REU Site: Observing the Ocean

德克萨斯农工大学海洋系将举办一个REU站点：海洋观测（reuo - oto）。每年夏天，该项目将为10名学生提供参与研究的机会，调查沿海海洋面临的问题，包括缺氧、有害藻类、石油泄漏、气候引起的水文变化和海洋酸化。招聘对象将是海洋科学、工程、数学、物理、生物和化学专业的大二和大三学生，重点是来自代表性不足的群体的学生，他们可能没有考虑过将海洋学作为职业。将提供一套平衡的海洋数据采集和分析技能，其中包括来自完善的现场海洋观测设备的数据分析培训，采用CTD剖面的船上实地调查，以及采用实验室和/或基于计算机建模的分析技能的水样。“鹈鹕”号在墨西哥湾的一个实地研究项目将提供样品，加强团队合作，促进对海洋学跨学科性质的了解，并强调时间序列在海洋观测中的价值。该REU项目的总体目标是通过提供(1)跨学科研究经验来挑战和吸引学生，从而加强本科STEM教育和保留；(2)强大的师徒关系和专业发展培训；(3)培养有效科学沟通技能的策略。REU学生将与教师导师一起开发并完成一个使用海洋观测技术的研究项目。学生将学习如何提出一个研究问题，产生假设，进行研究，并评估海洋的状态。活动将培养学生的发现意识，让他们亲身体验尖端的海洋观测技术。每周将提供关于编码/数据分析、海洋数据图形表示、数据管理、科学写作和专业发展的技术研讨会，以丰富个人实验室指导之外的技能组合。REU的学生将乘坐R/V鹈鹕号进行一次研究旅行，沿着重复的样带绘制缺氧和其他生物地球化学示踪物，在那里他们将学习如何使用CTDs和拖曳海洋传感器观察海洋，以及如何收集和分析水文样本。为了提高口语交流能力，学生将在每周一次的REU研讨会上进行演讲，并在课程结束时进行部门研讨会演讲；最佳学生演讲的获胜者将获得参加全国会议的旅行奖。为了展示写作技巧，学生们将写一份初步的研究计划，并准备一份最终的海报或书面报告。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 Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University will host a REU Site: Observing the Ocean (REU-OTO). Each summer, the program will offer ten students an opportunity to participate in research to investigate issues facing the coastal ocean, including hypoxia, harmful algae, oil spills, climate-induced hydrographic changes, and ocean acidification. Recruitment will target rising sophomores and juniors in marine science, engineering, math, physics, biology, and chemistry with a focus on students from underrepresented groups who may not have considered oceanography as a career. A balanced suite of ocean data acquisition and analytical skills will be provided by incorporating training on data analysis from well-established in situ ocean observing equipment, shipboard field surveys with CTD profiling, as well as water sampling with lab-based and/or computer modeling-based analytical skills. A field research project in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Pelican will provide samples, enhance teamwork, promote understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography, and emphasize the value of time series in ocean observing. The overall goal of this REU program is to strengthen undergraduate STEM education and retention by providing (1) an interdisciplinary research experience to challenge and engage students; (2) strong mentorship and professional development training; and (3) strategies to develop effective scientific communication skills. REU students working with faculty mentors will develop and complete a research project using ocean observing techniques. Students will learn how to pose a research question, generate hypotheses, conduct research, and assess the state of the ocean. Activities will foster students’ sense of discovery through hands-on, practical experiences with cutting-edge oceanographic observing techniques. Technical workshops on coding/data analysis, graphical representation of oceanographic data, data management, science writing, and professional development will be provided weekly to enrich skillsets beyond the individual lab-based mentorship. REU students will participate in a research trip aboard the R/V Pelican to map hypoxia and other biogeochemical tracers along a repeat transect, where they will learn how to observe the ocean using CTDs and towed ocean sensors and how to collect and analyze hydrographic samples. To improve oral communication, students will present during weekly REU seminars and give a departmental seminar presentation at program end; the winner of the best student presentation will receive a travel award to present at a national conference. To demonstrate writing skills, the students will write an initial research proposal and prepare either a final poster or written report.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.