REU-Site: Comparative Analysis of Glacial Sediments, Minnesota and Brazil

明尼苏达大学莫里斯REU项目的目标是培养地质科学中代表性不足的个人的发展。八名妇女将参与野外和实验室研究，以确定明尼苏达州中西部第四纪和巴西圣保罗州西部晚古生代冰川沉积的来源。该研究项目将继续UMM与圣保罗大学(USP)教职员工和学生之间的长期合作研究工作。在明尼苏达州，研究重点将集中在得梅因冰盖的历史和动态上。个别项目将利用沉积物分析来确定问题沉积物的来源，包括隧道谷Eskers、有条纹和多面的Boulder路面，以及冰川湖本森湖的各种沉积物。这些研究将使用地质研究技术，如冰川和沉积相的表征、物源研究、沉积岩石学和古生态评估(微古生物学、孢粉学、沉积学和粘土化学)。在巴西，对第四纪和古生代沉积物(硅质岩和变质岩)和特征(硅质岩、巨石路面和楔形铸造物)的对比分析将使学生能够深入了解晚古生代冈瓦纳冰川的冰川历史。在巴西的实地工作将包括绘制沉积单元图、层序地层学、相分析和冰川特征解释。REU学员将选择侧重于巴西、明尼苏达州或矿床和/或地貌对比的个别研究项目。除了提供高质量的设施和密切的教师指导外，Umm REU项目继续为学生提供主办机构独有的机会。在UMM校园里，REU的学生有机会研究科学道德问题，讨论女性在科学领域的问题，会见专业的女性地球科学家，并开始规划未来的学术和科学职业。参与者通过发表专业演讲和带领实地考察来获得自信。该项目不仅培养这些学生作为科学家和个人的成熟，而且还有助于明尼苏达州中西部和巴西的地质知识。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。

The goal of the University of Minnesota, Morris REU project is to nurture the development of underrepresented individuals in the geological sciences. Eight women will be involved in field and laboratory research to determine the origin of glacial deposits of Quaternary age in west-central Minnesota and late Paleozoic age in western Sao Paulo state, Brazil. This research program will continue a long-established collaborative research effort between UMM and Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) faculty and students.In Minnesota, research will focus on the history and dynamics of the Des Moines glacial lobe. Individual projects will utilize sediment analysis to determine the origin of problematic deposits, including Tunnel Valley Eskers, a striated and faceted Boulder Pavement, and varved sediments of Glacial Lake Benson. These studies will employ geologic research techniques such as characterization of till and sediment facies, provenance studies, sedimentary petrography, and paleoecological assessments (micropaleontology, palynology, sedimentology and clay chemistry).In Brazil, comparative analysis of Quaternary and Paleozoic sediments (diamictites and varvites) and features (eskers, boulder pavements and wedge casts) will allow students to gain insight into the glacial history of the late Paleozoic Gondwana glaciation. Fieldwork in Brazil will include mapping of sedimentary units, sequence stratigraphy, facies analysis, and the interpretation of glacial features. REU participants will select individual research projects with a focus on Brazil, Minnesota, or comparison of deposits and/or landforms.In addition to providing high quality facilities and close faculty guidance, the UMM REU program continues to provide students with opportunities unique to the host institution. On the UMM campus REU students have the opportunity to examine issues in scientific ethics, discuss problems of women in science, meet professional women geoscientists, and begin planning future academic and scientific careers. Participants gain self-confidence by giving a professional talk and leading a field trip. This program not only fosters maturation of these students as scientists and individuals, but it also contributes to the geologic knowledge of west-central Minnesota and Brazil.This award is co-funded by NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering.