URI Marine Affairs Program, Tall Ships America form partnership

POSING AFTER THE agreement between the University of Rhode Island and Tall Ships America are, from left, Mike Rauworth, chairman of the Tall Ships America board of directors; URI graduate student Eric Romelczyk; URI Marine Affairs Professors Dennis Nixon and Austin Becker, and Bert Rogers, executive director of Tall Ships America. / COURTESY AUSTIN BECKER
POSING AFTER THE agreement between the University of Rhode Island and Tall Ships America are, from left, Mike Rauworth, chairman of the Tall Ships America board of directors; URI graduate student Eric Romelczyk; URI Marine Affairs Professors Dennis Nixon and Austin Becker, and Bert Rogers, executive director of Tall Ships America. / COURTESY AUSTIN BECKER

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Tall Ships America and the University of Rhode Island’s Marine Affairs Department have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on research, education and outreach.

The agreement was announced last Friday at the annual conference of Tall Ships America in Philadelphia.

Tall Ships America is a nonprofit industry trade group that represents educational sail training programs throughout the country. It has more than 175 vessel and program members.

Assistant Professor of Marine Affairs Austin Becker, who serves on the board of Tall Ships America, said the partnership will provide benefits to both organizations.

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“Many people who work in the sail training industry eventually seek a master’s degree, and this partnership will provide our marine affairs program with greater visibility that will hopefully result in increased enrollment in the program,” Becker said in a statement.

Tall Ships America Executive Director Bert Rogers said, “This document recognizes what has been a very productive, informal relationship for many years and it sets the framework to expand on that success. We are pleased to encourage sail trainers to pursue advanced degrees at URI’s excellent Marine Affairs Program. They have much to gain as maritime professionals and educators, and much to contribute in return.”

The agreement calls for marine affairs faculty and students to participate in the annual Tall Ships America conference and its Tall Ships Challenge event, which will take place this year in eight East Coast port cities.

Faculty members will provide support to the sail training industry by conducting research of interest to the industry, including the role that sail training can play in scientific data collection, environmental stewardship and leadership development.

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