REU Site: Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEAfREU)

这个为期三年的新REU网站：控制环境农业(CEAfREU)由怀俄明大学主办，重点关注控制环境农业(CEA)。全球粮食需求将增长56%，粮食短缺、气候变化和人口增加等挑战将加剧饥饿危机。控制环境农业(CEA)，如温室和垂直室内农场，是一种很有前途的解决方案，可以提高粮食产量，支持全球范围内强劲和有营养的粮食供应。该REU计划的目标是扩大美国原住民、女性、第一代和其他来自STEM领域代表性较低人群的学生的参与，以从事尖端的CEA研究。每年将有8名参与者参与以资源效率为重点的跨学科研究，同时保持CEA的最佳作物生长。辅导、技术技能发展和其他专业培训将把学生对土著食品的知识与CEA的现代技术结合起来，以弥合代沟，并在部落社区推广新鲜和健康的农产品。基于群体的方法促进团队合作、领导力和同行教学，同时激励和准备美洲原住民学生推进支持农业未来的新技术。这个为期三年的新REU网站：控制环境农业(CEAfREU)由怀俄明大学主办，重点关注控制环境农业(CEA)。这一新颖的计划每年支持8名新生，包括5名美洲原住民学生，在CEA中进行趋同研究。主要目标是让学生做好准备，推进CEA的跨学科创新解决方案，发展领导力和技术沟通技能，并欣赏CEA研究、教育和本科学位以外的职业机会。REU项目支持资源节约型CEA研究，同时使学生能够探索先进的工程技术，获得有关农业过程的知识以优化作物产量，并发展商业技能以支持可持续的CEA实践。学生将学习三个研究主题之一：(1)资源高效的CEA的建模和操作；(2)用于监测作物生长和分析CEA中养分含量的计算机视觉；以及(3)部落社区的CEA可行性研究。REU的学生将通过现场访问、半面试和与行业合作伙伴的现场讨论获得第一手经验。积极参与行业合作伙伴和更好地了解利益相关者的观点将丰富学生的学习，最终使他们的专业和潜在的STEM职业发展受益。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 new three-year REU Site: Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEAfREU) hosted by the University of Wyoming focused on controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Global food demand will increase by 56%, with challenges such as food shortages, climate change, and rising populations exacerbating hunger crises. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA), such as greenhouses and vertical indoor farms, is a promising solution to improve food production and support a robust and nutritious food supply across the globe. The goal of this REU program is to broaden the participation of Native American, female, first-generation, and other students from underrepresented populations in STEM fields to engage in cutting-edge CEA research. Eight participants each year will engage in interdisciplinary research focused on resource efficiency while maintaining optimal crop growth in CEA. Mentoring, technical skills development, and other professional training will combine students’ knowledge of indigenous food with modern technologies in CEA to bridge generational gaps and promote fresh and healthy produce in tribal communities. A cohort-based approach promotes teamwork, leadership, and peer teaching while inspiring and preparing Native American students to advance new technologies that support the future of agriculture. This new three-year REU Site: Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEAfREU) hosted by the University of Wyoming focused on controlled environment agriculture (CEA). This novel program supports eight rising sophomores, including five Native American students, per year to conduct convergence research in CEA. The primary objectives are to prepare students to advance creative interdisciplinary solutions to CEA, develop leadership and technical communication skills, and appreciate CEA research, education, and career opportunities beyond an undergraduate degree. The REU program supports resource-efficient CEA research while enabling students to explore advanced engineering technologies, gain knowledge about agricultural processes to optimize crop yields, and develop business skills to support sustainable CEA practices. Students will pursue one of the three research themes: (1) modeling and operation for resource-efficient CEA, (2) computer vision for monitoring crop growth and analyzing nutrient contents in CEA, and (3) a CEA feasibility study for tribal communities. REU students will gain firsthand experience through site visits, semi-interviews, and live discussions with industry partners. Actively engaging industry partners and better understanding stakeholder perspectives will enrich student learning, ultimately benefitting their professional and potential STEM career development.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.