MADWEC 3.0
The MADWEC 3.0 team has been multidisciplinary and well-poised to have the ability to tackle competition challenges. This design team is comprised of nine undergraduate engineering students, five mechanical and four electrical engineering students. The business team consists of two undergraduate members working toward their degrees in marketing. This team is supported by two faculty advisors who have a vast range of knowledge in the marine energy sector as well as an electrical engineering professor and a past MADWEC member. The team has employed the assistance of Dr. Peter Karlson at the Charlton College of Business to build our marketing of this potential. groundbreaking device.
Marine Energy Collegiate Competition
(MECC)
The U.S. Department of Energy has been hosting a collegiate challenge for university students over the past 3 years to advance one of the most up-and-coming industries: marine energy. This competition has been designed to challenge interdisciplinary teams of both undergraduate and graduate students to offer unique solutions to the burgeoning marine energy industry that can play a vital role in powering the blue economy.
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The competition provides students with real-world experience and industry connections that will help them prepare for future careers in the marine energy sector and the blue economy. Although few institutions offer marine-specific advanced degrees, having related experience is highly valuable for future prospects within a wide range of blue economy opportunities. Jobs across the blue economy include opportunities for researchers, scientists, engineers, educators, project managers, business, sales forces, and many others.
The Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) allows people to grasp how marine energy has the potential to provide reliable power to the blue economy. Further work is needed to optimize designs and reduce costs surrounding this idea but through the competition’s objectives it can be created. The MECC brings together diverse groups of students from multiple disciplines to explore opportunities for marine energy technologies to benefit other existing maritime industries via real-world concept development experiences.
Meet the Team
From left to right: Mariana Benjamin (MKT BS '22), Bryana Camara (MKT BS '22), Spencer Dowty (ECE BS '22), Kurt Andrade (MCE BS '22), Antz-Lee Francois (ECE BS '22), Anthony Encarnacion (MCE BS '22), Mohammed Shonar (MCE BS '22), Marina Meehan (MCE BS '22), Christian Abad (MCE BS '22).
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Not pictured: Andrea Elloian (MNE MS '22), Thomas Lattanzi (ECE BS '22), Arthur Grizotte (ECE BS '22)
Faculty Advisors
Dr. Daniel MacDonald
The group’s other faculty advisor is Dr. Daniel MacDonald, who attained his PHD in Oceanographic Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Joint Program. Some of his research topics include wave energy utilization, low-head hydropower systems, and the role of scale in the development and evolution of stratified shear turbulence, entrainment, and mixing. Dr. Daniel MacDonald’s research topics perfectly align with the nature of this project which is part of why he is an asset to the team. His knowledge of engineering, and past years of involvement in this project help to provide new innovative design improvements and sound engineering judgement. He has been playing an essential role in overviewing this project.
Dr. Mehdi Raessi
One of the group’s faculty advisors is Dr. Mehdi Raessi, who attained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto. Some of his research topics include wave energy conversion, textured super-hydrophobic surfaces, and the role of scale in the development and evolution of stratified shear turbulence, entrainment, and mixing. Dr. Mehdi Raessi’s research topics perfectly align with the nature of this project, which is part of why he is an asset to the team. His knowledge of engineering and past years of involvement in this project help to provide new innovative design improvements and sound engineering judgement. He has been playing an essential role in overviewing this project.
Professor Peter Karlson
Peter is currently a partner in NeuVentures as well as the founder of technology consultancy NeuEon Inc. He serves as an advisor to NeuVenture portfolio companies and has served on various non-profit boards. Peter continues to teach as an instructor for Entrepreneurship for All and as an adjunct faculty member of the Charlton College of Business at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where he also serves on the advisory board.