The Naval Postgraduate School’s Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Institute (MOVES) conducted its annual Academic Working Group (MAWG) from May 24-26, at its headquarters on the NPS campus in Monterey, California.
MAWG is a meeting between stakeholder organizations and MOVES, which gives each party an opportunity to discuss NPS’ modeling and simulation (M&S) academic programs, and how MOVES can steer academic and research programs to stakeholder needs.
“This event gets the people of MOVES, the faculty along with our stakeholder organizations, together, and it acts as a steering meeting for us,” said MOVES Deputy Director U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Morgan, adding that the working group is also for NPS personnel looking to capitalize on MOVES expertise. “We’re the ones that study modeling and simulation, so we like to see ourselves as being able to provide help to all of the other departments.”
The event places a keen focus on student projects, with short briefings throughout the day detailing research efforts, challenges and solutions. During the open house in the evening, students were able to demonstrate their efforts.
“The annual MOVES Academic Working Group gives students an opportunity to present thesis projects across campus and to sponsors,” said NPS student U.S. Marine Corps Capt. David Miller. “It also gives the professors an opportunity to speak about their research area.”
Another aspect of MOVES academic portfolio is their health care modeling and simlulation certificate program, developed in partnership with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
“MOVES faculty … created and now deliver the health care simulation certificate for active duty, Navy civilian and VA health care professionals,” said Morgan. “Simulation is a necessary tool for improving the safety and effectiveness of health care systems. It’s a key part of how we teach, train and improve health care.”