Support to Broaden Student Participation in the 2021 Meeting of the North American Membrane Society (NAMS)

该奖项将为13名美国本科生参加在科罗拉多州埃斯特斯公园举行的北美膜学会(NAMS)2021年会议提供旅行支持。NAMS是首屈一指的膜会议，在膜科学和技术的所有主题中提供出色的技术会议。2021年会议的主题是“融合--将膜科学与社会挑战联系起来”，这与美国国家工程院最近确定的几个重大挑战相一致。该会议有着通过有针对性的项目和奖励机会直接吸引研究生研究人员的丰富历史。这种旅行支持的目标是将这些机会扩大到本科研究人员，他们认为自己是STEM中代表性不足的群体的成员，否则可能无法参加会议。此外，它还将为学生提供一个平台，让他们与社区领导人以及其他本科生和研究生建立联系。一个独特的本科生指导计划将促进包容性，并鼓励学生充分利用NAMS 2021提供的技术、社交和网络机会。及早参与专业协会/会议将为学生提供动力和鼓励，在各自的领域追求更高的学位，并随后发展一支健康和多样化的劳动力队伍。NAMS组织委员会由不同的北美研究人员组成，来自学术界、行业和政府实验室的特邀演讲者在该项目中占据突出地位。会议将包括26次技术会议、每日全体会议、一次海报会议和丰富的非结构化讨论时间，以促进新的合作关系和研究想法。2021年NAMS会议将涵盖从膜材料科学的基础研究到过程系统的开发以及膜技术在水、生物处理、化学分离、环境系统和能源中的应用等各种主题。历史上，数以百计的研究生参加NAMS会议，并从事独特的专业发展和培训机会。这一奖项将把这样的机会扩大到一批美国本科生，目的是培养和留住多元化的膜科学家和工程师群体。所有本科生与会者将与资深研究生导师配对，他们将担任会议指南，支持身临其境的体验。该计划的有效性将通过对学生结果的调查和观察来评估。预计旅行和注册费补贴奖将吸引该领域的不同年轻科学家，并加强膜科学和技术工作。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 award will provide travel support for 13 U.S.-based undergraduate students to attend the 2021 Meeting of the North American Membrane Society (NAMS) at Estes Park, Colorado. NAMS is a premier membrane conference, providing outstanding technical sessions across the full breadth of topics within membrane science and technology. The theme of the 2021 meeting is "Convergence - Connecting Membrane Science to Societal Challenges," which aligns with several Grand Challenges recently identified by the National Academy of Engineering. The meeting has a rich history of engaging graduate student researchers directly through targeted programs and award opportunities. The goal of this travel support is to extend these opportunities to undergraduate researchers who identify as a member of an underrepresented group in STEM and might otherwise be unable to attend the conference. Additionally, it will provide a platform for students to network with community leaders and fellow undergraduate and graduate students. A unique undergraduate mentoring program will foster inclusivity and encourage the students to take full advantage of the technical, social, and networking opportunities available at NAMS 2021. Early engagement in a professional society/conference will provide students with motivation and encouragement to pursue advanced degrees in their respective fields and, subsequently, develop a healthy and diverse workforce.The NAMS organizing committee is comprised of diverse North American researchers, and invited speakers from academia, industry, and government labs feature prominently in the program. The meeting will feature 26 technical sessions, daily plenary sessions, a poster session, and abundant unstructured discussion periods to catalyze new collaborative relationships and research ideas. The 2021 NAMS meeting will cover a variety of topics ranging from fundamental studies of membrane material science to process systems development and applications of membrane technology in water, bioprocessing, chemical separations, environmental systems, and energy. Historically, hundreds of graduate students participate in the NAMS meeting and engage in unique professional development and training opportunities. This award will extend such opportunities to a cohort of U.S. undergraduate students with the intention of growing and retaining a diverse community of membrane scientists and engineers. All undergraduate attendees will be paired with senior graduate student mentors who will serve as meeting guides and support an immersive experience. The program's effectiveness will be assessed through surveys and observation of student outcomes. It is anticipated that the award for travel and registration fee subsidies will attract diverse young scientists in the field and enhance the membrane science and technology workforce.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.