REU-Site: URI Plastic Initiative at the University of Rhode Island

为期三年的REU网站：罗得岛大学的塑料倡议将由罗得岛大学（URI）主办。URI Plastics Initiative积极让学生参与美国和世界各地的塑料垃圾问题，特别是对沿海地区的影响。随着塑料使用和污染的增加，该项目每年将吸引10名参与者参与研究，从不同的方法来检测和清理塑料，到提供建议，以改变负面的消费模式，并对我们的环境产生积极的影响。在为期10周的课程中，学生将有机会调查和了解塑料污染的原因和后果，并设计和实施可能的解决方案。 参与者将与多元化的学生群体和教师导师合作，与各种利益相关者互动，提供非学术观点，并为了解塑料污染做出贡献，沿着为该领域的下一代科学和工程专业人士做好准备。为期三年的REU Site：Plastic Initiative将由罗得岛大学（URI）主办。REU Site URI Plastics Initiative是一个跨学科的教育计划，旨在解决当地塑料废物管理的紧迫挑战，重点是减轻其对沿海生态系统的影响。受塑料需求和污染率不断增长的推动，该计划涵盖了一些研究领域，如开发先进的塑料检测工具、微塑料去除技术、调查塑料对生态和人类健康的影响，以及探索社会和经济干预措施。该计划旨在评估跨学科参与对教学和学习的影响，导师效应以及网络和协作的影响。更广泛的影响包括多样化的学生招聘，促进与罗得岛及其他地区机构的合作，提供非学术观点，并有助于了解塑料污染，从而对下一代科学和工程专业人员产生积极影响。该计划的推广工作扩展到与指导数学和科学教育网络计划合作，为K-12科学教师培训。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 three-year REU Site: Plastic Initiative at the University of Rhode Island will be hosted by the University of Rhode Island (URI). The URI Plastics Initiative actively involves students with the issue of plastic waste in the U.S. and worldwide, especially how the effects on coastal areas. With the rise in plastic use and pollution, the project will engage ten participants each year in research ranging from different ways to detect and clean up plastics to providing advice to chance negative consumption patterns and making a positive impact on our environment. During the 10-week program, students will have the opportunity to investigate and understand the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and design and implement possible solutions. Working with a diverse student cohort and faculty mentors, participants will engage with a variety of stakeholders, providing non-academic perspectives, and contribute to the understanding of plastic pollution, along with preparing for the next generation of science and engineering professionals in this field.The three-year REU Site: Plastic Initiative at the University of Rhode Island will be hosted by the University of Rhode Island (URI). The REU Site URI Plastics Initiative is an interdisciplinary educational program addressing the urgent challenges of local plastic waste management, with the focus on mitigating its impact on coastal ecosystems. Motivated by the increasing demand for plastics and pollution rates, the initiative encompasses research areas such as the development of advanced tools for detecting plastics, microplastic removal techniques, investigation into ecological and human health impacts of plastics, and exploration of societal and economic interventions. The program aims to assess the interdisciplinary participation's impact on teaching and learning, mentorship effects, and the influence of networking and collaboration. Broader impacts include diverse student recruitment, fostering collaborations with institutions in Rhode Island and beyond, providing non-academic perspectives, and contributing to the understanding of plastic pollution, thereby positively impacting the next generation of science and engineering professionals. The initiative's outreach efforts extend to partnering with the Guiding Education in Math and Science Network initiative for K-12 science teacher training.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.