Work in progress — Partnering with Coast Guard engineers to bring the field into the classroom using material science case studies

The introductory material science course at the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is being transformed from a basic survey course to a more in depth course that includes the use of case studies relevant to the students´ future careers as Coast Guard engineers. The goals of the pedagogical approach are to spark greater interest by exposing students to contemporary materials issues and to demonstrate the relevance of material science to their future careers as Coast Guard engineers. There is a unique opportunity to engage officers who return from the field for various tours at the USCGA. As practitioners come into the classroom to discuss material science cases from the field, leadership and ethics issues are also explored. The authors present progress to date on incorporating case studies with active participation from Coast Guard engineers. Future plans to assess and refine this pedagogical technique are also discussed.