REU Site: Observing the Ocean

得克萨斯州农工大学海洋学系将主办一个REU网站：观测海洋（REU-OTO）。每年夏天，该计划将为十名学生提供参与研究的机会，以调查沿海海洋面临的问题，包括缺氧，有害藻类，石油泄漏，气候引起的水文变化和海洋酸化。招聘将针对海洋科学，工程，数学，物理，生物和化学方面的新兴大学生和大三学生，重点是来自代表性不足的群体的学生，他们可能没有考虑过海洋学作为一种职业。将提供一套平衡的海洋数据获取和分析技能，包括从完善的现场海洋观测设备、船上实地调查和温深差剖面分析以及水取样和基于实验室和（或）计算机建模的分析技能中进行数据分析的培训。派力肯号考察船在墨西哥湾的一个实地研究项目将提供样品，加强团队合作，促进对海洋学跨学科性质的理解，并强调时间序列在海洋观测中的价值。该REU计划的总体目标是通过提供（1）跨学科的研究经验来挑战和吸引学生，以加强本科STEM教育和保留;（2）强大的导师制和专业发展培训;和（3）发展有效的科学沟通技能的战略。REU学生与教师导师合作将开发和完成一个使用海洋观测技术的研究项目。学生将学习如何提出研究问题，产生假设，进行研究，并评估海洋的状态。活动将培养学生的发现感，通过动手，实践经验与先进的海洋观测技术。编码/数据分析，海洋数据的图形表示，数据管理，科学写作和专业发展的技术研讨会将每周提供，以丰富技能超越个人实验室为基础的辅导。REU学生将参加R/V派力肯上的研究之旅，绘制缺氧和其他地球化学示踪剂沿着重复样带，在那里他们将学习如何使用CTD和拖曳式海洋传感器观察海洋，以及如何收集和分析水文样本。为了提高口头交流，学生将在每周的REU研讨会上提出，并在计划结束时进行部门研讨会演讲;最佳学生演讲的赢家将获得旅行奖，出席全国会议。为了展示写作技巧，学生将撰写一份初步的研究提案，并准备一份最终的海报或书面报告。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得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来支持。

The Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University will host a REU Site: Observing the Ocean (REU-OTO). Each summer, the program will offer ten students an opportunity to participate in research to investigate issues facing the coastal ocean, including hypoxia, harmful algae, oil spills, climate-induced hydrographic changes, and ocean acidification. Recruitment will target rising sophomores and juniors in marine science, engineering, math, physics, biology, and chemistry with a focus on students from underrepresented groups who may not have considered oceanography as a career. A balanced suite of ocean data acquisition and analytical skills will be provided by incorporating training on data analysis from well-established in situ ocean observing equipment, shipboard field surveys with CTD profiling, as well as water sampling with lab-based and/or computer modeling-based analytical skills. A field research project in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Pelican will provide samples, enhance teamwork, promote understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography, and emphasize the value of time series in ocean observing. The overall goal of this REU program is to strengthen undergraduate STEM education and retention by providing (1) an interdisciplinary research experience to challenge and engage students; (2) strong mentorship and professional development training; and (3) strategies to develop effective scientific communication skills. REU students working with faculty mentors will develop and complete a research project using ocean observing techniques. Students will learn how to pose a research question, generate hypotheses, conduct research, and assess the state of the ocean. Activities will foster students’ sense of discovery through hands-on, practical experiences with cutting-edge oceanographic observing techniques. Technical workshops on coding/data analysis, graphical representation of oceanographic data, data management, science writing, and professional development will be provided weekly to enrich skillsets beyond the individual lab-based mentorship. REU students will participate in a research trip aboard the R/V Pelican to map hypoxia and other biogeochemical tracers along a repeat transect, where they will learn how to observe the ocean using CTDs and towed ocean sensors and how to collect and analyze hydrographic samples. To improve oral communication, students will present during weekly REU seminars and give a departmental seminar presentation at program end; the winner of the best student presentation will receive a travel award to present at a national conference. To demonstrate writing skills, the students will write an initial research proposal and prepare either a final poster or written report.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.