REU: Summer Research Experience in the Mammoth Cave/Upper Green River Watershed

这是一个为期10周的暑期研究项目，是为8名本科生设计的，该项目是由生物、化学、地理和地质系与西肯塔基大学奥格登科学与工程学院水资源研究中心联合提交的多学科教职员工研究项目。每个学生将与十名教师或专业人员导师中的一人合作开发一个研究项目，这些教师或专业人员导师在各自的学科中拥有以环境为重点的积极研究计划。所有项目都将与肯塔基州西部猛犸象洞穴/上绿河流域的喀斯特地形有关的环境问题联系起来。这个REU网站有几个目标：1)为学生参与者提供在环境研究领域的独特和令人兴奋的研究机会；2)为学生提供机会，以有意义的方式将他们的知识应用于现实和当前的环境问题；3)提高学生参与者的批判性思维和沟通技能(包括书面、口头、听力和计算机增强的演示)；4)向学生介绍课堂以外的研究环境。5)发展学生的科学成熟度，同时致力于最终基于服务于更大社区的研究经验；6)通过利用最先进的仪器和实验设施的实践经验提高对研究生学习的兴趣；以及7)在学年期间准备并在地区和国家会议上展示研究海报。一个目标是让50%以上的参与者继续研究生学习和/或从事与环境有关的职业。本科生研究人员将在参与有意义的研究活动的同时，与教师导师建立指导关系。他们将通过一系列的实践培训课程，接触到每个参与部门的各种研究和乐器技术。在本学年期间，导师和学生之间将保持定期联系，以便于学生在全国会议上展示海报。如果需要，导师还将与学生一起出席会议，提供现场支持。

This is a 10-week summer research program, designed the program for eight undergraduates in a multidisciplinary faculty research project submitted jointly from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Geography and Geology and the Center for Water Resource Studies of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering of Western Kentucky University. Each student will develop a research project in collaboration with one of ten faculty or professional staff mentors who have an active research program with an environmental focus in their respective disciplines. All projects will be linked to environmental issues related to the karst terrain in the Mammoth Cave/ Upper Green River Basin in western Kentucky. This REU site has several objectives: 1) to provide the student participants with unique and exciting research opportunities in an area of environmental research; 2) to provide the students an opportunity to apply their knowledge to a real and current environmental problem in a meaningful way; 3) to enhance the critical thinking and communication skills (including written, oral, listening, and computer-enhanced presentations) of the student participants; 4) to introduce the students to a research setting that is .beyond the classroom.; 5) to develop the scientific maturity of the students while working on a research experience that is ultimately based on service to the greater community; 6) to increase interest in graduate study by hands-on experience utilizing state-of-the-art instrumentation and experimental facilities; and 7) to prepare and present a research poster at a regional and national conference during the academic year. A goal is to have more than 50% of the participants pursue post- graduate studies and/or pursue careers in an environmentally related profession. The undergraduate researchers will develop a mentoring relationship with a faculty mentor while participating in meaningful research activities. They will be exposed to a variety of research and instrumental techniques in each participating department through a series of hands-on training sessions. During the academic year, regular contact between the mentor and student will be maintained in order to facilitate the students poster presentation at a national conference. Mentors will also attend the conference with the student to provide on-site support, if needed.