REU Site: R.I.S.E. - Research Internships in Science of the Environment at Arkansas State University

阿肯色州州立大学（ASU）的环境科学计划为10名对环境研究感兴趣的高度积极的传统上代表性不足的少数民族本科生提供了为期10周的夏季研究经验。 夏季研究计划的重点是对阿肯色州三角洲、欧扎克和沃希托地区的水生农业生态系统进行跨学科研究。 在这些地区的土地利用强烈影响生态系统过程，如径流，养分循环，水生和陆生生境。 此外，农业的主导地位对土地和水的使用政策、法律和经济产生了重大影响。 了解农业生态系统的化学，生态学，地质学，政策和经济学为本科生提供了一个独特的机会，调查自然和人为干扰对生态系统过程之间的关系。 主要目标是促进本科研究人员的专业发展，并灌输一个更好的欣赏跨学科的方法来解决问题。REU学者，单独和小组，与教师导师密切合作，研究项目从生态毒理学，地球化学，生物地球化学，脊椎动物和无脊椎动物生态学，资源管理，政策，法律和经济学。 该计划挑战学者扩大他们的学科重点，并发展跨学科的观点。 每周的项目会议被用来评估进展情况，审查个别研究组成部分之间的跨学科联系，并制定新的和扩大的研究计划。 学生还参加道德研讨会，在那里他们有机会辩论道德，性别和少数民族，环境政策问题与程序的工作人员和邀请的专业人士。

The Program for Environmental Science at Arkansas State University (ASU) provides a 10-week summer research experience for 10 highly motivated traditionally under-represented minority undergraduate students interested in environmental research. The summer research program focuses on interdisciplinary investigation of aquatic agri-ecosystems in the Delta, Ozark, and Ouachita regions of Arkansas. The land-use in these regions strongly influences ecosystem processes such as runoff, nutrient cycling, and aquatic and terrestrial habitats. In addition, the dominance of agriculture significantly impacts land- and water-use policy, law and economics. Understanding the chemistry, ecology, geology, policy and economics of agri-ecosystems provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to investigate relations between natural and anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem processes. The principal objectives are to promote the professional development of undergraduate researchers and instill a better appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The REU scholars, individually and in small groups, work closely with faculty mentors on research projects ranging from ecotoxicology, geochemistry, biogeochemistry, vertebrate and invertebrate ecology, to resource management, policy, law and economics. The program challenges scholars to expand their disciplinary focus and develop an interdisciplinary perspective. Weekly project meetings are used to evaluate progress, examine interdisciplinary linkages between individual research components, and develop new and expanded research plans. Students also participate in ethics seminars where they have an opportunity to debate ethical, gender and minority, and environmental policy issues with the program staff and invited professionals.