Bio-inspired & Bio-mediated Geotechnics Research Experience for Undergraduates (BBG REU)

面向本科生的生物中介和生物启发岩土技术研究体验(BBG REU)为未来的科学家和工程师提供准备，以开发可持续的解决方案，使我们国家的基础设施更安全、更少干扰和更具弹性。该计划将邀请48名学生在四所合作研究型大学(加州大学戴维斯分校、佐治亚理工学院、亚利桑那州立大学和新墨西哥州立大学)中的一所度过10周，在微生物学和土木工程的研究生和教职员工的指导下从事一个研究项目。所有BBG REU项目都从自然中寻求灵感，要么使用生物过程，要么使用原则为与自然生态系统和谐工作的社会基础设施创造低影响的解决方案。在向学生介绍生物遗传技术的研究和新兴领域的同时，该计划将专注于学生的智力和专业成长。学生了解职业和研究生院的机会，提高他们的沟通技能，并开始发展他们的职业关系网。所有参与该计划的人都将体现一种包容的文化。项目招聘将侧重于在本国机构几乎没有机会进行研究的学生，目标是来自不同背景和途径的学生。该计划的一个目标是，参与者的经历激励他们考虑在学术、行业或政府部门从事专注于生物地质技术学科的职业。BBG REU项目是对NSF资助的工程研究中心(ERC)生物中介和生物启发岩土技术(CBBG)的补充。它的主要目标是：1)从不同的途径招收和培养学生，以提高URG在岩土工程中的代表性；2)提高对工程领域研究生院和职业机会的认识；3)培养学生的技术和专业技能；4)强调需要为未来的工程师和科学家考虑可持续的解决方案；5)让参与者接触生物中介和生物启发的地球技术；6)推动CBBG研究从基础研究阶段进入实践；以及7)创造包容性的学习和研究环境。BBG REU以来自不同背景和途径的学生为目标，重点关注学生获得研究机会有限的机构。鼓励来自工程学专业代表性不足群体的学生申请，包括退伍军人和残疾学生。被选中的学生在四所CBBG合作机构(加州大学戴维斯分校、佐治亚理工学院、亚利桑那州立大学和新墨西哥州立大学)之一参加为期10周的学徒计划。活动包括当地机构和跨机构情况介绍、为期一周的CBBG专业发展培训和活动沉浸体验、每周网络研讨会/培训、网络会议、海报演示和社交活动。所有BBG REU项目都支持新的和正在进行的CBBG研究项目。CBBG项目寻求理解和利用自然现象的科学过程和原则，以开发更可持续、更安全、更少干扰、更具弹性的民用基础设施系统。CBBG的方法体现了从传统的能源密集型、机械的地面工程方法到可持续的、与自然兼容的生物地球技术方法的转型，该方法使用创新的生物中介和生物启发技术来满足现代社会的需求。在整个REU项目中，48名本科生将完成以生物为重点的土木工程设计变革性领域的研究项目。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为是值得支持的奖项。

The Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics Research Experience for Undergraduates (BBG REU) prepares future scientists and engineers to develop sustainable solutions to make our nation's infrastructure safer, less intrusive and more resilient. The program will invite a total of 48 students to spend 10 weeks at one of four partner research universities (UC Davis, Georgia Tech, Arizona State University and New Mexico State University) to work on a research project while being mentored by graduate students and faculty in microbiology and civil engineering. All BBG REU projects look to nature for inspiration, either using biological processes or principles to create low-impact solutions for society's infrastructure that work in harmony with natural ecosystems. While introducing students to research and the emerging field of biogeotechnics, the program will focus on the intellectual and professional growth of students in the program. Students learn about career and graduate school opportunities, improve their communication skills, and start to develop their professional networks. All involved in the program will embody a culture of inclusion. Program recruitment will focus on students with little opportunity for research at their home institutions and target students from diverse backgrounds and pathways. A goal of the program is that participants' experiences inspire them to consider academic, industry or government careers that focus on the biogeotechnics discipline.The BBG REU program complements the NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC)for Bio-mediated & Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG). Its primary objectives are to: 1) recruit and prepare students from diverse pathways to increase URG representation in geotechnical engineering; 2) increase awareness of graduate school and career opportunities in engineering; 3) develop students technical and professional skills; 4) emphasize the need to consider sustainable solutions to future engineers and scientists; 5) expose participants to bio-mediated and bio-inspired geotechnologies; 6) advance CBBG research from fundamental research stages to implementation in practice; and 7) create inclusive learning and research environments. The BBG REU targets students from diverse backgrounds and pathways, focusing on institutions where students have limited access to research opportunities. Students from underrepresented groups in engineering, including veterans and students with disabilities, are encouraged to apply. Selected students attend the 10-week apprenticeship program at one of four CBBG partner institutions (UC Davis, Georgia Tech, Arizona State University and New Mexico State University). Activities include a local institution and cross-institution orientation, a one-week CBBG immersion experience for professional development training and activities, weekly webinars/trainings, networking sessions, poster presentations, and social events. All BBG REU projects support new and on-going CBBG research projects. CBBG projects seek to understand and harness the scientific processes and principles of natural phenomena to develop more sustainable, safer, less intrusive, more resilient civil infrastructure systems. The CBBG's approach embodies a transformational shift from traditional energy intensive, mechanical methods for engineering the ground to a sustainable, nature-compatible biogeotechnical approach that employs innovative bio-mediated and bio-inspired technologies to meet the demands of modern society. Throughout the REU program, 48 undergraduate students will complete research projects in the transformative area of biologically-focused civil engineering design. Their exposure is posited to inspire students to consider academic, industry or government careers that focus on protecting society's infrastructure, using low-impact solutions that work in harmony with natural ecosystems.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.