REU/RET Site: University of Hawai`i Institute for Astronomy

这项本科生研究经验（REU）计划将在天文探索的前沿提供个人指导的研究经验，以培养和提高科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域有抱负的专业人士的职业生涯。该网站还将包括通过教师研究经验（RET）计划的教育工作者。夏威夷大学REU/RET项目的天文研究所（IfA）将通过培养STEM职业所需的研究技能来造福社会。他们将通过从支持非洲裔美国人、西班牙裔美国人和印第安人科学家的专业组织中招募太平洋岛民和少数民族学生来实现多样性。与会者将了解天文设施对土著人民的影响以及科学家与公众之间沟通的重要性。在项目开始前、中期和结束后，将通过对参与者进行独立的、外部的、可量化的调查和访谈来评估实现预期社会成果的进展情况。许多过去的学生报告说，这个项目是他们决定参加研究生院或从事STEM职业的关键因素，预计新的RET参与者将通过将现代天文研究视角带入课堂来增加项目的有效性。这种方法是基于过去的经验，但现在将重点放在通过有针对性的招聘和限制非研究型大学和学院的学生来实现学生人口结构的多样化上。有50位导师从事广泛的天体物理学研究，参与者将沉浸在IfA的世界级研究环境中。这些经历还将包括促进专业发展的活动。参与者将参观莫纳克亚山上的观测站，根据这些设施的数据完成研究项目，并参与观测。除了指导过程外，学生还将参加STEM专业发展课程，提供STEM职业所需的背景和技能。一组研究论文形式的报告有助于培养参与者的写作技巧。最后，参与者通过准备海报和口头报告，然后向广大观众展示他们的演讲技巧。在项目结束后，支持参与者在专业会议上以海报或口头形式展示他们的研究成果。从长远来看，该项目将激发参与者在STEM职业生涯中对知识的终身追求，从而提高知识水平，然后将他们的新激情带到课堂上。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 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program will offer individually mentored research experiences at the forefront of astronomical exploration to foster and enhance the careers of a diverse cohort of aspiring professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The site will also include educators through the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program. The Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at the University of Hawaii REU/RET program will benefit society by training a diverse demographic in research skills needed in a STEM career. They will achieve diversity by recruiting Pacific Islanders and minority students from professional organizations supporting African American, Hispanic, and Native American scientists. Participants will learn about the impact that astronomical facilities have on indigenous people and the importance of communication between scientists and the public. Progress towards achieving the desired societal outcomes will be assessed by conducting independent, external, quantifiable, surveys and interviews with the participants just before the program begins, at its mid-point, and after the program ends. Many past students reported that this program was a key factor in their decision to attend graduate school or pursue a career in STEM, and it is expected that new RET participants will multiply the program's effectiveness by bringing a modern astronomical research perspective to their classrooms.The method is based on past experience but will now be focused on diversifying the student demographics through targeted recruitment and restricting the program to students from non-research universities and colleges. With 50 mentors pursuing a broad range of astrophysical research, the participants will be immersed in the IfA's world-class research environment. The experience will also include activities that promote professional development. Participants will visit observatories on Mauna Kea, complete research projects based on data from these facilities and participate in observations. In addition to the mentoring process, students will participate in a STEM-specific professional development course providing background and skills required for a STEM career. A set of reports in the form of a research paper serves to develop the participants' writing skills. Finally, the participants develop their presentation skills by preparing poster and oral presentations and then giving them to broad audiences. The participants are supported to present their research in poster or oral form at a professional meeting after the program ends. In the long term, the program will advance knowledge by sparking a lifelong pursuit of knowledge in a STEM career in participants who will then bring their renewed excitement to their classrooms.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.