Research Experiences for Undergraduates on Site at the Oklahoma Weather Center

该奖项是本科生研究经验（REU）网站计划的延续。俄克拉何马州气象中心（OWC）在前几年建立夏季REU项目的两个主要问题是：1)本科生普遍缺乏获得研究经验的机会，以补充他们的学术生涯；2)缺乏妇女和少数民族成员参与大气科学研究。诺曼的OWC拥有独特的环境，涵盖了气象研究的各个方面，可以为学生提供提高他们本科职业生涯的机会。在三年的时间里，30名本科生将参加OWC REU项目。整个夏天，学生们将参加各种各样的活动。每个学生将：1)根据自己的兴趣和能力与大气科学家匹配，进行相关主题的研究，2)参加大气科学讲座，3)参加各种研讨会（技术写作，数值模拟，气象工具，研究生院准备等），4)参加实地考察和参观区域站点，5)发现各种研究方法，6)可能收集和分析实地数据（取决于每年夏天实地项目的可用性），最后7)以书面和口头形式展示他们的研究。计划中的活动将介绍并使每个学生接触到大气科学中的许多研究可能性。各种各样的机会也将帮助学生决定研究生院和潜在的未来作为研究科学家。学生将在OWC导师的指导下进行研究。OWC是一个独特的联盟，由联邦、州和俄克拉何马大学的组织共同合作，以提高对地球大气事件的理解。OWC将参与REU的组织有：风暴分析和预测中心、计算地球科学中心、中尺度气象研究合作研究所、环境验证和分析中心、俄克拉荷马州气候调查、气象学院、国家强风暴实验室、诺曼国家气象局预报办公室、风暴预测中心和WSR-88D业务支持设施。

This award is a continuation of a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site program. Two principal concerns inspired the Oklahoma Weather Center (OWC) in previous years to establish summer REU programs: 1) the general lack of opportunities for undergraduates to gain research experience to complement their academic careers and 2) the lack of participation by women and members of ethnic minorities in research in atmospheric science. The OWC in Norman boasts a unique environment that encompasses all aspects of meteorological research and can provide students with the opportunity to enhance their undergraduate careers. Over a three-year period, thirty undergraduate students will participate in the OWC REU program. The students will be involved in a variety of activities throughout the summer. Each student will: 1) be matched with an atmospheric scientist based on his/her interest and abilities to conduct research on a related topic, 2) attend atmospheric science lectures, 3) participate in various workshops (technical writing, numerical modeling, meteorological tools, graduate school preparation, etc.), 4) participate in field trips and tours to regional sites, 5) discover various research methods, 6) possibly collect and analyze field data (depending on availability of field programs each summer.) and finally 7) present their research in a written and oral format. The planned activities will introduce and expose each student to the many research possibilities within atmospheric science. The various opportunities will also assist the students with their decisions regarding graduate school and potential futures as research scientists.The students will conduct their research under the supervision of mentors from the OWC. The OWC is a unique confederation of federal, state, and University of Oklahoma organizations that work together in partnership to improve understanding of events of Earth's atmosphere. Organizations of the OWC that will participate in the REU are: Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, Center for Computational Geosciences, Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Environmental Verification and Analysis Center, Oklahoma Climatological Survey, School of Meteorology, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office, Storm Prediction Center, and WSR-88D Operational Support Facility.