Strengthening the GEO REU Network and sharing best practices with the STEM REU community

地球科学局每年支持约60个本科生研究体验网站，这些网站为600多名学生提供研究实习机会。这些REU网站项目位于全县许多不同的机构，负责运营这些项目的科学家通常是机构中负责组织这类学生研究/专业发展项目的唯一教员。虽然对如何管理这些方案有一个一般的知识，但在农村地区私营部门之间分享的想法和最佳做法是有限的。过去，新的私人助理在开发和组织新的REU计划的细节工作中得到的支持很少，而有经验的私人助理面临着各种各样的挑战，包括招收不同的学生。该奖项提供资金，通过专业网络努力支持REU计划：(1)连接REU站点的PI和管理人员，(2)记录和改进最佳实践，(3)为应对挑战和发展提供支持系统，以及(4)促进对如何将多样性方法整合到所有方案要素中的理解。首席调查员(PIs)将通过出版REU PIs、导师和实习生手册，以及组织REU Pis和REU实习生见面和交流信息的机会，正式确定REU管理人员在地球科学领域的这种支持。正在进行的联网活动将包括主持关于区域教育联盟管理、学生招生等的电话会议和网络研讨会，以及托管和监测地球观测组织区域教育联盟名单服务。其目标是发展一个REU领导者社区，并提高REUS计划的效率，使REU PIs能够为本科生创造更高质量的研究体验。此外，REU PIs将在招收来自不同背景的学生方面获得支持，以增加来自代表性不足的群体和社区学院的学生或第一代大学生的参与。将网络活动正规化，并增加网络研讨会、手册等，将有助于社区运行更有效的计划，并吸引不同学生的申请。PI将提供必要的支持和领导，以加强由地球科学局资助的REU项目。这将直接影响每年为600多名学生提供的研究性实习项目的质量。提高这些项目的质量和参与这些项目的学生的多样性，可能会对未来的海洋科学研究界产生重要影响。REU计划是新研究生的主要来源，因为参加该计划的许多学生继续进入STEM领域的研究生院学习。

The Directorate of Geosciences supports approximately 60 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) sites each year, and these sites provide research internships for over 600 students. These REU site programs are located at many different institutions across the county, and the scientists who run them are often the only faculty in their institution responsible for organizing this type of student research/professional development program. Although there is a general knowledge of how these programs should be managed, there has been limited sharing of ideas and best practices among the REU PIs. In the past, new PIs have had little support as they work through the details of developing and organizing a new REU program, and experienced PIs face a variety of challenges, including recruiting diverse students. This award provides funding to support the REU programs through professional networking efforts: (1) to connect PIs and managers running REU Sites, (2) to document and improve best practices, (3) to provide a support system for dealing with challenges and developments, and (4) to foster an understanding of how to integrate diversity approaches in all programmatic elements. The Principal Investigators (PIs) will formalize this support of REU managers in the geosciences by publishing handbooks for REU PIs, mentors and interns, and by organizing opportunities for REU PIs and REU interns to meet and exchange information. Ongoing networking activities will include hosting telecons and webinars on REU management, student recruitment, etc. and hosting and monitoring the GEO REU listserve. The goal is to develop a community of REU leaders and to increase the efficacy of REUs programs, allowing REU PIs to create a higher quality research experience for undergraduates. In addition, REU PIs will receive support for recruiting students from diverse backgrounds in order to increase participation by students who are from under-represented groups and community colleges or who are first-generation college students. Formalizing the networking activities and adding webinars, manuals, etc. will help the community run more effective programs and attract applications from a diverse set of students. The PI will provide support and leadership necessary to strengthen the REU programs that are funded by the Directorate of Geosciences. It will have a direct impact on the quality of research internship programs provided to more than 600 students each year. Improving the quality of these programs and the diversity of students who participate in them is likely to have an important impact on the future ocean sciences research community. The REU program is a major source of new graduate students since many of the students who participate in them go on to attend graduate school in STEM fields.