Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Tropical Biology

由64所研究型大学组成的热带研究组织（OTS）计划在哥斯达黎加的La Selva生物站实施一个为期三年的REU项目。该项目将为来自美国各地的本科生，包括通过OTS少数民族学者计划确定的少数民族学生提供实践，面向实地的研究经验。该项目每年为10名本科生提供支持，让他们在位于哥斯达黎加低地雨林的La Selva进行为期10周的研究体验。被选中参加REU计划的学生将与La Selva的研究导师配对，并负责监督学生研究设计的各个方面；虽然REU研究经验的目标学生将是OTS本科课程的参与者，但REU奖学金也将在竞争的基础上提供给没有参加OTS本科课程的本科生。最重要的是，将通过OTS国家研究金咨询委员会作出重大努力，从代表性不足的科学群体中招收学生。拉塞尔瓦REU计划的总体目标是：(1)鼓励学生对实地研究和热带生态学的职业感兴趣。(2)对现场实验的设计、统计分析的逻辑和应用有清晰的认识。(3)建立解释科学实验结果的技能，并将这些结果传达给技术和非技术受众。(4)通过科学研究向学生介绍热带生态系统的重要性，促进对进化和生态学的全面理解。(5)增加妇女、少数民族和经济困难学生对研究的参与。REU的学生将有一个沉浸在热带雨林环境的体验，这可能会成为一个决定职业生涯的夏天。他们将在世界上最重要的生态系统之一发展智力和实践技能，并有助于提高对生物多样性保护和生态研究重点的理解。

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), a consortium of 64 research universities, plans to implement a three-year REU program at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. This project will provide hands-on, field-oriented research experiences to undergraduate students from throughout the United States, including minority students identified through the OTS Minority Scholars Program. This program provides support for ten undergraduates each year to have a ten-week research experience at La Selva, located in the lowland rainforest of Costa Rica. Students selected to participate in the REU Program will be paired with a research mentor at La Selva and will be responsible for supervising all aspects of the student's research design;Though the students targeted for the REU research experience will be participants in OTS' Undergraduate Program, REU fellowships will also be available on a competitive basis to undergraduates who have not participated in an OTS undergraduate course. Most importantly, through the OTS National Fellowship Advisory Committee a major effort will be made to recruit students from under-represented groups in the sciences. The overall goals and objectives of the REU Program at La Selva are:(1) Encourage student interest in careers in field research and tropical ecology. (2) Establish a clear understanding of the design of field experiments and the logic and application of statistical analysis. (3) Build skills in the interpretation of the results of scientific experiments and the communication of these results to both technical and non-technical audiences. (4) To introduce students through scientific study to the importance of tropical ecosystems and facilitate a full understanding of evolution and ecology. (5) Increase the participation in research of women, ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged students.The REU students will have an immersion experience in a tropical rain forest setting that will likely become a career-determining summer. They will develop intellectual and practical skills in one of the world's most important ecosystems and contribute to improved understanding of the biodiversity conservation and ecological research priorities.