Sustainable infrastructure professionals visit Tufts

Professor of the Practice Eric Hines and Tufts School of Engineering recently hosted an in-depth discussion of the offshore wind industry with professionals and policymakers from India, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, Fiji, Maldives and Indonesia.

Hines presented a lecture that covered topics such as offshore wind energy policy, wind turbine innovation, and energy transmission. The lecture was followed by a Q&A, during which the visiting professionals shared their experiences with wind energy infrastructure, policy, and development.

Professor of the Practice Eric Hines is a top advocate for the advancement of offshore wind energy research and education. He has led the design and construction of some of the industry’s key infrastructure projects such as the Wind Technology Testing Center in Charlestown and the Marine Commerce Terminal in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Through site visits to these projects, he introduces students to real-world challenges and the engineering creativity behind their solutions.

Tufts School of Engineering launched the United States’ first offshore wind energy engineering graduate program in 2019. The program provides world-class training in U.S. offshore wind infrastructure, supply chain, transmission, policy, finance, and community engagement, and prepares graduates for jobs in industry, academia, NGOs, and the public sector. Students may pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate, a master’s degree, and/or a doctoral degree in offshore wind energy engineering.

The lecture was attended by members of CRDF Global’s Secure and Sustainable Infrastructure Program, an initiative funded by the US State Department’s Bureaus of South and Central Asian Affairs and East Asia Pacific Affairs. The program aims to build a professional network of renewable energy and port specialists in infrastructure design and management.