REU Site: Atmospheric Research and Engineering Solutions for Climate Change and Environmental Challenges

缓解气候变化以及针对环境挑战提供具有成本效益和/或节能的解决方案是改善环境和公共卫生的迫切需要。该本科生研究体验 (REU) 网站将为主要来自代表性不足的少数族裔、女性和第一代/低收入学生的 24 名美国本科生提供参加为期三年、为期十周的夏季项目的机会，以开展大气研究和工程解决方案，以应对气候变化和环境挑战。每年，阿拉巴尼 REU 网站都会从全国范围内招募 8 名不同的本科生，与来自大气科学研究中心 (ASRC)、环境与可持续工程系 (ESE) 以及大气与环境科学系 (DAES) 的教师导师一起工作。 REU 项目将培养一支多元化的 STEM 年轻科学家队伍，为推进美国促进科学和工程进步的使命做出广泛贡献。该项目将促进本科教育的多样性，并通过提高对气候变化影响的认识并产生潜在的环境和气候解决方案，帮助监管机构制定适当的管理举措来改善环境和公共卫生，为整个社会带来利益。该REU站点的目标是1）扩大学生的研究经验和气候变化意识，2）提高学生在环境与可持续工程和大气科学方面的技能和知识，3）通过合作研究培训，指导和建立专业网络来促进专业发展，4）增强有效的能力沟通、自信、专业适应性和领导力，5) 培养代表性不足的学生选择 STEM 领域职业的兴趣。 REU 网站的结构将使 REU 学生充满信心，相信他们能够在课程期间成功完成任务。学生将有机会根据个人兴趣选择个人研究项目。学生将从事不同的项目，涵盖区域气候变化和变率、气溶胶和天气预报、气溶胶-云-化学相互作用、大气化学和空气质量、古气候学和海洋地球化学、地表交换过程-海气界面、可再生能源、可持续废水处理、碳和营养物的生物地球化学循环、可持续城市雨水管理和能源可持续性等领域的广泛前沿研究。这些 REU 项目将教育和培训先前研究经验有限（或没有）的学生，以推动知识和先进研究经验的前沿，以应对气候变化和环境问题。 REU 网站通过学生与教师、学生与学生的互动以及多项活动来提供强有力的指导，以促进他们的专业发展。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。

Addressing climate change mitigation and cost-effective and/or energy efficient solutions of environmental challenges is of a critical need to improve environmental and public health. This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site will provide 24 U.S. undergraduate students primarily from underrepresented minorities, women and first-generation/low-income students the opportunity to participate in a ten-week summer program over three years for conducting atmospheric research and engineering solutions to address climate change and environmental challenges. Each year a cohort of 8 diverse undergraduate students will be recruited from a national search with the UAlbany REU site to work with faculty mentors from the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC), the Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering (ESE), and the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences (DAES). This REU project will develop a diverse STEM workforce of young scientists to contribute broadly to advancing the U.S. mission of promoting the progress of science and engineering. This project will promote diversity in undergraduate education and bring benefits to the society as a whole by increasing awareness of climate change impacts and yielding potential environmental and climate solutions that can assist regulatory agencies in developing appropriate management initiatives to improve environmental and public health.The objectives of this REU site are to 1) broaden student research experience and climate change awareness, 2) increase students’ skills and knowledge on environmental & sustainable engineering and atmospheric science, 3) enhance professional growth through collaborative research training, mentoring, and building professional networks, 4) enhance competencies in effective communication, self-confidence, professional adaptability, and leadership, and 5) develop interest among underrepresented students in choosing careers in STEM fields. The REU site will be structured in such a way that REU students can feel confident that they can complete the tasks successfully during the program. Students will have the opportunity to select their individual research projects based on their personal interests. Students will work in different projects that encompass a wide range of cutting-edge research in regional climate change and variability, aerosols and weather forecasts, aerosol-cloud-chemistry interactions, atmospheric chemistry and air quality, paleoclimatology and marine geochemistry, surface exchange processes-air-sea interface, renewable energy, sustainable wastewater treatment, biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients, sustainable urban stormwater management, and energy sustainability. These REU projects will educate and train students with limited (or no) prior research experiences to push the frontiers of knowledge and advanced research experiences to tackle climate change and environmental problems. This REU site offers robust mentoring through student-faculty and student-student interactions and several events to enhance their professional development.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.