technology.\u00a0This trilateral partnership enhances a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific region of the globe and provides UConn students with immersive experiences in cutting-edge technologies critical to enhanced deterrence.<\/p>\n
The final prong of the effort is the Shipbuilding Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI). Bottlenecks in the supply chain hinder progress, disrupt production, and reduce the rate of American shipbuilding. In partnership with industry, the SSCI utilizes data, physics-informed process modeling, artificial intelligence, and empirical knowledge to improve the flow of materials and ensure productivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo much of Connecticut\u2019s history is rooted in shipbuilding, from the whaling industry through the launch of the first nuclear submarine to modern day production at General Dynamics-Electric Boat,\u201d says Lindsay DiStefano, UConn\u2019s interim Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. \u201cThe UConn Shipbuilding Initiatives build on that legacy as we help the state prepare for a successful future in advanced nautical research and manufacturing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christenson believes the Initiatives are a critical step not only for Connecticut, but for the U.S. and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis initiative revitalizes the American industrial base, ensuring the nation can defend its interests on the high seas and maintain technological leadership,\u201d Christenson says. \u201cIt supports all people, not just UConn students\/graduates, but all people in our state and country.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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