REU Site: Research Experience for Community College Students (RECCS) in the Geosciences

在地球科学的社区大学生（RECCS）的研究经验的目标是每年通过在地球科学与当地相关的主题重点真实的研究参与10科罗拉多社区大学的学生。特别重点将是参与和支持农村科罗拉多学生。RECCS参与者将通过由杰出科学家监督的为期9周的研究项目进行指导，并将在夏季接受技能和科学沟通培训。预计研究经验将引导学生在四年制院校攻读科学学位。严格的计划评估将提供数据来衡量这些学生参与研究经验的影响，以及随后学生对追求以STEM为重点的四年制大学或研究生院学位和科学职业的兴趣。这个夏季研究项目将吸引社区大学的多样化干部，特别是来自科罗拉多农村的科学人才。社区大学在种族、民族和收入水平方面往往是多样化的，通常包括农村、第一代大学生或退伍军人身份的学生。研究表明，研究经验有助于学生提高他们对科学过程的理解，他们批判性地阅读科学文献的能力，以及理论与实践的结合。这些学生比其他学生更有可能追求未来的研究经验或参加研究生院课程。RECCS研究环境旨在提供科学家，专业发展培训师和RECCS工作人员的多层次指导，以及同龄人之间的互动，以在学生群体中灌输归属感。这一结构将确保参与者获得成功完成项目所需的支持，并对其科学能力产生信心。来自科罗拉多大学博尔德分校和当地联邦实验室的科学家的参与将为学生提供跨学科和跨机构的专业知识，并促进这些研究小组之间的联系和合作。此外，RECCS还为早期职业科学家提供指导机会。来自不同社区学院的学生的参与将对他们周围的学生产生涟漪反应，希望能激励其他社区学院的学生追求科学实习和其他研究经验。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The goal of Research Experience for Community College Students (RECCS) in the Geosciences is to engage 10 Colorado community college students per year through participation in authentic research in the geosciences with emphasis on locally relevant topics. Particular focus will be on engaging and supporting rural Colorado students. RECCS participants will be mentored through a 9-week research project overseen by preeminent scientists and will receive skills and scientific communication training over the course of the summer. It is expected that the research experience will guide students toward science degrees at four-year institutions. Rigorous program evaluation will provide data to measure the effects of engaging these students in research experiences and subsequent student interest in pursuing STEM-focused four-year college or graduate school degrees and scientific careers. This summer research program will engage a diverse cadre of community college , especially those from rural Colorado, in the sciences. Community colleges tend to be diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and income level, and often include rural, first-generation college or veteran-status students. Studies show that research experiences help students improve their understanding of the scientific process, their ability to read scientific literature critically, and to integrate theory and practice. These students are more likely than others to pursue future research experiences or enroll in graduate school programs. The RECCS research environment is designed to provide several layers of mentoring by scientists, professional development trainers and RECCS staff, as well as peer-group interaction, to instill a sense of belonging within the student cohorts. This structure will ensure that participants receive the support they need to succeed in their projects and to gain confidence in their scientific ability. The involvement of scientists from Colorado University Boulder and local Federal Laboratories will provide students with access to cross-disciplinary and cross-agency expertise and foster connections and collaborations between those research groups. In addition, RECCS also provides mentoring opportunities for early career scientists. The engagement of students from different community colleges will have a ripple effect on the students around them, hopefully inspiring other community college students to pursue science internships and other research experiences.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.