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

为期三年的REU网站：罗德岛大学塑料倡议将由罗德岛大学（URI）主办。URI塑料倡议积极让学生参与美国和世界范围内的塑料废物问题，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名参与者进行研究，从不同的检测和清理塑料的方法到提供建议，改变消极的消费模式，对我们的环境产生积极的影响。在为期10周的项目中，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。与不同的学生群体和教师导师合作，参与者将与各种利益相关者接触，提供非学术观点，并为了解塑料污染做出贡献，同时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网站：罗德岛大学塑料倡议将由罗德岛大学（URI）主办。REU Site URI塑料倡议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。受日益增长的塑料需求和污染率的推动，该倡议包括研究领域，如开发检测塑料的先进工具、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。该项目旨在评估跨学科参与对教与学的影响、指导效应以及网络与合作的影响。更广泛的影响包括多样化的学生招聘，促进与罗德岛州及其他地区的机构合作，提供非学术视角，促进对塑料污染的理解，从而对下一代科学和工程专业人士产生积极影响。该倡议的推广工作延伸到与指导数学和科学教育网络倡议合作，培训K-12科学教师。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.