REU Site-Summer Undergraduate Research Focus Anthropogenic Impacts on the Environment

为期十周的暑期本科生研究重点(SURF)-人为对环境的影响计划的主要目标是为十名本科生，特别是女性和少数民族学生提供研究经验和教育。招生工作的重点是那些不太可能在本国院校获得研究机会的学生，例如社区大学的学生。研究活动的共同重点是调查人类活动对环境的影响，特别是对沿海环境的影响。研究项目将由德州农工大学科珀斯克里斯蒂分校物理与生命科学系的教师指导。这些研究机会反映了本系的跨学科性质。生物学、化学、环境科学、地球科学和海水养殖等学科的教师将提供动手实验室和实地经验。该课程的目标是提高学生的批判性思维能力和沟通技巧，为他们在科学领域的职业生涯做好准备。其预期影响是提供实践科学经验，促进终身科学学习，并增加少数民族学生攻读科学高级学位的人数。在最初为期一周的培训之后，标准的每周安排包括四天的实验室/实地研究，半天的短途旅行和另外半天的小组会议。小组会议包括一个汇报会议，以评估和解决学生的进步、问题和关切；期刊俱乐部；专业技能活动；以及科学中的伦理成分。SURF将以研讨会结束，学生将在研讨会上口头或海报展示他们的研究。除了为期十周的暑期项目外，学生还可以在常规学年期间在一个地区或国家会议上展示他们的研究成果。

The major objective of the ten week Summer Undergraduate Research Focus (SURF)-Anthropogenic Impacts on the Environment program is to provide research experiences and education for ten undergraduate students, particularly female and minority students. Recruitment efforts focus on students who are not likely to have research opportunities at their home institutions, for example students at community colleges.The common focus of the research activities is an investigation of the effects of human activities on the environment, particularly the coastal environment. Research projects will be mentored by faculty members of the Department of Physical & Life Science Department at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The research opportunities reflect the interdisciplinary nature of this department. Hands-on laboratory and field experiences will be provided by faculty members representing the disciplines of biology, chemistry, environmental science, geosciences, and mariculture. The goals of the program are to improve the critical thinking ability and communication skills of the students, and to prepare them for a professional career in the sciences. The intended impact is to provide hands-on science experiences to foster life-long science learning and to increase the number of minority students pursuing advanced degrees in science.Following an initial one-week orientation, the standard weekly schedule includes four days of laboratory/field research, a half day excursion and another half day of group meetings. The group meetings include a debriefing session to assess and address student progress, problems and concerns; a journal club; professional skills activities; and an ethics in science component.SURF will conclude with a symposium in which the students deliver oral or poster presentations of their research. In addition to the ten-week summer program, students are funded to present their research at one regional or national conference during the regular academic year.