Problem-based Initiatives for Powerful Engagement and Learning In Naval Engineering and Science (PIPELINES), Program Expansion
Abstract
The Problem-based Initiatives for Powerful Engagement and Learning In Naval Engineering and Science (PIPELINES) program aims to prepare undergraduate students to be creative and innovative participants in the future economy, and inspire their interest in Navy engineering jobs. In its expanded form, PIPELINES will be a collaborative project of the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the three Naval Commands at Port Hueneme: NAVFAC, NAVSEA,NAVAIR.As a team-based workforce experience, PIPELINES engages undergraduate students in Navy Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) engineering design projects, where student teams compete in designing the most innovative and effective design within an eight-week time frame. The program culminates with a technical presentation and contest for a review panelcomposed of Faculty (UCSB, Community Colleges) and Navy engineers. Each team is composed of one junior/senior UCSB undergraduate and two community college students. Teams are matched with a UCSB graduate student mentor and a Navy engineer mentor. The expanded program will include an academic component where one of the summer projects will continue to be developed during the academic year at UCSB. The team-based structure andopen-ended nature that characterizes PIPELINES projects supports students creative thinking, further developed by training in innovation. We expect the academic year expansion to lead to closer working ties between UCSB and the local Warfare Centers, towards research collaborations beyond the summer projects.To date, all 17 projects executed during the 16-18 award period have either been deployed as is, or have laid the groundwork for further evaluation by Navy mentors; one has resulted in a provisional patent application, and a second project is also being considered for patenting. Navy mentors list a number of additional benefits: from increased productivity for the overall Navy unit,to improved morale and renewed enthusiasm for long-term Navy civilian employees, to understanding of career priorities of the younger generation to develop effective recruitment and hiring strategies, to training of Navy junior level employees in leadership and task management skills. After participating in PIPELINES, a number of alumni have returned to our Navy base as NREIPinterns, and, upon graduation, a few are working for the government. The project has also contributed to raising the profile of Navy STEM Education investment through a number of publication and presentations. Through further dissemination of its evaluation and research findings, PIPELINES will yield a proven model of engagement for Navy Bases, Universities and Community Colleges partnerships that could be replicated throughout the US.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 20, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012689
Entities
People
- Mariateresa Napoli
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Santa Barbara