OU students are being swept away with experience in the wind industry field.
Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative, a joint project between OU and Oklahoma State University, is giving students a way to gain knowledge in wind power.
The project, which began July 2000, provides economic information to land owners, policy makers and potential investors to help them make informed decisions.
The increasing demand for renewable resources has fueled the program, said Scott Greene, associate geography professor and associate director of the Environmental Verification and Analysis Center at OU. Greene oversees students during their positions at the initiative.
Britton Rife, environmental studies senior, said working at the project has taught her practical skills she can test in the future.
“Renewable resources like wind power are becoming more popular in the plains,” Rife, who has worked at the project for a year, said. “Hopefully they’ll need more people.”
According to Steve Stadler, a geography professor at OSU, Rife will probably get to use her knowledge soon.
“A number of our students have found positions within the wind power [industry],” he said. “The wind industry is crying out for people with education. The industry is exploding.”
Some of Rife’s responsibilities include writing the program’s newsletter and compiling educational projects and exhibits about wind energy.
Rife said the position has also taught her skills like communication and time management that she can take anywhere she goes.
“I get a lot of phone calls and e-mails — I have to know what I’m talking about,” Rife said. “I’m more responsible.”
Rife said she learned about the initiative as a student in one of Greene’s classes. She said Greene sent an e-mail to the class announcing an open position.
The initiative is not limited to students majoring in environmental studies, Greene said. Positions range from mechanics, business, engineering, meteorology and political science. For example, a political science major might help work on policy initiatives, Greene said.
Rife said the program has helped her make connections with other professors, students and professionals within the industry.
Hopefully the skills and education she has gained will help her be more appealing to potential employers, she said.
“I consider it a job,” Rife said. “I’m learning a lot.”
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therlacher 3 years, 7 months ago
When I was a mechanical engineering undergrad in 1977 I worked on a wind power project with Professor Karl Bergey. He was collecting old windmills from farms and rebuilding them at a shop on the north campus. The class I was in provided some labor and hands on experience for us. I always wondered if any sort of a commercial venture ever developed from that? Tom Herlacher BSME 1978