REU Site: Research Experience for Undergraduates in Arctic Renewable Energy Development, Economics, and Integration

位于阿拉斯加费尔班克斯大学的REU站点将专注于北极地区的能源开发。极地周边偏远的北极社区拥有世界上最高的能源生产速度，但仍在很大程度上依赖于化石燃料发电。寒冷的北极环境与气候变化（例如永久冻土退化、海岸侵蚀、生态系统变化）和国家安全利益相结合，对能源的可负担性、可持续性、复原力和公平性产生深远影响。阿拉斯加在远程微电网可再生能源整合方面处于领先地位，阿拉斯加200个运营微电网的偏远社区中约有30%已经整合了可再生能源。在为期三年的项目中，将招募24名本科生参与。该项目将吸引年轻和多样化的人进入STEM领域，并为下一代北极工程师和科学家做好准备，从而使能源科学界受益。此外，这些独特的体验旨在为从K-12到本科学习、研究生院和/或工业和公用事业就业和合作伙伴关系的STEM专业人士创造一条管道。位于阿拉斯加费尔班克斯大学的REU站点将专注于北极地区的能源开发。阿拉斯加在远程微电网可再生能源整合方面处于领先地位，阿拉斯加200个运营微电网的偏远社区中约有30%已经整合了可再生能源。制定解决方案并增加我们对可再生能源和微电网的理解和知识，对北极社区的福祉至关重要，吸取的经验教训可以转移到世界其他偏远和农村地区。该项目将重点研究北极地区的能源开发，包括将可再生能源整合到现有微电网中的主题；能源数据收集、分析和可视化；对可再生能源和能源公平态度的社会变化和影响；以及北极农村和偏远地区的宏观和微观经济政策和法规。该计划包括四个主要内容：(1)解决北极能源问题的研究项目，(2)为期五天的微电网训练营，(3)北极科学、工程和社区讲座和活动，以及(4)一系列专业发展讲座和练习。该项目将吸引年轻和多样化的人进入STEM领域，并为下一代北极工程师和科学家做好准备，从而使能源科学界受益。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。

The REU Site at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks will focus on energy developments in the Arctic. Circumpolar remote Arctic communities have some of the highest rates of energy production worldwide and are still largely dependent on fossil fuel power generation. The cold Arctic environment in conjunction with a changing climate (for instance permafrost degradation, coastal erosion, ecosystem changes) and national security interests have a profound effect on energy affordability, sustainability, resilience, and equity. Alaska is a leader in renewable integration in remote microgrids, as around 30% of Alaska’s 200 remote communities that operate microgrids have integrated renewable energy. Twenty-four undergraduates will be recruited to participate over the three-years of the project. The program will benefit the energy science community by attracting young and diverse people to the STEM fields and preparing the next generation of Arctic engineers and scientists. In addition, the unique experiences are designed to create a pipeline for STEM professionals from K-12, to undergraduate study, to graduate school and/or to industry and utility employment and partnerships.The REU Site at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks will focus on energy developments in the Arctic. Alaska is a leader in renewable integration in remote microgrids, as around 30% of Alaska’s 200 remote communities that operate microgrids have integrated renewable energy. Developing solutions and increasing our understanding and knowledge of renewable energy and microgrids is vital to the well-being of communities in the Arctic, and lessons learned can be transferred to other remote and rural areas of the world. This program will focus on research pertaining to energy developments in the Arctic and include topics on the integration of renewable energy sources into existing microgrids; energy data collection, analysis, and visualizations; societal changes and impact in attitudes toward renewable energy and energy equity; and macro- and micro-economic policies and regulations in rural and remote areas of the Arctic. Four main elements comprise the program: (1) research projects addressing Arctic energy issues, (2) a five-day Microgrid Boot Camp, (3) Arctic Science, Engineering and Community lectures and activities, and (4) a series of Professional Development lectures and exercises. The program will benefit the energy science community by attracting young and diverse people to the STEM fields and preparing the next generation of Arctic engineers and scientists.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.