Project FUTURE: Students Investigate Potential Responses of Natural Areas to Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition

生物科学（61）未来项目（利用研究经验促进本科生培训）侧重于与人为氮（N）沉积及其对自然植物群落的影响有关的真实的世界学习经验。 所涉目标课程是一个学期的生物学入门课程，强调生态学，遗传学，进化和保护生物学的概念和原则。 智力优势：该项目创建了以探究为基础的教学活动，这些活动与那些已被发现能提高不同学生群体对科学的兴趣和学习成果的活动相一致。 这些活动包括更加重视学生团队共同努力，以解决目前处于生态和保护生物学关注前沿的环境问题。 拟议项目的一个独特方面是，它强调在不断扩大的生态研究领域，即全球变化的环境后果方面进行研究和实验培训。 在评估学生成绩时采用了一些评估技术，评估结果在全国教育会议上分享。 关于教学大纲、实验方案和数据集的详细资料张贴在一个专门网页上供全国传播。更广泛的影响：未来项目每年使大约900名学生熟悉全球环境变化研究，这些学生大多来自科学专业人数不足的群体。 为了确保在该项目中招收和留住代表性不足的学生，四个校园组织（非裔美国人学术网络、拉丁美洲征聘和教育服务、美洲土著人支助小组和科学和工程界妇女）提供了援助机制。

Biological Sciences (61)Project FUTURE (Fostering Undergraduate Training Using Research Experiences) focuses on real world learning experiences related to anthropogenic Nitrogen (N) deposition and its impact on natural plant communities. The target course involved is a one-semester, introductory biology course that emphasizes concepts and principles of ecology, genetics, evolution and conservation biology. Intellectual Merit: The project creates inquiry-based instructional activities that are consistent with those that have been found to increase interest in science as well as learning outcomes for diverse student populations. These activities include a greater emphasis on teams of students working together to address environmental problems that are currently at the forefront of the concerns of ecological and conservation biology. A unique aspect of the proposed project is that it emphasizes research and experimental training in an expanding area of ecological research, namely the environmental consequences of global change. A number of evaluation techniques are used to assess student performance, the results of which are shared at national educational conferences. Detailed information on syllabus, experimental protocol and data sets are posted on a dedicated web page for national dissemination.Broader Impact: Project FUTURE enables roughly 900 students per year, mostly from groups underrepresented in science professions, to gain familiarity with research in global environmental change. To ensure recruitment and retention of the underrepresented students in this project, four campus organizations (African American Academic Network, Latin American Recruitment and Education Services, Native American Support group and Women in Science and Engineering) provide mechanisms for assistance.