REU Site: Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Clarkson University

摘要为REU网站：本科生的研究经验。环境科学与工程在克拉克森大学，斯特凡J格里姆伯格，0452789本赠款更新的研究经验，为本科生（REU）网站在克拉克森大学。 该计划将对基础科学和工程感兴趣的学生带到克拉克森大学，通过环境科学和工程研究分享他们对解决复杂环境问题的看法。每年有八到九名优秀的本科生在校园进行为期10周的密集夏季研究体验。 该方案的目标是：__为传统上在环境科学和工程领域代表性不足的学生提供进行独立研究的机会; __教这些学生如何进行有意义的环境研究，并将研究结果传达给专业同事和公众;__向学生传达研究生院的重要性，作为教育准备的一个组成部分，导致科学和工程事业的成功;__为了证明为什么综合、一体化研究对于理解和解决复杂的环境问题是必要的，因此，为什么多学科和跨学科的方法，环境科学和工程是如此重要;__通过在由不同成员组成的团队中工作，提高学生分析和解决复杂问题的技能，包括个人观点和学科专业知识。 智力优势。该计划的主要组成部分是完成一个复杂的环境问题的研究项目。本科生被分配到一个更大的研究项目的一个独立的方面，并与研究生和教师在土木，化学，环境和航空工程，化学，物理和生物学的部门工作，以完成他们的项目。根据学生的兴趣和能力以及教师的研究重点，学生与这些教师相匹配。强调研究成果的传播;所有学生参加研究小组会议，撰写报告，并在全校本科生研究研讨会上展示他们的工作。 鼓励他们在同行评审的出版物上发表他们的工作。 跨学科研讨会每周举行一次，向学生介绍复杂环境系统的可持续管理概念以及理解和解决环境问题的系统方法。 学生将至少两个可持续管理概念或过程整合到他们的个人研究项目中。 额外的研讨会，涵盖了良好的研究和研究生学习方面的行为增加了学生的经验广度。该方案还包括一些社区建设活动，旨在促进学生作为一个多元文化群体的凝聚力，并提高他们对环境研究的赞赏。对计划的评估包括对计划的持续评估和改进，以确保实现既定目标。更广泛的影响。 该计划的一个主要目标是吸引代表性不足的学生在研究生阶段继续学习工程，特别是接触那些否则不会接触到研究职业的可能性的学生。 通过向400多个机构发送海报和电子邮件以及通过该计划的网站招募学生参加REU计划。 在先前REU资助克拉克森的68名学生中，53%是女性，10%是非洲裔美国人或来自波多黎各。68名学生中只有12名是克拉克森的本科生;其余56名来自美国各地的学校，从康涅狄格州到加州。 从前和后的调查分析结果表明，该计划为学生提供了一个欣赏的研究，大多数参与者决定追求研究生教育。预计这种生产力将继续在目前的赠款，从而有助于国家的技术人力。

Abstract for REU Site: Research Experience for Undergraduates. Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Clarkson University, Stefan J. Grimberg, 0452789This grant renews the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site at Clarkson University. This program brings students interested in basic science and engineering to Clarkson University to share their perspectives on solving complex environmental problems through research in environmental science and engineering. Eight or nine outstanding undergraduate students each year conduct research on campus for a 10-week intensive summer research experience. The objectives of the program are: __ To provide students who are traditionally underrepresented in environmental science and engineering with an opportunity to conduct independent research; __ To teach these students how to conduct meaningful environmental research and communicate the results of that research to professional colleagues and the general public; __ To communicate to students the importance of graduate school as an integral part of the educational preparation leading to successful careers in science and engineering; __ To demonstrate why synthetic, integrative research is necessary for understanding and solving complex environmental problems, and thus why multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to environmental science and engineering are so important; __ To improve students'skills in analyzing and solving complex problems by working within teamscomprised of diverse members, in terms of individual perspectives and disciplinary expertise. Intellectual Merit. The primary component of the program is the completion of a research project on a complex environmental problem. Undergraduates are assigned a self-contained aspect of a larger research project and work with graduate students and faculty in the Departments of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Aeronautical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Biology to complete their projects. Students are matched with these faculty based on the interests and abilities of the students and the research priorities of the faculty. Dissemination of the research results is emphasized; all students participate in research group meetings, write a report, and present their work at a University-wide undergraduate research symposium. They are encouraged to publish their work in peer-reviewed publications. Interdisciplinary seminars are held once a week to introduce students to concepts of sustainable management of complex environmental systems and of the systems approach to understanding and solving environmental problems. Students integrate at least two sustainable-management concepts or processes into their individual research projects. Additional seminars that cover the conduct of sound research and aspects of post-graduate study add breadth to the students' experience. Also included in the program are several community-building activities designed to foster cohesiveness among the students as a multicultural group and to enhance their appreciation for environmental research. Assessment of the program includes continual evaluation and improvement of the program to ensure that the stated objectives are achieved. Broader Impacts. A major objective of the program is to attract underrepresented students to continued study of engineering at the post-graduate level and particularly to reach students who would not otherwise be exposed to the possibility of a career in research. Students are recruited to this REU program through poster and electronic mailings to more than 400 institutions and through the program's web site. Of the 68 students supported by the prior REU grant to Clarkson, 53% were women and 10% African Americans or from Puerto Rico. Only 12 of the 68 students were Clarkson undergraduates; the remaining 56 came from schools spanning the US, from Connecticut to California. Results from the analysis of pre- and post-surveys indicate that the program provides the students with an appreciation of research and that most participants decide to pursue graduate education. It is expected that this productivity will continue under in the current grant and will thus contribute to the Nation's technical manpower.