REU Site: Nanotechnology REU with a Focus on Community Colleges

莱斯大学的纳米技术REU网站以社区学院为重点，旨在通过向当地社区大学生提供纳米技术领域的研究机会，扩大传统上代表性不足的学生在STEM中的参与。纳米技术领域是一个跨越许多学科并解决公认的现实世界问题的前沿和快速发展的领域。纳米技术将物理科学和工程与医学、能源和环境方面的应用相结合，特别吸引和留住科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)专业的大学生。从历史上看，经济上处于不利地位的学生和第一代学生在STEM中的比例偏低。社区大学为代表不足的群体提供了很高比例的服务，并培养了一大批未来的科学家和工程师。本科生的研究可以帮助建立信心和研究技能，反过来，在学生决定攻读研究生或研究职业生涯中发挥关键作用。这个REU网站致力于将当地社区大学的学生与丰富而有意义的实验室经验整合在一个学者社区中，并提供指导和支持，以促进他们过渡到四年制大学并留住他们。该REU网站的目标是：1)促进来自代表性不足群体和经济困难群体的工程学学生的发展；2)教育社区学院的学生了解STEM研究职业；3)提供研究实验室的经验，同时展示STEM职业生涯的激动人心；4)与我们的参与者建立并保持指导关系；5)促进莱斯大学与得克萨斯州墨西哥湾沿岸地区社区学院之间有效的院校间合作伙伴关系。为期10周的研究体验将向学生介绍在包容的文化中纳米技术的研究、应用、教育和职业机会。学生将与莱斯的教师、博士后和研究生导师以及教师进行互动，他们将指导他们完成项目活动，包括研究方法、口头和书面演示、网络、职业网络研讨会和大学转学；以及当地STEM的产业机会，这些机会将促进项目的影响传播到他们的社区。REU的参与者将在斯马利-柯尔纳米技术研究所的夏季研究座谈会上展示他们的研究成果。这些计划活动旨在培养人们对STEM的兴趣，提供进行研究和科学思维的技能和知识，并在大学环境中吸收社区大学生，以便在STEM有一个可行的未来。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This REU site, Nanotechnology REU with a Focus on Community Colleges at Rice University aims to broaden the participation of traditionally underrepresented students in STEM by providing research opportunities to local community college students in the area of nanotechnology, a cutting edge and rapidly progressing field that cuts across many disciplines and addresses well-recognized, real-world problems. Nanotechnology integrates the physical sciences and engineering with applications in medicine, energy, and the environment that are particularly appealing to recruit and retain college students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Historically, economically disadvantaged and first generation students have an underrepresented presence in STEM. Community colleges serve a high percentage of underrepresented groups and present a rich pool of future scientists and engineers. Undergraduate research can help build confidence and research skills and in turn, play a pivotal role in a student's decision to pursue graduate school or research careers. This REU Site aspires to integrate local community college students with an enriching and meaningful laboratory experience in a community of scholars with mentorship and support that will facilitate their transition and retention into a four-year university. The objectives of this REU site are: 1) facilitate the development of engineering students from underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged populations; 2) educate community college students about STEM research careers; 3) provide experiences in research laboratories while demonstrating the excitement of STEM careers; 4) build and maintain mentoring relationships with our participants; and 5) promote effective inter-institutional partnerships between Rice University and community colleges in the Texas Gulf Coast Region. The 10-week research experience will introduce students to research, applications, and education and career opportunities in nanotechnology in an inclusive culture. Students will interact with Rice faculty, post-doctoral and graduate student mentors and teaching staff who will be guiding them through program activities that include research methodology, oral and written presentations, networking, career webinars, and college transferring; along with local STEM industrial opportunities that will promote the dissemination of the program's impact into their communities. REU participants will present their research findings at the Smalley-Curl Nanotechnology Institute's Summer Research Colloquium. These program activities are designed to cultivate interest in STEM, provide skills and knowledge in conducting research and scientific thinking, and assimilate community college students in a university setting for a viable future in STEM.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.