U.S. Coast Guard Academy Renewable Ocean Energy Seminar

In the spring 2009 semester at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, one science instructor and one engineering instructor co-taught a one-credit independent study course entitled Renewable Ocean Energy Seminar. Fifteen engineering majors and fourteen non-engineering majors enrolled in this elective course. The intention was to bring together different majors to learn about the many facets of renewable ocean energy (policy, technology, economics, etc.) and to develop crossdiscipline communication. In the end, nine seminars were presented, seven of which were presented by instructors of different academic disciplines from within the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The other two seminars were presented by individuals accepting invitation to discuss work being done outside the Academy. One of speakers came from the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, and the other from an out-of-state center for ocean energy technology. The remaining lectures were focused on the students working together and educating each other. Assignments included two relevant current event reviews, two relevant website evaluations, all presented to the class, and a final memorandum addressed to the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, outlining each student’s opinion on the role of the U.S. Coast Guard in renewable ocean energy, using research to support their view. In the end-of-course evaluation, 100% of the students responded positively to the statement “This seminar improved my understanding of the issues surrounding ocean energy.” They all also responded positively to the statement “I enjoyed taking this course.” 86% of the students responded positively to the statement “I can apply the material presented in this course to real life situations.” This paper outlines the student feedback on the overall course as well as the instructors’ observations, while outlining the structure of the course, along with the successes and lessons learned. Overall, the Renewable Ocean Energy Seminar is evaluated as a success in its first offering.