The Coastal Studies Institute will host the 2026 installment of the Atlantic Marine Energy Center’s (AMEC) Introduction to Marine Energy Short Course (IMESC) from June 1– 5. This course brings students from diverse backgrounds to CSI’s coastal campus for a five-day intensive experience covering the fundamentals of marine energy.
IMESC is designed for junior and senior undergraduate students, as well as early graduate students who are interested in marine energy; no prior experience in the field is required. In addition to a lecture- and project-based curriculum, the course will highlight the roles of the Coastal Studies Institute and North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program in marine renewable energy research and explore CSI’s marine renewable energy research infrastructure through experiential learning, place-based exercises, and field trips.
AMEC is a university-led research consortium and one of four National Marine Energy Centers supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office. AMEC held the inaugural IMESC in summer 2025 at the University of New Hampshire, an AMEC partner university, which welcomed 27 students from 17 universities across 14 U.S. states.
In addition to IMESC, AMEC will also offer two more advanced short courses this summer, both of which are graduate-level courses designed for students currently working in marine energy research
- Marine Energy Structures, Materials, and Foundation Systems, Stony Brook University, June 22–26
- Tidal and Water Current Energy Conversion, University of New Hampshire, August 10–14
Visit AMEC’s short courses webpage for more information on this summer’s offerings, application requirements, and deadlines.
Based at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) advances inter-disciplinary marine energy solutions across UNC System partner colleges of engineering at NC State University, UNC Charlotte, and NC A&T University. Click on the links below for more information.
ECU's Integrated Coastal Programs (ECU ICP) is a leader in coastal and marine research, education, and engagement. ECU ICP includes the Coastal Studies Institute, ECU's Department of Coastal Studies, and ECU Diving and Water Safety.
The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
