REU Site: Nanotechnology REU with a Focus on Community Colleges

这个REU网站，纳米技术REU重点关注莱斯大学的社区学院，旨在通过为当地社区学院学生提供纳米技术领域的研究机会，扩大传统上代表性不足的学生在STEM中的参与，这是一个前沿和快速发展的领域，跨越许多学科，并解决公认的现实问题。纳米技术将物理科学和工程学与医学，能源和环境中的应用相结合，特别吸引招募和留住科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）的大学生。从历史上看，经济上处于不利地位的第一代学生在STEM中的代表性不足。 社区学院为代表性不足的群体提供高比例的服务，并为未来的科学家和工程师提供了丰富的人才库。本科研究可以帮助建立信心和研究技能，反过来，在学生决定攻读研究生院或研究职业中发挥关键作用。这个REU网站旨在将当地社区大学的学生与一个有指导和支持的学者社区中丰富和有意义的实验室经验相结合，这将有助于他们过渡和保留到四年制大学。这个REU网站的目标是：1）促进来自代表性不足的群体和经济弱势群体的工程专业学生的发展; 2）教育社区大学生关于STEM研究职业; 3）提供研究实验室的经验，同时展示STEM职业的兴奋; 4）建立和保持与我们的参与者的指导关系; 5）促进莱斯大学和德克萨斯州墨西哥湾沿岸地区社区学院之间有效的机构间伙伴关系。为期10周的研究经验将向学生介绍在包容性文化中纳米技术的研究，应用，教育和职业机会。学生将与赖斯教师，博士后和研究生导师和教学人员互动，他们将通过包括研究方法，口头和书面演示，网络，职业网络研讨会和大学转学在内的计划活动指导他们;沿着当地STEM工业机会，这将促进该计划的影响传播到他们的社区。REU参与者将在小型卷曲纳米技术研究所的夏季研究座谈会上展示他们的研究成果。这些计划活动旨在培养对STEM的兴趣，提供进行研究和科学思维的技能和知识，并在大学环境中同化社区大学生，以实现STEM的可行未来。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。

This REU site, Nanotechnology REU with a Focus on Community Colleges at Rice University aims to broaden the participation of traditionally underrepresented students in STEM by providing research opportunities to local community college students in the area of nanotechnology, a cutting edge and rapidly progressing field that cuts across many disciplines and addresses well-recognized, real-world problems. Nanotechnology integrates the physical sciences and engineering with applications in medicine, energy, and the environment that are particularly appealing to recruit and retain college students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Historically, economically disadvantaged and first generation students have an underrepresented presence in STEM. Community colleges serve a high percentage of underrepresented groups and present a rich pool of future scientists and engineers. Undergraduate research can help build confidence and research skills and in turn, play a pivotal role in a student's decision to pursue graduate school or research careers. This REU Site aspires to integrate local community college students with an enriching and meaningful laboratory experience in a community of scholars with mentorship and support that will facilitate their transition and retention into a four-year university. The objectives of this REU site are: 1) facilitate the development of engineering students from underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged populations; 2) educate community college students about STEM research careers; 3) provide experiences in research laboratories while demonstrating the excitement of STEM careers; 4) build and maintain mentoring relationships with our participants; and 5) promote effective inter-institutional partnerships between Rice University and community colleges in the Texas Gulf Coast Region. The 10-week research experience will introduce students to research, applications, and education and career opportunities in nanotechnology in an inclusive culture. Students will interact with Rice faculty, post-doctoral and graduate student mentors and teaching staff who will be guiding them through program activities that include research methodology, oral and written presentations, networking, career webinars, and college transferring; along with local STEM industrial opportunities that will promote the dissemination of the program's impact into their communities. REU participants will present their research findings at the Smalley-Curl Nanotechnology Institute's Summer Research Colloquium. These program activities are designed to cultivate interest in STEM, provide skills and knowledge in conducting research and scientific thinking, and assimilate community college students in a university setting for a viable future in STEM.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.