REU Site: Explore It! Building the Next Generation of Sustainable Forest Bioproduct Researchers

这个为期三年的REU网站计划建立在缅因州大学的大量研究实力的基础上。 对可持续森林生物产品的重视是一个热门话题，在可持续替代能源领域具有重大的全球意义。 10名美国本科生参与者将进行研究，以提高他们对该领域的一般知识和详细的主题元素之一，特别是：1）可持续性和生命周期分析，2）原料提取/修改，3）过程控制和传感，4）纳米材料生产和利用，以及5）新产品开发。 此外，该计划还包括一个国际部分，即六名智利学生与六名美国学生相互交流将参加该计划。缅因州大学与智利圣地亚哥智利大学森林资源和工程学科的智利教员、智利孔塞普西翁生物大学和康塞普西翁大学之间存在着持续的关系。 国际部分将使学生能够学习智利森林产品行业技术实践的细微差别，并讨论商业，营销，技术和环境问题。 在夏季结束时，REU学生的最终报告将在康塞普西翁-UD大学举行的研究会议的格式。 整个会议将流到美国，以便缅因州的研究团队可以参加。 通过参加这个REU网站计划，学生将更好地准备与国际学者合作，并将发展更广阔的国际视野。REU网站将通过广泛利用与主要为少数民族服务的机构的现有联系，专门招募少数民族。该奖项的所有参与者将是非UMaine学生。学生参与可持续能源替代领域令人兴奋的研究，提高了他们考虑研究生学习的可能性，并扩大了国家技术人力的基础。该奖项由刺激竞争研究的实验计划（EHR/EPSCoR）共同资助。

This three-year REU Site program builds on the substantial research strengths at the University of Maine. The focus on sustainable forest bioproducts is highly topical and of great global importance in the area of sustainable energy alternatives. Ten US undergraduate participants will conduct research advancing their knowledge of the field in general and one of the thematic elements in detail, specifically: 1) sustainability and life cycle analysis, 2) feedstock extraction/modification, 3) process control and sensing, 4) nanomaterial production and utilization, and 5) new product development. In addition the program includes an international component whereby, six Chilean students on a mutual exchange with six US students will participate in this program. Ongoing relationships exist between the University of Maine and Chilean faculty in Forest Resources and Engineering disciplines at the University of Chile in Santiago, the University of Bio-Bio in Concepcion, Chile and the University of Concepcion-UDT. The international component will allow students to learn the nuances of technical practices in the forest products industry in Chile, and discuss business, marketing, technology and environmental issues. At the end of the summer, REU student final presentations will be held at the University of Concepcion-UD in the format of a research conference. The entire conference will be streamed to the US so that the U of Maine based research teams can participate. Through participation in this REU Site program students will be better prepared to collaborate with international scholars and will develop a broader international perspective. The REU Site will specifically recruit minorities through extensive use of existing linkages with primarily minority serving institutions. All participants on this award will be non-UMaine students. The involvement of students in exciting research in the area of sustainable energy alternatives enhances the likelihood that they will consider post-graduate study and broaden the base of the Nation's technical manpower. This award is co-funded by the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EHR/EPSCoR).