Off the Dock, Into Learning

From left to right: Tak, Nancy Kinner (mentor), Jake, Thomas Johnson (mentor), Gabby, and Laurel, leave Portsmouth for Shoals Marine Lab and begin to prepare for their project assignments before arrival (June 18, 2018).

Monday, June 18, 2018 was a day to remember! Why? It was the kickoff of a unique summer internship at Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island. Four undergraduate engineering students have just embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where they will put their knowledge and skills to the test for science!

Tak, Jake, Gabby, and Laurel arrived at the dock to depart Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Monday, and soon found themselves immersed in their projects, before they had even stepped foot onto the boat! The internships offered by Shoals are intended to be rigorous, so that students develop the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in their field of study.

Over the course of the next month, these four engineering interns will work together on nine projects to increase the island's energy efficiency and work to make Shoals more sustainable. They have just four weeks to study Appledore's energy, power and waste systems and to develop sustainable solutions to some pretty tough engineering questions. Can they do it? Of course!

They've Got the Power

Throughout their time on the island, the interns will meet with many industry experts and professionals, and will receive day-to-day mentorship from Shoals staff and the Unitil Corporation, which has been involved with Shoals for the last 15 years. This year, Unitil is expanding its relationship and funding the 2018 Shoals Sustainability Program, 'Powered by Unitil'.

As Unitil Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Carol Valianti, so poignantly declares about Shoals and their sustainability program:

“Their continuous work is a story worth sharing; one that may lead towards a smarter energy future for us all.”

While they'll have help, it will ultimately be up to Tak, Jake, Gabby, and Laurel to tackle these tough sustainable engineering challenges. But hey, they're up for it!

Follow along to see this team of young engineers take on the questions of today and tomorrow, by checking in regularly to this blog! We'll be documenting their journey, from start to finish, from solar energy to battery power, and refrigeration to water conservation!