Wind Blade Challenge

For the past three years, high school students in Maine have competed in a Wind Blade Challenge, learning through hands-on application with math, science, and alternative energy. Responding to the 2011 challenge, students from across the state tested their skills to determine which team had the best performing wind wind blade rotor using a given set of advanced composite materials. Interestingly, the majority of sponsors who devoted time and resources to this project are from the marine industry.

Our guest, Paul Williamson is Director and Industry Coordinator of the Maine Wind Industry Initiative. He says, “The event itself is a very interesting subject for the boatbuilding community. We have also done a bit of market research on other wind-related opportunities that are developing that boat builders may be able to provide services to, so we’ll touch on some of that as well.”