REU Site: Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Louisiana's Changing Coastal Environments

位于洛杉矶Cocodrie的路易斯安那大学海洋联盟（LUMCON） DeFelice海洋中心每年夏天将为8名学生举办本科生研究体验（REU）项目。路易斯安那州沿海地区是研究气候变化影响的理想模式系统，因为其环境变化的速度远远大于美国和国外的大多数沿海系统。该LUMCON REU网站的目标是提供刺激，具有挑战性和持久的研究经验，为高素质，多样化的本科生参与者在沿海和海洋科学的职业感兴趣的队列。LUMCON REU计划的具体目标是：1)让学生接触到沿海和海洋科学的各种研究设置和学科，2)促进经验，引导学生通过规划，执行，分析，解释和独立研究项目的演示阶段，3)培养学生的口头和书面科学交流，4)让参与者接触到科学职业道路和榜样的多样性，5)向参与者传授科学研究与生态系统管理之间的联系；6)通过共同的研究经验和学生、导师、其他科学家、学生和教育工作者之间正式和非正式交流的机会，培养一批未来的科学家。该计划将通过关注路易斯安那州的沿海环境问题，与美国和国外其他地方面临的问题相关，为参与者在科学，生态系统管理和/或政策方面的多样化职业做好准备。通过一系列技能建设研讨会和其他机会，REU实习生将学习如何有效地向不同的受众和渠道传播科学，这些技能对任何追求的职业道路都有益。该项目将继续建立在强大的历史和不断增长的联系网络上，以吸引不同群体的REU参与者，包括来自STEM中代表性不足和服务不足的群体的学生（例如，代表性不足的种族，民族和社会经济群体以及残疾和非传统学生以及来自非研究机构的学生）。REU实习生将成为LUMCON暑期社区的一部分，为他们提供与访问高中，本科生和研究生以及研究人员交流的机会。LUMCON REU计划整合了研究，教育和生态系统管理，与LUMCON作为一个机构共享的使命。deelice海洋中心位于Terrebonne湾的上端，靠近密西西比河和Atchafalaya河三角洲，广阔的河口和沿海湿地，以及深水海湾的沿海水域，使其成为实地和实验海洋科学的理想场所。一个新兴的三角洲（Atchafalaya）和一个退化的三角洲（Mississippi），结合复杂的海岸过程（海岸侵蚀和湿地退化），以及海岸带持续的营养输入，为纯粹和应用研究提供了各种各样的机遇和挑战，这些研究对海岸恢复、洪水控制以及该地区大量的生物资源（牡蛎、虾、蟹和鳍渔业）都有影响。目前的重点研究领域包括河流/海洋相互作用、三角洲形成和退化、海岸损失和恢复、生物多样性、行为生态学、一般生态学和生态系统生态学、生物成因系统、有机化学、地球微生物学、生物地球化学，以及急性和慢性人为和环境影响，包括气候变化、富营养化/缺氧、海洋酸化和沿海和海洋系统的石油泄漏。导师的研究兴趣和专业知识与该地区栖息地的多样性相结合，为REU实习生参与科学研究和专业指导计划提供了独特的机会，该计划将动态沿海和海洋生态系统的基础研究问题与以科学为基础的政策和管理活动的核心问题相结合。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。

The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) DeFelice Marine Center, located in Cocodrie, LA, will host a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program for eight students each summer. Coastal Louisiana serves as an ideal model system to study climate change impacts as rates of environmental change are substantially greater than most coastal systems in the US and abroad. The goal of the LUMCON REU site is to provide stimulating, challenging, and lasting research experiences for a highly qualified, diverse cohort of undergraduate student participants interested in careers in coastal and marine science. Specific objectives of the LUMCON REU program are to 1) expose students to a variety of research settings and disciplines of coastal and marine science, 2) facilitate experiences that guide students through the planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and presentation phases of an independent research project, 3) train students in oral and written communication of science, 4) expose participants to the diversity of scientific career paths and role models, 5) teach participants about the linkages between scientific research and ecosystem management, and 6) develop a cohort of future scientists through common research experiences and opportunities for both formal and informal exchange between students, mentors, other scientists, students, and educators. This program will prepare participants for a diversity of careers in science, ecosystem management and/or policy by focusing on coastal environmental problems in Louisiana with relevance to issues faced elsewhere in the United States and abroad. Through a series of skill-building workshops and other opportunities, REU interns will learn to effectively communicate science to diverse audiences and outlets—skills beneficial in any pursued career path. This program will continue to build on a strong history and growing network of contacts to attract diverse cohorts of REU participants, including students from underrepresented and underserved groups in STEM (e.g., underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups as well as disabled and non-traditional students and those from non-research institutions). REU interns will be part of LUMCON’s summer community affording them networking opportunities with visiting high school, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as researchers.The LUMCON REU program integrates research, education, and ecosystem management, a mission shared with LUMCON as an institution. The DeFelice Marine Center’s location on the upper end of Terrebonne Bay and its proximity to the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River deltas, extensive estuaries and coastal wetlands, and coastal waters to the deep-water Gulf makes it an ideal venue for field and experimental based marine science. An emerging delta (Atchafalaya) and a degrading delta (Mississippi), combined with complex coastal processes (coastal erosion and wetland degradation), and continued nutrient inputs into the coastal zone provide diverse opportunities and challenges for both pure and applied research that have implications for coastal restoration, and flood control, and the vast living resources (oysters, shrimp, crabs, and fin fisheries) in the area. Focal areas of research currently include river/ocean interactions, delta formation and degradation, coastal loss and restoration, biodiversity, behavioral,general, and ecosystem ecology, biogenic systems, organic chemistry, geomicrobiology, biogeochemistry, and acute and chronic anthropogenic and environmental impacts including climate change, eutrophication/hypoxia, ocean acidification, and oil spills on coastal and marine systems. The combination of mentor research interests and expertise with the diversity of habitats in this region provides a unique opportunity for REU interns to participate in a scientific research and professional mentoring program that interfaces fundamental research questions in dynamic coastal and marine ecosystems with problems central to science-based policy and management activities.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.