REU Site: Texas Center for Undergraduate Research in Energy and Propulsion

这个为期三年的REU站点项目是德克萨斯农工大学（TAMU）和德克萨斯大学布朗斯维尔分校（UTB）之间的合作项目。本科生将参与与能源和推进相关的实践研究项目。具体主题包括替代燃料燃烧、能源转换和储存材料、生物柴油燃料、利用超临界二氧化碳的先进能源转换、风能研究和高超音速推进等。除了将进行的科学研究之外，本网站采用的方法将为长期研究经验对参与者最终追求更高学位的倾向的影响提供有价值的数据。这个REU网站将在两个主要方面影响社会：1)通过本科生参与科学研究，鼓励他们追求科学和工程方面的高级学位；2)与能源相关的研究将通过替代能源和改进的、污染更少的燃烧装置，潜在地造福成千上万的人。关于第一个主要影响，提议的场地将为30至40名本科生提供体验。将特别强调从德克萨斯州非主要研究机构的大学征聘代表性不足的少数民族和妇女，从而为那些可能没有研究机会的学生提供研究机会。此外，一年级和二年级的学生也将被鼓励参加。“该网站是由国防部与NSF REU项目合作资助的。”

This three year REU Site program is a collaborative effort between Texas A&M University (TAMU) and the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB). The undergraduate students will engage in hands-on research projects related to energy and propulsion. Specific topics include alternative fuels combustion, materials for energy conversion and storage, biodiesel fuels, advanced energy conversion using supercritical CO2, wind energy research, and hypersonic propulsion, among others. In addition to the scientific research that will be performed, the approach utilized in this site will provide valuable data toward the effect of longer-term research experiences on the tendency of the participants to ultimately pursue advanced degrees.This REU site will impact society in two major ways: 1) through the involvement of undergraduate students in scientific research, encouraging them to pursue advanced degrees in science and engineering; and 2) the energy-related research will potentially benefit thousands of people through alternative sources and improved, less-polluting combustion devices. With regard to the first major impact, the proposed site will provide experiences for thirty to forty undergraduate students. Special emphasis will be given to the recruitment of underrepresented ethnic minorities and women from universities in Texas that are not major research institutions, thus providing research opportunities to students who might not otherwise have them. In addition, first- and second-year students will be encouraged to participate. "The site is co-funded by the Department of Defense in partnership with the NSF REU program."