REU Site: Preparing the Next Generation of Scholars through Geographic Information Systems and Citizen Science

该项目由SBE董事会的本科生研究经验（REU）网站计划资助。因此，它具有科学和社会效益，并整合了研究和教育。由中央佛罗里达大学主办的社区地理和地理信息系统（GIS）REU网站将：1）批判性地评估国际本科生研究经验的基于社区的模型的机会和挑战; 2）让24名学生在三年内参加以社区为基础的国际实地考察，重点是社区地理，GIS，和公民科学，以审查与伯利兹的海洋废弃物和洪水/灾害管理有关的社会和环境差异;以及3）通过将理论与实践相结合，传播国际社会地理和地理信息系统研究的新概念和方法框架。 学生将与国际合作伙伴，包括中央佛罗里达大学，格鲁吉亚州立大学，自然历史的加勒比珊瑚礁生态系统计划史密森国家博物馆和伯利兹大学的研究人员合作。 这个REU网站的使命是为社区地理和GIS的学生提供国际经验，将研究与现实世界的问题解决联系起来，包括当地利益相关者的知识生产。 学生掌握地理空间STEM研究技能将主要通过学生创建一个开放和免费提供的地理空间数据基础设施，以解决与伯利兹海洋废弃物和洪水/灾害管理有关的社会和环境差异来实现。这一目标将包括通过ArcGIS Online创建一个在线、互动式地理空间数据和制图门户，ArcGIS Online是一个提供基于模板的网络制图应用程序的服务。 这个REU网站将提供免费和开放的访问各种研究数据集，元数据和地理空间培训模块。 由学生创建的地理空间基础设施还将包括：定量数据集，定性数据，GPS现场数据，地理分析和地图/调查结果报告。 学生还将与伯利兹居民和合作者共同领导GIS培训和社区实地考察。这个REU网站和不断增长的社区地理和GIS子领域有助于几个国家STEM趋势，包括：1）国家科学基金会继续强调参与STEM的科学; 2）NSF努力提高公众对科学的理解和对更广泛社会的影响; 3）地理空间技术职业的快速增长（被确定为美国部门。高增长产业）。 社区地理和GIS的子领域是特别有用的国际，以社区为基础的研究培训学生，因为它提供了学习和应用地理空间STEM研究技能的机会，包括GPS数据收集，GIS分析，定性数据分析和地理空间数据库设计。该项目由NSF国际科学与工程办公室（OISE）共同资助。

This project is funded from the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program in the SBE Directorate. As such, it has both scientific and societal benefits, and it integrates research and education. The Community Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) REU Site hosted by the University of Central Florida will: 1) critically assess the opportunities for and challenges to community-based models for international undergraduate research experiences; 2) engage 24 students over three years in community-based international fieldwork focused on community geography, GIS, and citizen science to examine social and environmental disparities related to marine debris and flooding/disaster management in Belize; and 3) disseminate a new conceptual and methodological framework for international community geography and GIS research by connecting theory with praxis. Students will work collaboratively with a diverse group of international partners, including researchers at University of Central Florida, Georgia State University, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Program, and University of Belize. The mission of this REU Site is to provide international experiences for students in community geography and GIS that connect research to real-world problem solving that is inclusive of knowledge production from local stakeholders. Student mastery of geospatial STEM research skills will be accomplished largely through students creating an open and freely available geospatial data infrastructure to address social and environmental disparities related to marine debris and flooding/disaster management in Belize. This objective will include the creation of an online, interactive geospatial data and mapping portal through ArcGIS Online, a service providing template-based web mapping applications. This REU Site will provide free and open access to various research datasets, metadata, and geospatial training modules. The geospatial infrastructure created by students will also include: quantitative datasets, qualitative data, GPS field data, geographic analyses, and maps/reports of findings. Students will also co-lead GIS training and community-based fieldwork with Belizean residents and collaborators. This REU Site and the growing subfield of community geography and GIS contribute to several national STEM trends, including: 1) the National Science Foundation's continued emphasis on the Science of Broadening Participating in STEM; 2) NSF's efforts to increase public understanding of science and impact on broader society; and 3) rapid growth in geospatial technology careers (identified as a U.S. Dept. of Labor high-growth industry). The subfield of community geography and GIS is particularly useful for training students in international, community-based research as it provides opportunities to learn and apply geospatial STEM research skills, including GPS data collection, GIS analysis, qualitative data analysis, and geospatial database design. This project is co-funded by the NSF Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE).