REU Site: Summer Bridge Program in Experimental Physics

该奖项支持亚利桑那大学物理学REU项目的延续。在亚利桑那大学物理系高级教师的指导下，学生可以从各种前沿物理活动中进行选择，也可以从位于其他大学学术单位的研究小组中进行选择，包括天文学、化学、光学科学、月球和行星研究以及大气科学。参与者的主要来源是在皮马社区学院完成了相当于一年级或二年级的科学或工程课程，准备转到四年制学位课程的学生（尽管所有本科生都有资格申请）。来自物理系的研究生助教为参与者提供指导。特别的定向和技能活动是量身定制的，使学生能够为研究项目做出重大贡献。在REU开始时，学生将在一个为期1.5周的强化训练营中接受研究培训。在这里，他们学习基本的实验室技能，如机械加工、数字电子和计算机接口，由训练有素的教师和研究生导师授课；他们参加团队建设练习，如科学演讲和弹射比赛；他们还参观了提供夏季REU工作的各种研究实验室。根据学生的喜好和技能，参与者将被匹配到研究实验室，进行为期8.5周的研究体验，最后是为期半天的REU研讨会。与前REU校友的紧密联系贯穿始终；REU网站、Facebook页面和“重聚烧烤”活动加强了过去和现在的学生之间的联系。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award supports the continuation of the REU program in physics at the University of Arizona. Students may choose from a wide variety of forefront physics activities, under the direction of senior faculty members from the Department of Physics at the University of Arizona, or also from in research groups located in several other university academic units including Astronomy, Chemistry, Optical Sciences, Lunar and Planetary Studies, and Atmospheric Sciences. The primary source of participants is students who have completed the equivalent of the first or second year curriculum in science or engineering at Pima Community College, in preparation for transfer to a 4-year degree program (although all undergraduate students are eligible to apply). Graduate Teaching Assistants from the physics department serve as mentors for the participants. Special orientation and skills activities are individually tailored to enable the students to make significant contributions to the research projects. Students are trained for research in an intensive training camp for 1.5 weeks at the start of the REU. Here they learn essential lab skills such as machining, digital electronics and computer interfacing, taught by trained faculty and graduate mentors; they take part in team-building exercises such as scientific speaking and a catapult competition; and they tour the various research labs offering summer REU work. Participants are matched to research labs according to student preferences and skills, for a research experience lasting 8.5 weeks, culminating in a half-day REU symposium. Strong connections to past REU alumni are a priority throughout; the REU website, Facebook page and "REUnion barbecue" event strengthen bonds among past and present students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.