REU Site: Blockchain Technology for a Secure Data and Communication Future

博伊西州立大学将建立一个以区块链技术为中心的本科生研究体验(REU)网站。区块链技术正在彻底改变信息的编码、保护和分发方式。它是一种技术，可以改善社会现有流程的安全和保障，并使以前不可能存在的系统得以开发。区块链的潜在应用是深远的，包括fi金融机构如何兑换货币，政府如何保护电子投票的完整性，以及医疗提供者如何保护医疗信息系统。该REU项目将为本科生提供有影响力的有效学习和研究体验。学生们将学习如何用不同的方法和技术从不同的角度深入探讨区块链这样的变革性技术，并在报告他们的研究成果和为fiELD做出真正贡献方面获得宝贵的经验。技术内容将融入伦理原则和进程，这些原则和进程支撑着对民主社会的期望和要求。这个REU网站将帮助每年十名本科生成长为研究人员，为他们提供设计、开发和实施区块链技术所需的基础知识和技能，以确保关键信息系统的安全。REU网站将通过有指导的基于团队的研究过程，促进区块链技术知识的理论和实践进步。为了支持他们的专业发展，学生们将参加关于区块链技术的迷你课程，关于区块链技术的伦理考虑的迷你课程，三个不同的研讨会，以在研究项目和DeBriefing之间创造协同，以及最终的体验，学生在爱达荷州本科生研究会议上展示他们的工作成果。建议的REU SITE计划的目标是：(1)培养学生在合作的环境中进行研究，以支持他们的专业发展；(2)建立强大和多样化的申请者人才库，他们拥有成为区块链技术未来领导者的知识、技能和专长，以及(3)以一种促进合格的fi成员参与的方式为建设下一代计算机科学家做出贡献，这些团体在美国没有充分的代表。该奖项反映了fi的法定使命，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，被认为是值得支持的奖项。

Boise State University will establish a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site centered around blockchain technology. Blockchain technology is revolutionizing the way information is encoded, secured, and distributed. It is a technology that can improve safety and security of existing processes in society and enable development of systems that could not previously exist. Potential applications of blockchain are far-reaching, including how financial institutions exchange currency, governments protect the integrity of electronic voting, and medical providers secure health information systems. This REU project will provide undergraduate students impactful and effective learning and research experiences. Students will learn how a transformative technology such as blockchain can be approached in depth from different perspectives with diverse methods and techniques, and they will gain valuable experience in reporting their research results and making real contributions to the field. Technical content will be infused with ethical principles and processes underpinning expectations and demands of democratic societies. This REU Site will facilitate the growth of ten undergraduate students each year into researchers, by providing them with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to navigate the design, development, and implementation of blockchain technologies for securing critical information systems. The REU Site will facilitate theoretical and practical advances in blockchain technology knowledge through mentored team-based research processes. In support of their professional development, students will participate in a mini-course on blockchain technology, a mini-course on ethical considerations of blockchain technology, three different seminars for creating synergy among research project and for debriefing, as well as a culminating experience where students present the results of their work at the Idaho Conference for Undergraduate Research. The objectives of the proposed REU Site Program are: (1) Prepare students to perform research in a collaborative setting in support of their professional development, (2) Establish a strong and diverse applicant pool of students who have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to become the future leaders in blockchain technology, and (3) Contribute to building the next generation of computer scientists in a way that promotes participation of qualified members of groups that are not fully represented in STEM in the U.S. Research results will be disseminated to the public through journal publications, conference proceedings, and conference presentations. Students will be recruited from underrepresented groups in response to needs for technically proficient and diverse professionals to lead innovations in technology.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.