R.I. school teaches design, history of fishing vessels: evolving needs of industry inspire projects.(ATLANTIC)

Students at Rhode Island School of Design are learning a dual lesson in commercial fishing and boat design. The school's new cross-disciplinary course combines discussions about the history of New England's fisheries with instruction in vessel stability and design.

"We want to make this a really good immersion for students so they understand what fishing is about," says Donald DeLuca, an industrial design professor who is co-teaching the course.

The intensive six-week course features classroom visits by commercial fishermen and marine architects as well as field trips to the Connecticut-based maritime museum Mystic Seaport and to a New Bedford fish …