Wyoming NSF EPSCoR: Science and Engineering in Harsh Environments

该项目将加强怀俄明大学的研究基础设施，这是该州唯一的大学，也是唯一的四年制高等教育机构。怀俄明州选择围绕恶劣环境中的科学和工程主题来改进其研究活动，考虑到该州极端的温度、有限的降雨量、高日照影响、盐碱地和有限地理区域的人口影响，这一主题适合该州。选定的具体科学领域将集中在1)自然资源科学和2)材料科学。该大学将招聘至少10名新教师(自然资源6名，材料4名)。这些新员工预计将从事和发展多学科研究团队，这些团队可以提高大学的研究竞争力，并对该州产生潜在的经济影响。将购置多用途研究设备，以协助新的和现有的大学研究人员。将启动一项教师发展计划，以帮助初级教师的研究竞争力。这些项目将帮助怀俄明州以研究为导向的小企业的发展，让高中生和本科生参与研究活动，并让K-12教师接触大学科学和数学教学。改善怀俄明大学的研究基础设施不仅对于大学研究人员成功竞争联邦研究资金的能力，而且对整个州的发展都是重要的。怀俄明州的经济历史上一直建立在自然资源利用的基础上。支持怀俄明大学改善研究基础设施可以通过帮助该州与技术相关的企业的发展，在该州经济多元化方面发挥重要作用。

This project will enhance the research infrastructure at the University of Wyoming, the state's only university and its only four-year institution of higher education. Wyoming chose to focus the improvement of its research activities around the theme of science and engineering in harsh environments, a theme appropriate for the state considering its temperature extremes, limited precipitation, high sunlight impact, saline soil and population impact in limited geographic areas. The specific scientific areas selected to be focused on 1) Natural Resources Sciences, and 2) Materials Sciences.The University will hire at least 10 new faculty members (6 for Natural Resources and 4 for Materials). These new hires are expected to engage in and develop multidisciplinary research teams that can improve the research competitiveness of the University and have a potential economic impact on the state. Multi-use research equipment will be acquired to assist both new and existing university researchers. A faculty development program will be initiated to assist the research competitiveness of junior faculty. Programs will be supported that assist in the development of research-oriented small businesses within Wyoming, that involve high school and undergraduate students in research activities, and that expose K-12 teachers to university science and mathematics instruction.Improvement of the University of Wyoming's research infrastructure is important not only to the ability of the University's researchers to successfully compete for federal research funds but also to the development of the state as a whole. Wyoming's economy has been historically based on natural resource use. Support of research infrastructure improvements at the University of Wyoming can play a significant role in the diversification of the state's economy by assisting in the development of technology-related businesses in the state.