REU Site: Polymer Innovation for a Sustainable Future

南密西西比大学聚合物和高性能材料学院的本科生研究体验网站：面向可持续未来的聚合物创新(REU)吸引了来自全国各地的学生参与旨在可持续材料开发方法的研究。可持续材料研究解决了在满足全球社会需求的同时维持自然资源和减少对环境的影响的挑战。REU参与者与跨学科研究团队一起进行旨在提高最先进设施中能源和原材料利用率的研究。该项目招收了不同的学生群体，其中50%是女性，27%来自代表性不足的群体，60%来自主要是本科生院校。超过70%的参与者在毕业后攻读科学和工程学科的高级学位。21世纪科学和工程的重大挑战需要多样化的学生群体的参与和才华。REU计划帮助建立高技能的下一代科学家和工程师的管道，这是国家持续经济实力和繁荣所必需的。该网站由材料研究部和化学部的REU网站项目资助。REU网站的研究目标是开发可持续的材料开发方法，以满足关键的社会和技术需求。10名学生主要来自全国各地的本科生和少数民族院校，进行为期10周的研究体验。本科生研究人员从事的基础研究项目涉及材料可持续性的复杂、跨学科方面，包括从可再生原料合成聚合物、提高工艺效率、设计用于环境修复的材料以及改善可再生能源材料的性能。他们与研究生和教师导师一起在最先进的聚合物合成、分析和加工研究实验室进行跨学科研究。参与者通过社区的参与性研讨会和外展活动建立跨学科的沟通技能，通过与当地聚合物企业的互动接触到材料制造方面的挑战，并通过讲座、实地考察和文献查阅获得对材料对环境影响的认识。学生们在校园以及地区和国家技术会议上以讲台和海报的形式展示他们的研究成果。REU网站帮助发展具有应对下个世纪挑战的技能的科学和工程研究人员的管道，同时推进基础研究，以实现环境可持续材料应用，如聚合物太阳能电池和来自可再生原料的聚合物，用于药物输送。该网站由材料研究部和化学部的REU网站项目资助。

The Research Experience for Undergraduates Site: Polymer Innovation for a Sustainable Future (REU) at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers and High Performance Materials engages students from across the country in research aimed at sustainable approaches to materials development. Sustainable materials research addresses the challenge of meeting global societal needs while sustaining natural resources and reducing impact on the environment. REU participants perform research designed to improve utilization of energy and raw materials in state-of-the-art facilities with interdisciplinary research teams. A diverse population of students, 50% of whom are women, 27% from underrepresented groups, and 60% from primarily undergraduate institutions, are recruited to the program. Over 70% of participants seek advanced degrees in science and engineering disciplines upon graduation. The grand challenges of science and engineering for the 21st century require the engagement and the talent of the diverse student population. The REU program helps to build the pipeline of highly skilled next generation scientists and engineers necessary for the continued economic strength and prosperity of the nation. This site is funded by the REU Site Programs of the Division of Materials Research and the Division of Chemistry.The research objective of the REU site is to develop sustainable approaches to materials development to meet critical societal and technological needs. Ten students are recruited from primarily undergraduate and minority institutions across the country for a ten-week research experience. Undergraduate student researchers are engaged in fundamental research projects that span the complex, interdisciplinary facets of materials sustainability, including synthesis of polymers from renewable feedstocks, enhancing process efficiency, designing materials for environmental remediation, and improving performance in renewable energy materials. They work alongside graduate student and faculty mentors in interdisciplinary research in state-of-the-art polymer synthesis, analysis, and processing research laboratories. Participants build interdisciplinary communication skills through participative workshops and outreach activities in the community, gain exposure to materials manufacturing challenges through interaction with local polymer businesses, and gain appreciation for environmental impact of materials through lectures, field trips, and literature review. Students present their research in podium and poster formats on campus and in regional and national technical meetings. The REU site helps develop the pipeline of science and engineering researchers with the skills to address the challenges of the next century while advancing fundamental research to enable implementation of environmentally sustainable materials applications such as polymeric solar cells and polymers from renewable feedstocks for drug delivery. This site is funded by the REU Site Programs of the Division of Materials Research and the Division of Chemistry.