REU Site program Explore it! Building the Next Generation of Sustainable Forest Bioproduct Researchers.

缅因州大学森林生物制品研究所(FBRI)的这一REU现场项目“探索它！建立下一代可持续的森林生物制品研究人员”旨在让参与者开发和利用新知识，以道德的方式解决影响社会的森林生物制品问题。REU网站通过广泛利用与主要为少数族裔服务的机构的现有联系，招募代表人数不足的本科生。结果通过校园和国际演示以及期刊文章和研讨会传播。REU的学生与中学教师一起创建课程模块，以可持续森林生物制品的概念为载体，向中学生传授STEM原则。参与者向FBRI教职员工展示并与之互动，从而拓宽了教职员工和他们的个人经验。作为参与者，社会受益：传播他们的研究成果，影响中学教育，更广泛地了解研究伦理，并进入研究生院学习以促进他们的职业生涯。国际科学界受益，因为REU参与者向我们的智利同事介绍他们的发现，同时学习在康塞普西大学进行的平行研究。该项目是先前资助的REU网站的继续，并向10名本科生提供为期10周的夏季研究体验，利用缅因州大学森林生物制品研究所(FBRI)的重点领域。对可持续森林生物产品的关注具有很强的时代性，在可持续生物产品替代品领域具有重要的全球意义。学生进行研究，以提高他们对该领域和其中一个主题元素的一般知识，例如：i)可持续性和生命周期评价，ii)原料提取/修改，iii)过程控制和传感，iv)纳米材料的生产和利用，以及v)新产品开发。REU基金为30名本科生提供为期3年的津贴和职业发展活动。其他非NSF REU资助的学生也将参与，其中包括6名智利学生与6名美国学生的相互交流，从而扩大了该项目的影响。学生们由12名教职员工中的一人指导，他们都是智利康塞普西翁大学的高级人员。REU项目的最后是到智利的森林产品工业实地考察和一个研究会议，与会者在会上向智利的教职员工和学生介绍他们的工作。采用了一套独特的评估和评估工具，可以跟踪学生的表现，从而向学生和项目提供反馈。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This REU Site Program, "Explore it! Building the Next Generation of Sustainable Forest Bioproduct Researchers" at the University of Maine, Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) aims for participants to develop and utilize new knowledge to address forest bioproduct issues impacting society in an ethical manner. The REU Site recruits underrepresented undergraduate students through extensive use of existing linkages with primarily minority serving institutions. Results are disseminated via campus and international presentations, and through journal articles and symposia. REU students work alongside middle-school teachers creating curricular modules to teach STEM principles to middle school children employing the concept of sustainable forest bioproducts as a vehicle. Participants present to, and interact with FBRI faculty, thereby broadening both the faculty member's and their personal experiences. Society benefits as the participants: disseminate their findings, impact middle school education, obtain a broader understanding of research ethics, and enroll in graduate school to advance their careers. The international scientific community benefits as the REU participants present their findings to our Chilean colleagues, while learning of the parallel research performed at the University of Concepcion.This project is a continuation of a previously funded REU Site and provides 10 undergraduates with a ten-week summer research experience, leveraging the focus areas of the University of Maine's Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI). Focus on sustainable forest bioproducts is highly topical and is of great global importance in the area of sustainable bioproduct alternatives. Students conduct research advancing their general knowledge of the field and one of the thematic elements, such as: i) sustainability and LCA, ii) feedstock extraction/modification, iii), process control and sensing, iv) nanomaterial production and utilization, and v) new product development. REU funding provides stipends and professional development activities for 30 undergraduates over 3 years. Additional non-NSF REU funded students will also participate, including 6 Chilean students on a mutual exchange with 6 U.S. students, thereby broadening the impact of the program. Students are mentored by one of 12 faculty members, all of whom are senior personnel in the FBRI, or the University of Concepcion-UDT, Chile. The REU program concludes with a forest products industry field trip to Chile and a research conference where participants present their work to Chilean faculty and students. A unique set of evaluation and assessment tools are employed that allow tracking of student performance, thus offering feedback to students and the program.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.