| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.35 |
| Liaison | Christa Rieck |
| Submission Date | Nov. 23, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Houston
IN-2: Innovation 2
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
The University of Houston is devoted to innovation in the burgeoning field of subsea engineering. In 2011, UH established the nation's first graduate program in Subsea Engineering. The program granted certificates initially and awarded its first Master's degrees in 2014. Now with over 70 students, the program continues to grow and usher in the world's first generation of trained subsea engineering specialists. A core value of the program is to train engineers to understand multi-scale, multi-physics modeling and intelligent systems within an interdisciplinary curriculum to produce environmentally-protective subsea oil and gas systems. It is this commitment to environmental responsibility, through sustainable and safe development of energy systems in the Gulf of Mexico, that led to the founding of the Subsea Systems Institute described below.
A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
The Subsea Systems Institute (SSI) is a key national research center for subsea engineering and other offshore energy development issues, including research and technology to improve the sustainable and safe development of energy in the Gulf of Mexico. Funding for this program has come from the RESTORE Act (Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States), resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. SSI is charged with:
- serving as a liaison for industry and government regulators
- testing and validating equipment
- helping standard-setting institutions with neutral third-party knowledge and other best practices
- developing new materials and science-based policies
- overseeing workforce training
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
| Yes or No | |
| Curriculum | Yes |
| Research | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | No |
| Public Engagement | No |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | No |
| Dining Services | No |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | No |
| Purchasing | No |
| Transportation | No |
| Waste | No |
| Water | No |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | No |
Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.