The U.S. Navy, an internationally renowned military powerhouse with its own research branch — the Office of Naval Research (ONR) — employs top experts and engineers in maritime sciences. Academics have operated in the background, collaborating on much of the research that informs the branch’s practice, until now. The University of Michigan (U-M) is slated to house the new Center for Naval Research and Education, bringing these important academic partnerships to the foreground.
According to their website, ONR “has been a pioneer in the public support of science and technology research that benefits both the naval services as well as the nation … for more than 75 years and counting.”
In May, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited the U-M campus and announced the $14.5 million project, which will connect professional researchers, undergraduates, and postdoctoral students with cutting-edge maritime technologies.
The center’s marine and maritime research will focus on some of the most pressing issues in modern naval development, such as harnessing energy from waves, experimenting with more effective maneuverability and performance methods, and analyzing damage patterns for tougher hull design.
