Ocean Energy Industry Expected to Offer Many Career Opportunities

Increases in the cost of fossil fuels and concern about their effect on the environment are creating renewed interest in the development of ocean energy, according to the Green Careers Journal. Ocean energy consists of four main areas: wind, wave, current, and thermal. Wind energy utilizes turbines that are anchored offshore. Wave power involves the use of several different types of technologies that power electricity-generating turbines. In current power, turbines are placed horizontally in the water where strong currents exist (such as the Gulf Stream). Finally, thermal power uses the differences in temperature between the cold depths and the warm surface for power generation.

Green Careers Journal reports that a smorgasbord of opportunities will be available for workers who have multidisciplinary backgrounds. Marine scientists and electronics, materials, acoustics, and fluid power engineers should be in especially strong demand. Maintenance and installation workers will also be needed to maintain and build systems.
 
The Electric Power Research Institute has identified Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and California as potentially viable wave power sites, although other states may be also considered with further study.
 
The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition was formed in 2005 to advocate for the commercialization of marine renewable. Visit its website: www.oceanrenewable.com, for more information.

Consider a Career in Indexing

Are you a highly organized individual who enjoys assessing and arranging information? If so, you might be interested in becom­ing an indexer. An index is "a systematic arrangement of entries designed to enable users to locate information in a document," according to the American Society of Indexers (ASI). Indexers are the individuals who create indexes-which range from those found in the back of a textbook, to cumulative indexes in journals, to elec­tronic databases. Today, the typical indexer uses sophisticated software to create an index, then edits, formats, and proofreads the index before submitting it to an employer.

Most indexers work on a freelance basis, creating indexers for publishing companies, database producers, technical writers, libraries, government agencies, and abstracting services. The field is attractive to many because it offers flexible hours, the chance to work from home, and unlimited earnings (fueled only by one's willingness to work hard and market oneself).

The ASI says that it generally can take up to three years for free­lance indexers to build their businesses. Visit its website, www. asindexing.org for information on training and a useful publica­tion, Getting Started in Indexing, which details required supplies and equipment, tips on exploring the field, and information on job duties.

(American Society of Indexers, www.asindexing.org)

Upcoming Meetings

• Youth Council and Graduation Rate Meeting: Tuesday March 31st 12:00pm WIB Office
• Youth Council Mentoring Committee Meeting: Wednesday April 1st 12:30pm WIB Office
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• WIB Executive Committee Meeting: Thursday April 10th 8:00am WIB Office