REU Site: Back to the Future

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This award will establish a REU Site in the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The program is called 'Back to the Future' and will offer a unique 10-week summer research program that integrates Metallurgical Engineering projects with historical, cultural and artistic significance. Ten undergraduate students will be recruited each year for three years from regional tribal colleges and universities nation-wide. Planned REU activities make use of the research facilities of the Advanced Materials Processing Center on campus and involve faculty members from different departments. In addition to the research projects, the REU students will participate in a number of professional skills development activities, such as technical communication training, seminars and hands-on workshops on Archaeometallurgy, Art and History of Metallurgy. Participating students will have opportunities to present their research results at South Dakota State Capital, Pierre, and in national meetings of professional societies. This program is responsive to the National Research Council report 'Globalization of Materials R&D' that details a need for increased research and development of metals in the U.S.A. The proposed new approach of this program i.e., an emphasis on understanding the historical and artistic context of Metallurgical Engineering research projects is expected to provide a richer learning environment for undergraduate students. This site is co-funded by the Department of Defense in partnership with the NSF REU program. Within NSF, this award is jointly funded by the Division of Materials Research in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate and the Division of Engineering Education Centers in the Engineering Directorate.