REU Site: Climate and Sustainability Research in Nanotechnology and Electrochemical Devices for Community College Students

这项为期三年的REU站点更新项目名为“面向社区大学生的纳米技术和电化学设备的气候与可持续性研究”，将在莱斯大学开展，每年为大休斯顿地区的10名社区大学生提供有关气候和可持续性主题的暑期研究实习机会。该项目旨在通过从社区大学招募学生，吸引学生，特别是代表性不足的少数族裔（URM）参与STEM领域。通过实验室研究经验以及与莱斯大学教师、博士后和学生导师的互动，REU参与者将获得接触STEM研究、应用和职业的机会。参加本科研究经历有助于学生从两年制大学过渡到四年制大学，并为研究生院和研究职业创造了途径。在这个为期十周的项目中，学生将参与到与可持续发展、能源和水净化相关的实际应用项目中。此外，该项目将在参与的莱斯大学教职员工和学生的支持下，通过其旨在增强多样性和学生成功的强大基础设施，为学生提供大量指导和培训。该计划的主要目标之一是通过为那些本来不会考虑STEM研究或职业的学生提供变革性的研究经验，扩大和多样化STEM劳动力。这项为期三年的REU站点更新项目名为“面向社区大学生的纳米技术和电化学设备的气候与可持续性研究”，将在莱斯大学开展，通过为期10周的实习和后续支持，每年向10名休斯顿地区的社区大学生介绍气候与可持续性研究、应用、教育和职业。这个REU将扩大URM学生对STEM的参与，为不同的社区大学生提供研究机会，否则这些学生可能无法接触到最先进的研究设施、杰出的科学家和积极的指导。休斯顿的社区学院代表了一个庞大而多元化的学生群体，其中许多人是第一代大学生。这个REU将成为两年制和四年制大学之间的桥梁，并为那些进入研究生院的人提供管道。此外，通过这个REU，参与者将与莱斯大学的教职员工、博士后和研究生建立并保持师徒关系，同时促进莱斯大学与休斯顿地区社区学院之间的机构间合作关系。莱斯大学通过广泛的研究设施、跨学科合作和重大突破，已成为纳米技术领域的领导者。该REU将为学生提供前沿研究的实验室经验。利用纳米技术和电化学设备，学生将通过三个跨学科主题来解决气候变化和环境可持续性问题：1)减少温室气体的过程，2)能源储存和管理，以及3)水净化。REU参与者的研究和项目成果将在同行评议的期刊上发表，并在区域和国家会议上发表。此外，项目成果将通过年度海报讨论会和REU网站传播给莱斯大学、社区学院的教师、学生和休斯顿地区。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 three-year renewal REU Site project, "Climate and Sustainability Research in Nanotechnology and Electrochemical Devices for Community College Students", at Rice University will provide ten community college students in the Greater Houston area with summer research internships each year pertaining to the topics of climate and sustainability. The program aims to engage students, particularly underrepresented minorities (URM), in the STEM fields by recruiting them from community colleges. Through laboratory research experiences and interactions with faculty, post-docs, and student mentors at Rice University, REU participants will gain exposure to STEM research, applications, and careers. Taking part in undergraduate research experiences facilitates the transition for students from two-year to four-year colleges, and creates a pathway to graduate school and research careers. Students in this ten-week program will engage in projects that involve real-world applications pertaining to sustainability, energy, and water purification. Furthermore, the program will offer substantial mentorship and training to the students with the support of the participating Rice faculty, staff, and students and through its strong infrastructure designed to enhance diversity and student success. One of the primary goals of the program is to broaden and diversify the STEM workforce by providing transformative research experiences to students who would not have otherwise considered STEM research or careers.The three-year renewal REU Site project, "Climate and Sustainability Research in Nanotechnology and Electrochemical Devices for Community College Students" at Rice University will introduce ten Houston-area community college students each year to climate and sustainability research, applications, education, and careers through 10-week internships and follow-up support. This REU will broaden the participation of URM students in STEM by providing research opportunities to a diverse pool of community college students who might not otherwise have access to state-of-the-art research facilities, prominent scientists, and proactive mentorship. Houston's community colleges represent a large, diverse group of students, many of whom are first-generation college students. This REU will be a bridge between 2- and 4-year colleges and serve as a pipeline for those entering graduate school. Furthermore, through this REU, participants will build and maintain mentoring relationships with the Rice faculty, staff, postdocs, and grad students while fostering inter-institutional partnerships between Rice University and community colleges in the Houston area. Rice University has established itself as a leader in the field of nanotechnology through extensive research facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and significant breakthroughs. This REU will offer students lab experiences in cutting-edge research. Using nanotechnology and electrochemical devices, students will address climate change and environmental sustainability through three interdisciplinary themes: 1) Processes to reduce greenhouse gases, 2) Energy storage and management, and 3) Water purification. REU participant research and program findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at regional and national conferences. Moreover, project outcomes will be disseminated to Rice University, community college faculty, students, and the Houston region through an annual poster colloquium and the REU website.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.