[DetroitMan]

U.S. Navy to build $14.5M research center at University of Michigan

The U.S. Office of Naval Research plans to build a new research center at the University of Michigan.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the development of the Center for Naval Research and Education Saturday at UM's commencement ceremony. The $14.5 million center will help train an engineering research community familiar with naval and marine applications, as well as provide students with opportunities to gain direct experience working with Navy engineers.

“I am incredibly proud of the partnership between the University of Michigan and the Department of the Navy. Michigan is a key teammate in rebuilding our shipbuilding industry and restoring the comprehensive — commercial and naval — power of our nation," Del Toro said in a news release. "I am committed to growing our department's relationship. We truly would not have the world's most powerful Navy if not for our nearly 150-year partnership."

The center will build teams to tackle challenges pertaining to the impact of climate change on the maritime environment, advancements in artificial intelligence and more, according to the press release.

The four multidisciplinary teams at the center will be focused on studying how films of algae and bacteria impact vessel performance and how to prevent resulting performance issues, discovering ways to make vessels move more quietly through water, harnessing energy from waves, understanding flow-induced damage to design tougher hull materials and discovering ways to provide more control over vessel drag and maneuverability, such as morphable skin and highly water-repellent surfaces, according to the release.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/educat...rsity-michigan