NSF REU-Site: Research Experience for Undergraduates site to create "Pathways Opening World Energy Resources" (REU - POWER)

该奖项为本科生建立了一个新的研究体验网站，以创建位于马萨诸塞州波士顿东北大学的“打开世界能源资源的路径”(REU-POWER)。REU-POWER网站将为正在崛起的大二、大三和大四学生提供暑期体验，与来自工程学院的教授一起工作，从事与国家工程院(NAE)大能源挑战赛相关主题的研究。特别强调招收代表不足的少数族裔(URM)学生，正因为如此，REU-POWER可以特别创建专业发展计划，以解决URM STEM人群的特定障碍。具体地说，REU-POWER将(1)为10名合格的URM学者提供年度财务和辅导支持；(2)影响有据可查的美国全国对更多样化能源劳动力的需求；以及(3)帮助推进研究，使可再生能源、太阳能和清洁能源在社会中更普遍，帮助解决NAE Grand Energy挑战。REU-POWER模式的成功将传播给其他机构效仿。REU-POWER网站的其他独特方面包括：1)为所有参与者提供实验可再生能源实验室的动手短期课程；2)正式的导师培训，其中包括指导URM工程专业学生的教育模块；3)广泛的专业发展研讨会；4)正式的研究培训，包括每日反思日记、海报演示和与教职员工一起撰写研究摘要的技术；以及5)从已经对能源职业生涯感兴趣的优秀URM学生中招募人才。REU-POWER网站的一个主要目标是激发和吸引本科生在能源领域追求职业生涯，无论是在研究实验室、工业还是继续他们在研究生院的学习。这一奖项反映了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 award establishes a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates site to create "Pathways Opening World Energy Resources" (REU - POWER), located at Northeastern University, Boston MA. The REU-POWER site will provide rising sophomores, juniors and seniors with a summer-based experience working with professors from across the College of Engineering, engaged in research on topics pertaining to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Energy Challenge. There is special emphasis on the recruitment of underrepresented minority (URM) students, and because of this, REU-POWER can particularly create professional development programs that address particular barriers of URM STEM populations. Specifically, REU-POWER will (1) provide annual financial and mentoring support for 10 qualified URM scholars; (2) impact the well-documented U.S. national need for a more diverse energy workforce; and (3) help advance research to make renewable, solar and clean energy more prevalent in society, to help solve the NAE Grand Energy Challenges. The success of the REU-POWER model will be disseminated to other institutions to follow. Other unique aspects of the REU-POWER site includes the development of: 1) hands-on short courses with experimental renewable energy labs for all participants; 2) formal mentor training that includes educational modules for mentoring URM engineering students; 3) extensive professional development seminars; 4) formal research training including daily reflection journals, poster presentations and technical writing of a research digest with a faculty member; and 5) recruitment from a unique pool of highly talented URM students that have already expressed interest in energy careers. A primary goal of the REU-POWER site is to excite and engage undergraduate students to pursue careers in the energy field, whether in research labs, industry or to continue their studies in graduate school.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.