Supporting the GEO REU Network and Exploring New REU Models to Effectively Engage Diverse Students in the Geosciences

研究表明，在包容性环境中，有指导的研究经验、队列建设和学生职业发展有效地让本科生参与STEM职业道路。NSF本科生研究经历(REU)计划支持全国各地机构的实习计划，这些机构通过参与研究为本科生提供宝贵的教育经验。它还旨在增加美国多样化人才的参与，特别是代表不足的学生和研究能力有限的机构的学生在美国科学和工程劳动力中的参与。开发和管理实习项目是一项复杂的工作，尤其是对于经常涉及实地考察的地学实习项目。该奖项创建了一个中心网络，支持60多个机构的地球科学(GEO)REU项目负责人的努力，并为参与REU实习生提供专业发展。REU项目负责人将受益于GEO REU网络中其他人的经验和洞察力，包括项目负责人和其他专家。网络领导者将为GEO REU绩效指标提供及时的资源、战略和工具，帮助他们在项目中招募和选择学生、准备导师、设定期望和解决学生参与挑战。他们将为REU领导提供个人支持，并在科学会议上从代表性不足的社区、社区学院和主要是本科生机构招收学生。该项目的绩效指标将在暑期为所有地球观测和研究中心实习生提供职业发展讲习班，这直接有助于地球科学工作人员的准备工作。这些努力将支持实习带头人之间的实践社区，并增强REU计划的效力。地球科学界举办实习、本科生研究经历(REUS)，目的是为学生提供有价值的教育，并将来自各种背景的本科生学者带入地球科学领域。发展和管理有效的、包容各方的实习是一项具有挑战性的全年工作。GEO REU网络将通过促进社区内工具、战略和经验的交流，开发资源，并提供与REU计划目标一致的专业发展，为所有GEO REU领导人和学生提供支持。一个最重要的主题是鼓励采用包容各方的区域联盟做法和进程。这些包括设计可获得和包容的REU，考虑到甚至审查申请和选择过程中的偏见和特权。该项目将促进社区对学生研究和包容性实践的教育学的理解，并将增强REU PIs之间的合作意识。该奖项反映了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。

Studies show that mentored research experiences, cohort building, and student career development in inclusive environments effectively engage undergraduates in STEM career paths. The NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program supports internship programs at institutions across the nation that provide valuable educational experiences for undergraduate students through participation in research. It also aims to increase the participation of the nation's diverse talent - particularly underrepresented students and students from institutions with limited research capacity - in the U.S. science and engineering workforce. Developing and managing an internship program is a complex undertaking, especially for geoscience internship programs that often involve fieldwork. This award creates a central network that supports the efforts of Geosciences (GEO) REU program leaders at over sixty institutions and provides professional development for participating REU interns. The REU program leaders will benefit from the experience and insight of others in the GEO REU Network, including the project leads and other experts. The Network leaders will provide just-in-time resources, strategies, and tools for GEO REU PIs as they navigate recruiting and selecting students, preparing mentors, setting expectations, and addressing student engagement challenges in their programs. They will provide REU leads with individual support and recruit students from underrepresented communities, community colleges, and primarily undergraduate institutions at scientific meetings. The PIs of this project will offer career development workshops for all GEO REU interns during the summer, which directly contributes to the preparation of the geoscience workforce. These efforts will support the community of practice among the internship leads and augment the efficacy of REU programs. The geoscience community hosts internships, Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), with the intention of providing students with valuable education and of bringing undergraduate scholars from a wide range of backgrounds into the geosciences. Developing and managing an effective, inclusive internship is a challenging year-round undertaking. The GEO REU Network will provide support to all GEO REU leaders and students through fostering the exchange of tools, strategies, and experiences within the community, developing resources, and providing professional development that aligns with the REU Program goals. An overarching theme has been to encourage the adoption of inclusive REU practices and processes. These involve designing accessible and inclusive REUs that take into account and even examine biases and privilege in application and selection processes. The project will advance community understanding of the pedagogy of student research and of inclusive practices, and it will enhance a sense of collaboration among REU PIs.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.