REU Site: Using the Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics to Study Crime

利用社会科学、自然科学和数学来研究犯罪（USSNSM）是一个跨学科的REU项目，汇集了阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校（UAB）两个学院（社会与行为科学学院和自然科学与数学学院）和三个项目（刑事司法、法医学和计算机取证）的教师。这个为期八周的暑期课程结合了这些独特但相互关联的课程的优势，形成了协同关系。学生将在三个研究方向中与教师合作：1)刑事司法，2)法医学，或3)计算机法医学。智力优势：该REU通过将传统的社会科学学科（刑事司法）与两个STEM学科（法医学和计算机与信息科学）结合起来，解决了犯罪和科学刑事调查的新兴问题。该项目为本科生提供了一个急需的机会，对一个紧迫的社会问题进行跨学科研究。这项建议的总体目标是让本科生参与跨学科研究，为他们在刑事司法、犯罪学、社会学、法律、生物学、化学、法医学、计算机取证和计算机安全等领域的广泛研究生课程做好准备。该REU还寻求通过有针对性的招聘和指导，扩大代表性不足群体的研究参与。UAB是美国东南部地区最具种族多样性的大学之一，周围有大量具有类似多样性水平的大学，以及许多历史上的黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）。除了理解和参与研究项目外，学生还将学习科学探究的跨学科性质、研究伦理、研究生选择以及专业和职业发展。更广泛的影响：许多广泛的影响将实现学生参与这个跨学科的REU计划。REU的参与者，教师和研究生导师将获得更多的意识，并欣赏许多学科对研究挑战的贡献。该项目基于队列的性质将允许学生与来自多个学科的教师和学生建立长期的合作关系。这个跨学科项目的成果包括：1)最先进的研究经验激励学生攻读社会科学和STEM学科的研究生学位，2)扩大代表性不足的群体在犯罪研究中的参与，3)增加对社会科学和STEM学科如何融合以解决紧迫社会问题的欣赏和理解，4)REU学生和教师之间的社区意识，5)对社会科学和STEM学科研究人员面临的伦理问题的理解，(6)加强社会与行为科学学院与自然科学与数学学院的合作。

Using the Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics to study Crime (USSNSM) is an interdisciplinary REU program that brings together faculty from two schools (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics) and three programs (Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Computer Forensics) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This eight-week summer program combines the strengths of these distinctive yet interrelated programs into a synergistic relationship. Students will work with faculty in one of three research tracks: 1) Criminal Justice, 2) Forensic Science, or 3) Computer Forensics.Intellectual Merit: This REU addresses emerging issues of crime and scientific criminal investigation by uniting a traditional Social Science discipline (Criminal Justice) with two STEM disciplines (Forensic Science and Computer and Information Science). The program provides a much-needed opportunity for undergraduate students to conduct interdisciplinary research on a pressing social problem. The overall objective of this proposal is to involve undergraduates in interdisciplinary research that will prepare them for a wide range of postgraduate programs in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Sociology, Law, Biology, Chemistry, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics, and Computer Security. This REU also seeks to broaden the research participation of underrepresented groups through targeted recruitment and mentoring. UAB is one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the Southeastern region of the United States and is surrounded by a large number of universities with similar levels of diversity, as well as many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In addition to understanding and participating in research projects, students will also learn about the interdisciplinary nature of scientific inquiry, research ethics, post-graduate options, and professional and career development.Broader Impacts: Numerous broad impacts will be realized for students involved in this interdisciplinary REU program. REU participants, faculty, and graduate student mentors will gain a greater awareness of, and appreciation for, the contributions of many disciplines to research challenges. The cohort based nature of the program will allow students to develop long-term collaborative relationships with faculty and students from multiple disciplines. The outcomes of this interdisciplinary program include: 1) State-of-the-art research experiences that motivate students to pursue graduate degrees in Social Science and STEM disciplines, 2) Broadened participation of underrepresented groups in research on crime, 3) Increased appreciation and understanding of how Social Science and STEM disciplines can converge to address pressing social problems, 4) A sense of community among REU students and faculty, 5) An understanding of ethical issues faced by researchers in Social Science and STEM disciplines, and 6) Enhanced collaboration between the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.