REU Site Proposal for Blandy Experimental Farm

该奖项为弗吉尼亚大学环境科学系提供资金，以继续建设一个成功的REU网站。为期10周的本科生研究计划将教授生态学的基本原理，并将详细介绍科学家增加我们对自然世界的了解的方法。该计划将包括三个阶段：i--为期两周的正式讲座，详细介绍科学方法、假设检验和实验设计；ii--6个半星期的数据收集和实验；以及iii--1个半星期的数据分析、解释和结果交流。其目的是向学生展示如何“做”科学，然后给他们一个机会，进行原创和独立的实地研究。招收的学生来自不同的背景、兴趣和母校。该计划的重点将是测试与动植物相互作用和/或种群动态相关的假设--这些主题被认为具有相当大的基础/应用兴趣和很高的启发式价值。学生将在弗吉尼亚大学的生物野外站布兰迪实验农场进行现场研究，并将沉浸在一个由15-20名研究生/博士后研究人员组成的社区中。实地考察将集中在与保护有关的问题上；每周在农场举行的系列研讨会也将增加研究经验。该计划还包括生物伦理部分，由詹姆斯·麦迪逊大学哲学和宗教研究讲师大卫·博斯科先生主持，每周一次。教师工资、实验室空间和宿舍费用作为费用分摊项目。

This award provides funds to the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia to continue a successful REU SITE. The 10 week research program for undergraduates will teach basic principles of ecology, and the methods by which scientists increase our understanding of the natural world will be detailed. The program will be comprised of three phases: I--Two weeks of formal lectures detailing the scientific method, hypothesis testing and experimental design; II-- 6-1/2 weeks of data collection and experimentation; and III--1-1/2 weeks of data analysis, interpretation and communication of results. The goal is show students how to "do" science and then give them an opportunity to conduct original and independent field research. Students are sought from a diversity of backgrounds, interests and home institutions. The focus of the program will be on testing hypotheses related to plant- animal interactions and/or population dynamics--topics that are felt to have considerable basic/applied interest, and high heuristic value. Students will conduct research in a field-station setting at the Blandy Experimental Farm, a biological field station of the University of Virginia, and will be immersed in a community of 15-20 graduate/post- doctoral researchers. Field trips will focus on issues related to conservation; a weekly seminar series at the Farm will also add to the research experience. A bio-ethics component is also included in the program consisting of weekly lectures/discussions lead by Mr. David Bosco, Instructor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at James Madison University. Faculty wages, and fees for laboratory space and dorm rooms are contributed as cost share items.