Explore it! Building the Next Generation of Sustainable Forest Bioproduct Researchers

更广泛意义的项目：REU网站计划，探索吧！构建下一代可持续森林生物产品研究人员旨在让参与者以道德的方式开发和利用新知识来解决影响社会的森林生物产品问题。REU网站通过广泛利用与主要为少数群体服务的机构的现有联系来招募少数群体。研究结果通过校园和国际演讲、期刊文章和专题讨论会传播。REU的学生与中学老师一起创建课程模块，以可持续森林生物产品的概念为载体，向中学生教授STEM原则。参与者向FBRI教师展示并与之互动，从而扩大他们和教师的经验。社会受益于参与者传播他们的发现，影响中学教育，获得对研究伦理的更广泛的理解，并进一步进入研究生院以推进他们的职业生涯。国际科学界受益于REU参与者向我们的智利同事展示他们的发现，同时了解在康塞普西翁大学进行的平行研究。项目描述：该项目是以前资助的REU网站的延续：探索它！培养下一代可持续森林生物产品研究人员。该REU网站为10名本科生提供为期10周的夏季研究经验，利用缅因大学森林生物产品研究所（FBRI）的重点领域。在可持续生物产品替代领域，关注可持续森林生物产品是一个高度热门的话题，具有重大的全球重要性。学生进行研究，以提高他们对该领域的总体知识和主题元素之一的了解，具体如下：1)可持续性和LCA， 2)原料提取/改性，3)过程控制和传感，4)纳米材料的生产和利用，5)新产品开发。REU的资金为30名本科生提供三年的津贴和专业发展活动。其他非nsf REU资助的学生将参加，其中包括6名智利学生与6名美国学生进行相互交换，从而扩大了该计划的影响。学生由12名教师之一指导，他们都是FBRI，缅因州海事学院（MMA）或智利康塞普西翁- udt大学的高级人员。REU项目的最后是对智利的林产品工业进行实地考察，还包括一个研究会议，参与者向智利的教师和学生介绍他们的研究成果。采用了一套独特的评估和评估工具，可以跟踪学生的表现，从而使学生和项目都能得到反馈。场地建议书EEC-1461116感谢工程教育和中心部（EEC）的支持。

BROADER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT:The REU Site Program, Explore it! Building the Next Generation of Sustainable Forest Bioproduct Researchers aims for participants to develop and utilize new knowledge to address forest bioproduct issues impacting society in an ethical manner. The REU Site recruits minorities through extensive use of existing linkages with primarily minority serving institutions. Results are disseminated via campus and international presentations, and through journal articles and symposia. REU students work alongside middle-school teachers creating curricular modules to teach STEM principles to middle school children employing the concept of sustainable forest bioproducts as a vehicle. Participants present to and interact with FBRI faculty, thereby broadening both their and the faculty experiences. Society benefits as participants disseminate their findings, impact middle school education, obtain a broader understanding of research ethics, and further, enroll in graduate school to advance their careers. The international scientific community benefits as the REU participants present their findings to our Chilean colleagues, while learning of the parallel research performed at the University of Concepcion.PROJECT DESCRIPTION:This project is a continuation of a previously funded REU Site: Explore it! Building the Next Generation of Sustainable Forest Bioproduct Researchers. This REU Site provides 10 undergraduates with a ten week summer research experience, leveraged on the focus areas of the University of Maine, Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI). Focus on sustainable forest bioproducts is highly topical and of great global importance in the area of sustainable bioproduct alternatives. Students conduct research advancing their knowledge of the field in general and one of the thematic elements, specifically: 1) sustainability and LCA, 2) feedstock extraction/modification, 3), process control and sensing, 4) nanomaterial production and utilization, and 5) new product development. REU funding provides stipends and professional development activities for 30 undergraduates over 3 years. Additional non-NSF REU funded students will participate, including 6 Chilean students on a mutual exchange with 6 US students, thereby broadening the impact of the program. Students are mentored by one of 12 Faculty, all of whom are senior personnel in the FBRI, Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) or University of Concepcion-UDT, Chile. The REU program concludes with a forest products industry field trip to Chile, and also involves a research conference where participants present their work to Chilean faculty and students. A unique set of evaluation and assessment tools are employed that allow tracking of student performance, thus enabling feedback to students and the program alike. The Site Proposal EEC-1461116 acknowledges the support from the Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC).