Hello all,
I figured I might as well introduce myself, as I have been reading the group emails for a few months and learning a lot. My name is David Hoffman, I live near St. Paul, MN and I am a recent graduate in mechanical engineering from the university of minnesota. I have a huge range of interests in science and engineering ranging from evolutionary biology to cosmology to jet turbines. My focus in education is on thermodynamics, particularly computational thermodynamics, heat transfer and combustion. I know my way around the shop and am a pretty good welder, machinist and fabricator.
I don't know what got me started on my interest in submarines but it seems to have started with reading a wikipedia article on the mid-ocean ridge in the Atlantic. I think that might have gotten me onto Robert Ballard and the sinking of the Thresher
and Scorpion. Anyway, after doing a lot of reading I am considering a career in oceanography or deep water work. I am still trying to figure out exactly where I want to take my career, whether I should go to dive school or go for an advanced degree in oceanography or get a desk job. If anyone here has any advise I would love to hear it. I likely won't be building my own sub any time soon but I am still interested in the goings-on of the community.
I am pretty impressed with most of the discussion and projects being built by the group, and hope that I can be of help through my thermodynamics education and fabrication experience. You guys have some elegant ways to solve complex problems that I had no idea even existed prior to reading about them here.
David Hoffman