Collaborative Research: REU Site Mystic Aquarium: Plankton to Whales: Consequences of Global Change within Marine Ecosystems

该REU网站奖授予位于康涅狄格州神秘镇的神秘水族馆，将在2024-2026年夏季为30名学生提供为期10周的培训。研究是在康涅狄格大学（UConn）位于康涅狄格州格罗顿的艾弗里波恩校区进行的，该校区目前拥有神秘水族馆实验室和合作伙伴康涅狄格大学海洋科学系。研究将集中在海洋生物及其生态系统如何受到气候变化等全球变化的影响。专业发展活动和机会将发生在神秘水族馆。预计学生，主要来自研究机会有限的学校或来自代表性不足的群体，将在该计划中接受培训。学生将学习如何进行研究，将向科学和公众展示他们的发现，许多人将在科学会议上展示他们的工作成果。该计划的评估将通过在线工具完成。学生应使用NSF ETAP（教育和培训申请）向REU网站申请。REU项目的重点是全球变化（如气候变化）如何影响海洋动物及其生态系统。学生将由水族馆和康涅狄格大学的科学家指导，他们专门研究水生动物生理学、行为和生态过程。每个学生的项目将集中在海洋生态系统的不同营养水平，所有学生一起解决环境变化如何影响海洋生态系统的首要问题。到神秘水族馆的实地考察将是这种沉浸式体验的主要组成部分，包括但不限于教育之旅、动物和生态系统展览观察、工作见面会、道德/负责任的研究行为，以及科学交流研讨会。有兴趣的学生应在线申请（https://etap.nsf.gov），并将根据他们对海洋科学兴趣的个人陈述，学术成绩，推荐信和所需研究重点领域的简要说明进行选择。鼓励提前与未来的项目导师沟通。有关该计划的更多信息和细节，请联系pi （Tracy Romano博士或Michael Finiguerra博士）。该项目由生物科学理事会的生物基础设施司和地球科学理事会的极地特别项目共同资助。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。

This REU Site award to Mystic Aquarium, located in Mystic, CT, will support the training of 30 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2024-2026. Research is conducted at the University of Connecticut’s (UConn) Avery Point campus, Groton, CT which currently hosts the Mystic Aquarium laboratories and collabortive partner UConn’s Department of Marine Sciences. Research will focus on how marine organisms and their ecosytems are affected by global change, such as climate change. Professional Development activities and opportunities will occur at Mystic Aquarium. It is anticipated that students, primarily from schools with limited research opportunities or from an under-represented group, will be trained in the program. Students will learn how research is conducted, will present their findings for both scientific and public audiences and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. Assessment of this program will be done through an online tool. Students should apply to the REU site using NSF ETAP (Education and Training Application).The REU program focuses on how global change, such as climate change, affects marine animals and their ecosystems. Students will be mentored by Aquarium and UConn scientists that specialize in aquatic animal physiology, behavior, and ecological processes. Each student project will focus on a different trophic level in the marine ecosystem, with all students working together to address the overarching question of how changes in the environment can affect the marine ecosystem. Field trips to the Mystic Aquarium will be a major component of this immersive experience, including but not limited to educational tours, animal and ecosystem exhibit observations, job shadowing, ethics/responsible conduct of research, and a science communication workshop. Motivated students should apply on-line (https://etap.nsf.gov) and will be selected based on a personal statement of their interest in marine sciences, academic record, letters of recommendation, and brief explanation of desired research focus areas. Communication with prospective project mentors in advance is encouraged. More information and details about the program is available by contacting the PIs (Dr. Tracy Romano or Dr. Michael Finiguerra). This project is jointly funded by the Division of Biological Infrastructure in the Directorate of Biological Sciences, and Polar Special Programs in the Directorate of Geosciences.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.