REU Site: National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges

这个在阿拉巴马大学塔斯卡卢萨分校的为期三年的REU项目将专注于NAE大挑战的研究主题。本计划调查的大挑战是：1)使太阳能经济；2)提供清洁用水；3)推进卫生信息学；4)网络空间安全；4)恢复和完善城市基础设施；5)设计科学发现的工具；6)设计出更好的药物。这些具有广泛社会影响的研究课题将使来自多个工程学科和计算机科学的本科生能够共同研究令人兴奋的关键问题。这个为期10周的REU暑期项目的具体目标包括：1)培养多学科研究领域的本科生；2)激发学生在具有重大社会影响的重大挑战中发挥作用的兴趣；3)发展技术和专业技能，为未来提供更多机会；4)与其他REU学生和教师导师建立联系；5)激励学生继续研究生学习。此外，学生还将参加以下专业发展研讨会：1)研究伦理；2)研究论文写作技巧；3)撰写引人入胜的摘要；4)创造并传达一个有效的口头报告；5)制作并呈现具有吸引力和信息量的研究海报；6)申请研究生院并支付研究生院费用；7)研究生生活。社会活动的计划将提高队列的经验。在夏季结束时，每个学生将参加海报会议，并与他们的教师导师一起在地区或国家会议上发表和展示研究成果。建议的活动有何更广泛的影响？PI计划从代表性不足的群体中招收50%的学生。这个项目的一个独特之处在于所有的教师导师都是女性，其中两位是非裔美国人。

This three-year REU Site program at the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa will focus on the research theme of the NAE Grand Challenges. The Grand Challenges investigated in this program are to: 1) Make solar energy economical; 2) Provide access to clean water,; 3) Advance health informatics; 4) Secure cyberspace; 4) Restore and improve urban infrastructure; 5) Engineer the tools of scientific discovery; and 6) Engineer better medicines. These research topics, with their broad societal impact, will allow undergraduate students from multiple engineering disciplines and computer science to work together on exciting and critical problems. This specific objectives of this 10-week summer REU Site program include the following: 1) training of undergraduates in multidisciplinary research fields; 2) generating student interest in playing a role in a grand challenge with critical societal impact; 3) developing technical and professional skills offering increased future opportunities; 4) networking with fellow REU students and faculty mentors; and 5) motivating students to pursue graduate studies. In addition students will attend the following professional development workshops: 1) Ethics in Research; 2) The Craft of Writing a research Paper; 3) Writing a Captivating Abstract; 4) Creating and Delivering an Effective Oral Presentation; 5) Creating and Presenting and Attractive and Informative Research Poster; 6) Applying to and (and Paying for) Graduate School; and 7) Life as a Graduate Student. Social activities are planned that will enhance the cohort experience. At the end of the summer, each student will participate in a poster session and work with their faculty mentor to publish and present research results at a regional or national conference. What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?The PI intends to recruit 50% of the students from underrepresented groups. A unique aspect of this program is that all faculty mentors are female two of which are African American.