REU Site: Engaging Undergraduates Students in Converting Waste to Sustainable Construction Materials

路易斯维尔大学的本科生研究经验（REU）站点将为24名本科生提供固体废物回收和建筑材料再利用方面的多学科研究经验，这些本科生来自那些在促进竞争研究（EPSCoR）州（如肯塔基州和西弗吉尼亚州）的既定计划中研究机会有限的机构。固体废物在垃圾填埋场的积累对食物链、健康和环境产生负面影响。将建筑、农业、工业和城市垃圾中的固体废物转化为新一代可持续建筑材料的能力将减少废物的污染，并减少生产新建筑材料所产生的二氧化碳排放。REU的学生将参与跨学科的研究，使这种固体废物回收实用和经济。这些经验将帮助来自不同工程学科的学生进行未来的研究，以解决我们社会的废物问题。在REU的经历还将帮助学生培养广泛的科学和研究技能，以及沟通和团队合作技能，这将有利于他们未来的职业和社会。路易斯维尔大学这个为期三年的REU项目的主要目标是每年为8名本科生参与者提供为期10周的暑期研究经历，以提高他们在STEM领域的技能、自我效能感、动力和记忆力。该项目通过参与将固体废物转化为建筑材料的研究以及其他培训和发展活动，重点培养学生的研究技能、批判性思维、解决问题的能力和团队合作/沟通能力。REU网站的具体目标是：(1)向学生传授与环保建筑材料技术相关的科学概念；(2)使学生掌握与传统建筑材料相关的实验技能，并对日益严重的固体废物问题进行教育；(3)通过与教师和行业专家合作，培养学生的批判性思维、解决问题的能力、团队合作能力和沟通能力；(4)通过各种研究和丰富活动，为学生在学术界、商界、政府和其他职业道路上的机会做好准备。研究课题包括木质纤维素生物质、塑料、废旧轮胎、煤灰、建筑和拆除材料转化为可持续建筑材料。该计划将包括每周研讨会、专业发展研讨会和实地考察。这些活动旨在补充技术活动。将鼓励环境资源小组的参加者在区域和国家会议上提交技术论文和海报。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识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 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site at the University of Louisville will provide multidisciplinary research experiences in solid waste recycling and reuse of construction materials to a total of 24 undergraduate students from institutions with limited research opportunities in Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) states (e.g., Kentucky and West Virginia). Accumulation of solid waste in landfills negatively affects the food chain, health, and environment. The ability to convert solid waste from construction, agricultural, industrial, and municipal waste into a new generation of sustainable construction materials will reduce pollution from waste and reduce CO2 emissions from the production of new construction materials. REU students will participate in interdisciplinary research to make such solid waste recycling practical and economical. These experiences will help prepare students from a wide range of engineering disciplines to conduct future research to address our societies’ waste problems. The REU experience will also help students develop a wide range of scientific and research skills, as well as communication and teamwork skills that will benefit their future careers and society. The primary goal of this three-year REU site at the University of Louisville is to provide 8 undergraduate participants a 10-week summer research experience each year to increase their skills, self-efficacy, motivation, and retention in STEM. The program focuses on the development of skills in research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork/communication by participating in research to convert solid waste into construction materials, as well as other training and development activities. The specific objectives of the REU site are to: (1) Instruct students about scientific concepts relevant to eco-friendly construction material technologies; (2) Equip students with laboratory skills associated with traditional construction materials and educate students about the burgeoning solid waste problem; (3) Develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills by having students work with both faculty members and industry experts; and (4) Prepare students for opportunities in academia, business, government, and other career paths through a variety of research and enrichment activities. Research topics include the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, plastic, used tires, coal ash, and construction and demolition materials into sustainable construction materials. The program will include weekly seminars, professional development workshops, and field trips. These activities are designed to complement the technical activities. REU participants will be encouraged to present technical papers and posters at regional and national conferences.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.