REU Site: Preparing the Next Generation of Scholars through Geographic Information Systems and Citizen Science

该项目由SBE理事会的本科生研究经验(REU)站点计划资助。因此，它兼具科学和社会效益，并将研究和教育融为一体。由中佛罗里达大学主办的社区地理和地理信息系统(GIS)REU网站将：1)批判性地评估基于社区的国际本科生研究经验模型的机遇和挑战；2)让24名学生在三年内参与以社区为基础的国际实地考察，重点是社区地理、地理信息系统和公民科学，以检查与伯利兹的海洋垃圾和洪水/灾害管理有关的社会和环境差异；以及3)通过将理论与实践相结合，传播国际社区地理学和地理信息系统研究的新的概念和方法框架。学生将与不同的国际合作伙伴合作，包括中佛罗里达大学、佐治亚州立大学、史密森国家自然历史博物馆的加勒比海珊瑚礁生态系统项目和伯利兹大学的研究人员。这个REU网站的使命是为社区地理和地理信息系统的学生提供国际经验，将研究与现实世界的问题解决联系起来，包括当地利益相关者的知识生产。学生掌握地理空间科学、技术和经济研究技能将主要通过学生创建开放和免费提供的地理空间数据基础设施来完成，以解决与伯利兹的海洋废弃物和洪灾/灾害管理有关的社会和环境差异。这一目标将包括通过ArcGIS Online创建一个在线、互动的地理空间数据和测绘门户，这是一项提供基于模板的网络测绘应用程序的服务。该REU网站将提供对各种研究数据集、元数据和地理空间培训模块的免费和开放访问。由学生创建的地理空间基础设施还将包括：定量数据集、定性数据、GPS现场数据、地理分析和调查结果的地图/报告。学生还将与伯利兹居民和合作者共同领导地理信息系统培训和基于社区的实地工作。该REU网站以及不断扩大的社区地理学和地理信息系统子领域促进了几个全国性的STEM趋势，包括：1)国家科学基金会继续强调扩大参与STEM的科学；2)NSF努力增加公众对科学的理解并对更广泛的社会产生影响；3)地理空间技术职业的快速增长(被确定为美国部门)。劳动力高增长行业)。社区地理和地理信息系统分领域对培训学生进行国际社区研究特别有用，因为它提供了学习和应用地球空间STEM研究技能的机会，包括全球定位系统数据收集、地理信息系统分析、定性数据分析和地理空间数据库设计。该项目由美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室(OISE)共同资助。

This project is funded from the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program in the SBE Directorate. As such, it has both scientific and societal benefits, and it integrates research and education. The Community Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) REU Site hosted by the University of Central Florida will: 1) critically assess the opportunities for and challenges to community-based models for international undergraduate research experiences; 2) engage 24 students over three years in community-based international fieldwork focused on community geography, GIS, and citizen science to examine social and environmental disparities related to marine debris and flooding/disaster management in Belize; and 3) disseminate a new conceptual and methodological framework for international community geography and GIS research by connecting theory with praxis. Students will work collaboratively with a diverse group of international partners, including researchers at University of Central Florida, Georgia State University, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Program, and University of Belize. The mission of this REU Site is to provide international experiences for students in community geography and GIS that connect research to real-world problem solving that is inclusive of knowledge production from local stakeholders. Student mastery of geospatial STEM research skills will be accomplished largely through students creating an open and freely available geospatial data infrastructure to address social and environmental disparities related to marine debris and flooding/disaster management in Belize. This objective will include the creation of an online, interactive geospatial data and mapping portal through ArcGIS Online, a service providing template-based web mapping applications. This REU Site will provide free and open access to various research datasets, metadata, and geospatial training modules. The geospatial infrastructure created by students will also include: quantitative datasets, qualitative data, GPS field data, geographic analyses, and maps/reports of findings. Students will also co-lead GIS training and community-based fieldwork with Belizean residents and collaborators. This REU Site and the growing subfield of community geography and GIS contribute to several national STEM trends, including: 1) the National Science Foundation's continued emphasis on the Science of Broadening Participating in STEM; 2) NSF's efforts to increase public understanding of science and impact on broader society; and 3) rapid growth in geospatial technology careers (identified as a U.S. Dept. of Labor high-growth industry). The subfield of community geography and GIS is particularly useful for training students in international, community-based research as it provides opportunities to learn and apply geospatial STEM research skills, including GPS data collection, GIS analysis, qualitative data analysis, and geospatial database design. This project is co-funded by the NSF Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE).