When Carson started the gig he put out a request for input on things that could be done to improve the university. I sent him a message proposing adding a renewable engineering major / course path which would mostly mean taking courses from the mechanical and electrical engineering courses and combing them as well as adding in some software / computer analytical courses from the computer science school. I never heard a reply.
We have trouble getting the right candidates in the field right now as every engineer tends to be specialized in one of the previously mentioned fields or another. It would be good to have a petroleum engineering like multi-disciplinary aptitude but related to electrical energy generation / storage / transmission. (Actually our petroleum engineers, of which I am one, tend to be well prepared for the multiple disciplines as far as analytics and mechanical engineering, but they aren’t as well trained in electrical engineering or time series / sensor analysis as is needed)
I did have the opportunity to bring on a TU grad to replace me in my previous position which was nice.
I’m sure AEP (PSO’s owner) would be willing to throw some expertise and my company would be interested In getting better prepared employees.
Right now the research and recruiting is being dominated (needlessly) by Iowa, Oregon, and Carolina schools.
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