REU Site: National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges

这个为期三年的REU网站计划在亚拉巴马塔斯卡卢萨大学将专注于NAE大挑战的研究主题。 该计划调查的重大挑战是：1）使太阳能经济; 2）提供清洁水; 3）推进健康信息学; 4）安全网络空间; 4）恢复和改善城市基础设施; 5）设计科学发现的工具; 6）设计更好的药物。 这些研究课题具有广泛的社会影响，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周的夏季REU网站计划的具体目标包括以下内容：1）多学科研究领域的本科生培训; 2）产生学生在具有关键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，提供更多的未来机会; 4）与REU学生和教师导师建立联系;（5）激励学生继续深造。此外，学生将参加以下专业发展研讨会：1）研究伦理; 2）撰写研究论文的工艺; 3）撰写迷人的摘要; 4）创建和提供有效的口头演示; 5）创建和展示有吸引力和信息丰富的研究海报; 6）申请和（和支付）研究生院;和7）作为研究生的生活。 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在区域或国家会议上发表和展示研究成果。拟议活动的广泛影响是什么？PI打算从代表性不足的群体中招收50%的学生。该计划的一个独特之处在于，所有教师导师都是女性，其中两名是非洲裔美国人。

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.