REU Site: Civil Conflict Management and Peace Science

REU 网站：民事冲突管理与和平科学

• 批准号: 1003605
• 负责人: John Ishiyama
• 金额: $ 8万
• 依托单位: University of North Texas
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-06-01 至 2011-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1003605&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: REU; Site; Civil; Conflict; Management

Project Summary: The Department of Political Science at the University of North Texas (UNT) runs this unique REU Site program to provide undergraduate students (recruited from across the country, but with special emphasis on underrepresented students in Texas and Oklahoma) the opportunity to engage in graduate-level research in conflict management and peace studies. This is a senior faculty mentored, in-residence, summer research experience that integrates training in civil conflict management with training in computer simulation skills. Participants use computer simulation software to develop theoretical propositions (via exercises in counter-factual research) that are later tested empirically. Participants collect and analyze empirical data and report their findings in a public forum. Activities include workshops on computer simulations, research methodology, and the graduate school application process. There are also activities designed to build a sense of research community among students, faculty and graduate student mentors. At this stage, this is a one-year Pilot phase of the project.Intellectual Merit: The program explores the causes of civil conflict occurrence (or recurrence) and investigates possible institutional configurations and other types of actions that may assist in ameliorating civil conflict. In particular, the project trains students in counter-factual reasoning, which promotes innovative thinking and problem solving skills. Developing empirical skills to test the theoretical propositions derived from the use of computer simulations also hones the scientific and analytical skills of the student participants.Broader Impacts: Given the growing frequency of civil conflicts in the world, and the security concerns these conflicts engender for the United States in the 21st century, the development of human capital that is equipped to deal with these challenges is critical for the national security of the country. In particular, training in conflict management that includes populations historically underrepresented in higher education (but which are growing as a proportion of the undergraduate student population) is a national imperative. This program addresses the need to develop further expertise in conflict management by providing opportunities to engage in advanced empirical research to students from such populations, students who would not otherwise have such opportunities. The University of North Texas is well positioned, both institutionally and geographically, to provide this access. To that end, this REU site has secured formal commitments from Hispanic and Native American Serving Institutions and from Historically Black Colleges/ Universities (HBCU) in Texas and Oklahoma to assist in broadening the pool of applicants to the program. However, the program solicits applications from across the country as well, and creates balanced cohorts of undergraduate participants.

项目概要：政治学系在北德克萨斯大学（UNT）运行这个独特的REU网站程序，以提供本科生（从全国各地招募，但特别强调在得克萨斯州和俄克拉荷马州代表性不足的学生）的机会，在冲突管理与和平研究从事研究生水平的研究。这是一个高级教师指导，在驻地，夏季研究经验，整合了在计算机模拟技能培训的培训，在国内冲突管理培训。参与者使用计算机模拟软件来开发理论命题（通过反事实研究的练习），然后进行经验测试。参与者收集和分析经验数据，并在公共论坛上报告他们的调查结果。活动包括计算机模拟，研究方法和研究生院申请过程的研讨会。还有一些活动旨在建立学生，教师和研究生导师之间的研究社区的感觉。在这个阶段，这是一个为期一年的试点阶段的项目。智力优点：该计划探讨了国内冲突发生（或复发）的原因，并调查可能的制度配置和其他类型的行动，可能有助于改善国内冲突。特别是，该项目训练学生反事实推理，促进创新思维和解决问题的技能。发展实证技能，以测试从使用计算机模拟得出的理论命题，也磨练了学生参与者的科学和分析技能。鉴于世界上日益频繁的国内冲突，以及这些冲突在21世纪对美国产生的安全关切，发展有能力应对这些挑战的人力资本，对我国的国家安全至关重要。特别是，冲突管理培训包括历史上在高等教育中代表性不足的人口（但这些人口在本科生人口中的比例正在增加），这是国家的当务之急。该计划解决了需要通过提供机会，从事先进的实证研究，从这些人群的学生，否则谁也不会有这样的机会，发展冲突管理的进一步专业知识。北德克萨斯大学在机构和地理上都处于有利地位，可以提供这种访问。为此，这个REU网站已经获得了来自西班牙裔和美洲土著服务机构以及德克萨斯州和俄克拉荷马州历史上的黑人学院/大学（HBCU）的正式承诺，以帮助扩大该计划的申请人群体。然而，该计划也征求来自全国各地的申请，并创造了平衡的本科生参与者群体。