The new program in Ocean Observing, Modeling, and Management of Offshore Wind will begin enrolling students in spring 2025
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UMass Dartmouth recently received a $297,220 grant through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Offshore Wind Works program. Supported by Vineyard Wind and SouthCoast Wind, the program provides workforce training and education in offshore wind with a focus on increasing access to opportunities for young people from underrepresented communities.
This award will fund the creation of a new graduate certificate program in Ocean Observing, Modeling, and Management of Offshore Wind at the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). In addition to developing the coursework and online modules for the new certificate program, funds will also be used to support internship programs to provide experiential learning opportunities. The grant will also fund scholarships for students in the program, prioritizing those from low-income and underrepresented communities, and members from federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes. The program will welcome its first cohort of students in spring 2025.
Building on a strong foundation
The development of this new program reflects UMass Dartmouth's position at the center of coordinated blue economy science and leadership in Massachusetts. The SouthCoast is a prime example of where scientific expertise in interactions among blue economy sectors will be needed; the region is both a hub for offshore wind developers and home to the nation’s most valuable fishing port, New Bedford. The marine science programs and initiatives at SMAST provide an ideal foundation for further integration of ecosystems thinking into offshore wind and marine resource management through interdisciplinary and community-engaged workforce training.
The new program will also expand on existing efforts by UMassD and SMAST to extend career and educational opportunities to students historically underrepresented in STEM and marine science. SMAST runs a paid summer internship program for students from New Bedford High School to introduce them to careers in marine science and technology. This summer, the award will support several of these internships.
"We are immensely grateful for the funding received through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Offshore Wind Works program,” said Associate Professor Gavin Fay. “This support not only reinforces SMAST’s leadership in offshore wind scientific workforce development but also enhances our research capabilities in a sector critical to sustainable energy futures. This grant enables us to continue to create accessible and innovative educational opportunities in marine science."