REU Site: Natural History Research Experiences

史密森学会位于华盛顿特区的国家自然历史博物馆(NMNH)将在2024年至2028年的夏季期间举办一个本科生研究体验(REU)网站。REU计划每年夏天支持12名学生，为期10周，在此期间，学生将进行独立研究，并参加各种专业发展研讨会。项目的重点是NMNH在地质学、生物学和人类学方面的研究优势。实习生在与博物馆的研究科学家密切合作开发研究项目时，可以无与伦比地接触到NMNH的藏品、设施和智力资源。该计划旨在通过提供关于进入研究生院、设计、进行和发表研究以及向科学界和公众展示结果的结构化咨询，为参与者进入科学职业生涯提供支持和准备。虽然这些经历将为学生提供技术技能和进入科学职业生涯的途径，但培训也将鼓励批判性思维和陈述技能的发展，这些技能将在未来的职业生涯中发挥重要作用。NMNH致力于扩大自然历史学科的参与和增强多样性，以培养一支面向未来的具有国际竞争力的科学工作队伍。此外，REU的学生将直接与参观博物馆的公众进行研究，每年与数千名博物馆参观者互动。自然历史研究体验(NHRE)在国家自然历史博物馆(NMNH)科学工作人员的指导下，每年邀请12名本科生参与独立研究项目。NHRE是为那些几乎没有机会在自然历史学科发挥其研究潜力的有前途的本科生而设计的。NHRE是围绕导师和学生的关系构建的，80%的时间都投入到研究项目中。在剩下的时间里，实习生参与丰富活动，包括研究、收藏和拓展方面。他们还参加专业发展活动，是非殖民化研讨会的讨论者，旨在激发与博物馆实践相关的批判性思维，并接受道德、沟通和工作场所行为方面的培训。项目的重点是NMNH在地质学、生物学和人类学方面的研究优势。实习生从事假设驱动的研究项目，他们可以在项目结束时获得所有权。实习生拥有无与伦比的博物馆藏品、设施和智力资本来完成他们的项目。NHRE的成功与否将取决于它对学生对STEM的态度的影响，实习生随后的教育/职业道路，以同行评议的出版物衡量的导师与学生合作的程度，在专业会议上的陈述，持续的校友辅导和校友同行网络，以及我们在扩大自然历史职业参与方面的成功。NMNH每年有超过400万游客，在教育和启发公众关于自然历史研究方面具有独特的地位。NHRE利用史密森在教育和交流方面的卓越表现，让实习生接触到整个博物馆，而不仅仅是科学部门。作为我们“专家在”推广计划的一部分，实习生将直接与参观博物馆的公众就他们的研究进行接触，与数千名博物馆参观者互动。NHR致力于促进自然历史学科的多样性和包容性，并扩大参与：至少50%的实习生将是代表不足的少数族裔、第一代大学生、残疾人和退伍军人。一半的NHRE参与者将来自没有研究生课程的机构，那里的STEM机会有限。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), located in Washington, D.C. will host a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site during the summers from 2024-2028. The REU program will support 12 students each summer for 10 weeks, during which students will conduct independent research and participate in a variety of professional development workshops. Projects focus on the NMNH's research strengths in geology, biology, and in anthropology. Interns are given unparalleled access to the collections, facilities, and intellectual resources of NMNH while they develop a research project in close collaboration with a museum research scientist. The program is designed to support and prepare participants for entry into scientific careers by providing structured counsel on entering graduate school, designing, conducting and publishing research, and presenting results to the scientific community and the public. While these experiences will provide students with technical skills and pathways into science careers, the training will also encourage the development of critical thinking and presentation skills that will be valuable in any future career. NMNH is committed to broadening participation and enhancing diversity in natural history disciplines in order to develop an internationally competitive scientific work force for the future. In addition, the REU students will directly engage the museum-going public about their research, interacting with thousands of museum visitors annually.Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE) engages 12 undergraduate students annually in independent research projects under the mentorship of National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) scientific staff members. NHRE is designed for promising undergraduates who have had few opportunities to fulfill their potential as researchers in natural history disciplines. NHRE is structured around the mentor-student relation, with 80% of the time being devoted to the research project. During the remaining time, the interns participate in enrichment activities that include research, collections, and outreach aspects. They also participate in professional development activities, are discussants in decolonization workshops tailored to spark critical thinking related to museum practices, and receive training in ethics, communication, and workplace conduct. Projects focus on the NMNH’s research strengths in geology, biology, and anthropology. Interns work on hypothesis-driven research projects, which they can take ownership of at the end of the program. Interns have unparalleled access to museum collections, facilities, and intellectual capital to complete their projects. The success of the NHRE will be judged by its effects on student attitudes toward STEM, interns’ subsequent educational/career paths, the extent of mentor-student collaborations as measured by peer-reviewed publications, presentations at professional conferences, ongoing alumni mentoring and alumni peer networking, and by our success in broadening participation in natural history careers. With more than 4 million visitors annually, the NMNH is uniquely positioned to educate and inspire the public about natural history research. NHRE leverages Smithsonian’s excellence in education and communication, exposing the interns to the entire museum, not just the science departments. As part of our “The Expert Is In” outreach program, interns will directly engage the museum-going public about their research, interacting with thousands of museum visitors. NHRE is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in natural history disciplines, and broadening participation: at least 50% of interns will be underrepresented minorities, first-generation college students, persons with disabilities, and veterans. Half of the NHRE participants will be from institutions without a graduate program, where opportunities in STEM are limited.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.