RET Site: Water ECubeG (Engineering, Ecology, Environment, Geosciences)

“提供清洁的水”是美国国家工程院确定的14项重大挑战之一。联合国最近的一份报告预测，几乎每个国家都将在未来20年内面临供水问题。应对与水有关的挑战的任何解决办法的一个关键组成部分是教育我们的青年关于水研究的跨学科方面的知识，使他们认识到与水有关的问题；并将他们培训为未来的专业人员，他们将制定适当的解决办法来应对这些挑战。弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学(VT)的这一名为水ECubeG(工程、生态、环境、地球科学)的工程和计算机科学教师研究经验(RET)网站旨在开发一个为期6周的示范专业发展计划，以吸引弗吉尼亚州西南部9-12年级的STEM教师和社区大学教职员工进行跨学科的水研究。RET网站的成功实施将导致创新学习模块的开发，这些模块将激励9-12年级的学生和社区大学追求与水相关的STEM职业的广度。拟议的教师招聘区域将使许多教师能够在整个西弗吉尼亚州教育不同的学生群体，为高需求的农村和城市学生群体服务。该网站专注于跨学科的水研究，将使未来的科学家和工程师及早接触到解决切萨皮克湾污染等复杂水问题的关键问题。该网站的目标与弗吉尼亚州州长办公室确定的优先事项一致，在成功建成后，该网站将成为其他地方跨学科水研究的教师和学生培训的优秀典范。在三年的时间里，这个RET网站将为总共30名STEM预科教师和社区学院教员提供密集的夏季跨学科水研究体验。具体目标是：(1)为RET现场参与者开发和实施为期6周的研究体验计划，包括工程、生态、环境和地球科学方面的实践学习经验；(2)为教师制定和实施专业发展计划；(3)指导RET现场参与者为其课程开发和实施基于STEM的跨学科水研究学习模块；以及(4)建立一个在跨学科水研究方面接受指导的教师社区，以支持、合作和向更大的教师群体传播现场活动。RET校友将举办年度研讨会，以教育和激励更多的9-12名STEM教师和社区学院教师。RET参与者将在K-12和社区大学会议上展示他们的工作。项目成果将通过TeachEngineering数字图书馆发布。

To "Provide Access to Clean Water" is one of the 14 Grand Challenges identified by the National Academy of Engineering. A recent United Nations report projects that virtually every nation will face a water supply problem within the next 20 years. A key component to any solution to address water-related challenges is to educate our youth about the interdisciplinary aspects of water research to make them aware of water-related issues; and to train them as future professionals who will develop appropriate solutions to meet these challenges. This Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site, entitled Water ECubeG (Engineering, Ecology, Environment, Geosciences) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) is targeted at developing a model 6-week professional development program to engage grades 9-12 STEM teachers and community college faculty in Southwest Virginia in interdisciplinary water research. Successful implementation of this RET Site will result in the development of innovative learning modules that will motivate students in grades 9-12 and community colleges to pursue the breadth of water related STEM careers. The proposed region for teacher recruitment will enable many teachers to educate a diverse group of students throughout Southwest Virginia serving high-need rural and urban student populations. The Site's focus on interdisciplinary water research will enable early exposure of future scientists and engineers to critical issues for solving complex water problems such as pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. The goal of this Site is consistent with the priorities identified by the Virginia Governor's office and upon successful completion this Site will serve as an excellent model for teacher and student training in interdisciplinary water research elsewhere. Over a three-year period this RET Site will offer an intensive summer interdisciplinary water research experience to a total of 30 STEM precollege teachers and community college faculty. The specific objectives are to: (1) Develop and implement a 6-week research experience program for RET Site participants involving hands-on learning experiences in engineering, ecology, environment, and geosciences, (2) Develop and implement a professional development program for teachers, (3) Guide RET Site participants in developing and implementing STEM-based interdisciplinary water research learning modules for their curricula, and (4) Establish a community of teachers mentored in interdisciplinary water research for support, collaboration, and dissemination of Site activities to a larger group of teachers. Annual workshops will be held by RET alumni to educate and motivate additional 9-12 STEM teachers and community college faculty. RET participants will present their work at K-12 and Community College conferences. The project outcomes will be published through the TeachEngineering digital library.