REU Site: A Summer Research Program that Integrates Deaf, Hearing and Sign Language Interpreting Students to Advance Chemistry Research and to Enhance Science Communication

位于弗吉尼亚州哈里森堡的詹姆斯·麦迪逊大学(JMU)获得了本科生研究体验(REU)现场奖，该奖项支持在2022-2024年夏季对12名学生进行为期10周的培训。该计划由化学部和数学和物理科学局多学科活动办公室(OMA)联合资助，将通过向主要来自研究基础设施有限的机构的聋哑人和听力障碍(D/HH)学生、代表性不足的少数族裔学生和第一代大学生提供化学科学方面的研究和职业发展机会，扩大参与和培训STEM学生。此外，美国手语(ASL)口译学生将沉浸在科学界。这既拓宽了口译员的技能，又扩大了具有科学口译经验的专业人员队伍，从而降低了D/HH学生坚持STEM的门槛。通过REU，聋人和听力参与者都可以一起学习，消除了科学研究环境中的沟通障碍。这一经历预计将培养文化意识，并提供一个更具包容性的科学界。通过这一REU计划，詹姆斯·麦迪逊大学的教职员工将与加拉德特大学的客座教员一起，提供化学所有主要子学科的研究机会，其专业知识集中在合成、生物物理化学和材料方面。除了进行研究外，REU的学生还将参加旨在加强有效科学交流的专业发展活动。JMU媒体艺术与设计学院(SMAD)的一名教员将共同主持关于视觉交流使用的研讨会，向科学和非科学受众通报JMU进行的研究对科学和社会的影响。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 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site award to James Madison University (JMU), located in Harrisonburg, VA, supports the training of 12 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2022-2024. This program, jointly funded by the Division of Chemistry and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activity (OMA) in the Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate will broaden participation and train STEM students by providing research and professional development opportunities in the chemical sciences to deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students, underrepresented minority students and first-generation college students, primarily from institutions with limited research infrastructure. In addition, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting students will be immersed in the science community. This both broadens the interpreters’ skills and expands the pool of professionals with science-interpreting experience, thus lowering the barriers for D/HH students to persist in STEM. Through the REU, both deaf and hearing participants learn together, removing communication barriers in the scientific research environment. This experience is expected to foster cultural awareness and provide for a more inclusive scientific community. Through this REU program, James Madison University faculty, along with a visiting faculty from Gallaudet University, will provide research opportunities in all major sub-disciplines of chemistry, with expertise centered in synthesis, biophysical chemistry, and materials. In addition to conducting research, REU students will also participate in professional development activities aimed at enhancing effective science communication. A faculty member from JMU’s School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD) will co-host workshops on the use of visual communication to inform both scientific and non-scientific audiences about the impacts of the research conducted at JMU on science and society.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.