REU Site: Undergraduate Research Pathways That Broaden and Strengthen the Geosciences

凯克地质联盟REU每年将为14名本科生提供本科研究体验，以帮助学生：(1)通过真实的研究提高他们对地球的理解；(2)发展专业地球科学家所需的学科和个人技能；(3)通过更好地了解科学的智力和实际工作，培养他们作为科学家的信心和认同感；以及(4)完善他们的职业计划，并利用有意设计的研究经验和指导为他们的研究生学习做好准备。门户项目是为高二学生设计的，将让学生参与实地和实验室工作的组合，以调查与社会相关的问题，使他们接触到学科的广度，并获得地球科学的职业机会。高级研究计划的学生(大三学生)将参加一个为期四周的暑期项目，包括实地考察和实验室调查，然后在他们的家庭校园进行为期一年的学术项目，重点关注该学科中的重要问题。这两个项目都包括分析、专业发展部分和会议演示，旨在帮助学生学习尖端方法，以及发展他们的专业知识和技能。导师工作坊、课程材料和技术被用来支持学生参与者和项目导师的工作。凯克地质联盟项目的主要目标是扩大地球科学劳动力的多样性，并为学生在地球科学领域的职业生涯做好准备。本科生的参与者，特别是那些来自代表人数不足的少数族裔的学生，将从联盟和非联盟机构招聘。门户方案旨在进一步推动联盟机构的现有努力，以扩大地球科学和STEM中代表性不足的群体的参与。该联盟项目注重一年的研究经验、结构化的研究课程和导师培训，为本科生研究提供了一种独特的模式。该项目还致力于通过进一步发展研究知识和技能调查来推进本科生研究经验的评估，并促进社区范围内参与“科学认同”的形成，目标是同时加强REU和地球科学计划。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 Keck Geology Consortium REU will offer undergraduate research experiences for 14 undergraduate students per year to help students: (1) improve their understanding of the earth through authentic research; (2) develop disciplinary and personal skills needed by professional earth scientists; (3) develop their confidence and identity as scientists through greater understanding of the intellectual and practical work of science; and (4) refine their career plans and prepare them for graduate study using intentionally designed research experiences and mentoring. Gateway projects, designed for rising sophomores, will engage students in a mix of field and laboratory work to investigate societally relevant questions, expose them to the breadth of the discipline, and to career opportunities in the earth sciences. Students in the Advanced Research Program (rising juniors) will participate in a four-week summer project involving a mix of field and laboratory investigations, followed by an academic year-long project at their home campuses, that focuses on important problems in the discipline. Both programs include analytical, professional development components, and conference presentations designed to help students learn cutting-edge approaches, as well as to develop their professional knowledge and skills. Mentor workshops, curricular materials, and technology are used to support the work of student participants and project mentors.The principal goal of Keck Geology Consortium programs is to broaden the diversity of the geoscience workforce and to prepare students for careers in the geosciences. Undergraduate participants, especially those from underrepresented minorities, will be recruited from both Consortium and non-Consortium institutions. The Gateway Program is designed to further existing efforts at the Consortium institutions to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups within the geosciences and STEM. With an emphasis on year-long research experiences, structured research curricula, and mentor training, the Consortium programs provide a distinctive model for undergraduate research. This project also endeavors to advance the evaluation of undergraduate research experiences with further development of a research knowledge and skill survey and to facilitate community-wide engagement with “science identity” formation with a goal of simultaneously strengthening REU’s and geoscience programs.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.