REU/RET Site: Interdisciplinary Research Experience in Sustainable Energy and Bioengineering

非技术描述：这个本科生研究经历（REU）网站与教师研究经历（RET）组成部分为全国本科生和高中教师创造了一个强有力的合作研究环境，重点关注可持续能源和生物工程应用的基础和应用研究。主要目标是：(1)为所有参与者创造一个充满活力的研究环境，提供工程创新思想的实施；(2)教育学生成为独立的研究人员和企业家，并为他们提供机会，在夏季末的期末项目展示和年度研讨会期间的竞赛中使用他们新开发的和天生的技能；(3)在高中教师和本科生之间建立一个由教师领导的师徒关系网络。(4)对教师进行可持续能源和生物工程方面的教育，并帮助他们为高中课程制定以纳米技术和工程为重点的课程计划。这些教育活动旨在培养学生在科学展示和实践研究中的自尊。研究经历激励学生对当前的能源和健康相关问题进行研究。大多数本科生继续接受科学和工程方面的研究生教育，或在工业、学术界或国家实验室从事研究和开发工作。技术细节：参与者从事与可持续能源问题和生物工程过程相关的具体项目，并参与跨学科的前沿研究和创新。项目主题包括含离子共聚物接枝纳米颗粒中的离子迁移；含三价铁等混合过渡金属的钠层状氧化物的研制聚电解质凝胶和微凝胶的抗菌络合作用磷光聚合物纳米复合材料传感器；高超声速风洞；致癌可塑性的细胞决定因素；新型有机硼化学试剂的研制人体平衡控制力学；并完成了软组织检测仪的组装与标定。一个RET组件被整合到这个REU中，以启动和丰富高中现有的纳米科学和工程课程，其中有大量未被充分代表的少数民族学生。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。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: This research experiences for undergraduates (REU) site with a research experiences for teachers (RET) component creates a strongly collaborative research environment for both undergraduate students nationwide and high school teachers, focusing on both fundamental and applied research on sustainable energy and bioengineering applications. The main objectives are: (1) Create a vibrant research environment for all participants that offers the implementation of innovative ideas in engineering, (2) Educate students to become independent researchers and entrepreneurs and provide them opportunities to use their newly developed as well as innate skills in the summer-end final project presentation and competition during the annual symposium, (3) Develop a network of mentoring relationships led by the faculty between high school teachers and undergraduates, and (4) Educate teachers on sustainable energy and bioengineering and help them create lesson plans focused on nanotechnology and engineering for high school curriculum. The educational activities are designed to build students’ self-esteem in scientific presentation and hands-on research. The research experiences inspire students to work on current energy and health related problems. Most undergraduate student participants continue with post-graduate education in science and engineering or pursue research and development careers in industry, academia, or national laboratories. TECHNICAL DETAILS: Participants work on specific projects related to sustainable energy problems and bioengineering processes and participate in interdisciplinary cutting-edge research and innovation. Project topics include ionic transport in ion containing copolymer grafted nanoparticles; developing sodium layered oxides with mixed transition metals including trivalent iron; antimicrobial complexation with polyelectrolyte gels and microgels; phosphorescent polymer nanocomposite sensors; hypersonic wind tunnels; cellular determinants of oncogenic plasticity; development of novel organoboron chemical reagents; mechanics of human balance control; and assembly and calibration of a soft tissue testing machine. An RET component is integrated into this REU to initiate and enrich the existing nanoscience and engineering curriculum in high schools with a high number of underrepresented minority 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.