Research Experiences for Undergraduates at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

教育下一代的科学家是史密森环境研究中心（SERC）的主要目标之一，这是自1971年以来通过一个非常成功的本科生实习计划完成的。SERC的历史和它在培养本科生的未来潜力使它成为建立环境科学REU网站的典范。被REU项目录取的实习生将选择一名导师，在该实验室呆四天，在前三周每周一天轮流在其他陆地或水生实验室工作。进入独立研究项目后，实习生将不断沉浸在科学文化和凝聚力课程中。他们将参加一系列短期课程，并将参加研究生级别的讨论小组。他们还将参加SERC的每周和晚间研讨会系列，并实地考察附属研究机构。在实习结束时，将鼓励感兴趣和有动力的学生在整个学年继续他们的研究，并陪同他们的SERC导师参加全国科学会议，介绍他们的研究结果。有效的招聘是该计划成功的关键。将继续在万维网、电子邮件公告栏和通过邮件刊登广告。与教师和更高的管理伙伴关系在几个大西洋中部的学术机构，以确定和鼓励有才华的学生进入SERC实习计划将继续。

Educating future generations of scientists is one of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's ( SERC ) primary objectives, and this has been accomplished since 1971 by a highly successful undergraduate internship program. SERC's history and its future potential in training undergraduates make it a model location for establishment of an REU Site in Environmental Sciences. Interns accepted into the REU program will select a mentor and spend four days in that laboratory, and one day a week during their first three weeks rotating through other terrestrial or aquatic laboratories. After settling into an independent research project, interns will be immersed continually in scientific culture and a cohesion curriculum. They will take a series of short courses and will participate in graduate-level discussion groups. They also will attend SERC's weekly and evening seminar series and take field trips to affiliated research institutions. At the end of their internship, interested and motivated students will be encouraged to continue their research through the academic year and accompany their SERC mentors to a national scientific meeting to present their findings. Effective recruitment is critical to the success of this program. Advertising on the World Wide Web, on e-mail bulletin boards, and through mailings will continue. Partnerships with faculty and higher administration at several mid-Atlantic academic institutions to identify and encourage talented students to enter the SERC internship program will continue.