National Physics REU Leadership Group Workshop and Community-Building

国家物理 REU 领导小组研讨会和社区建设

• 批准号: 2011908
• 负责人: Michael Wittmann
• 金额: $ 16.3万
• 依托单位: American Physical Society
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-06-01 至 2024-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2011908&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: National; Physics; REU; Leadership; Group

Engaging undergraduates in research is a critical component of a high-quality undergraduate physics education, providing hands-on training on methods used by practicing physicists and exposure to cutting-edge science. The NSF Physics Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program includes over 50 Physics REU site programs serving over 1,000 students each year, and nearly one-quarter of all physics majors report participating in a REU experience before they graduate. In order to realize the large potential for impact across Physics REU sites, Physics REU site directors came together as a community and formed the NSF Physics REU Leadership Group (NPRLG), which is committed to enhancing undergraduate student research experiences. The American Physical Society (APS) provides infrastructure support needed for this community of practice to thrive. This project aims to enhance the collective efforts of NPRLG and APS to improve undergraduate research opportunities.Given the wide range in REU sites with respect to longevity, personnel, and programming, a regular in-person gathering of site leaders is critical to fostering excellence in Physics REU programs. Such a workshop is needed to provide an opportunity for physics REU site directors to share effective practices, to learn from relevant experts, to develop a network of site leaders, and to identify and pursue community-wide initiatives. Sharing of effective practices among REU site leaders ultimately supports the professional development of undergraduate physics researchers and their mentors. In addition, the project aims to improve inclusion of underrepresented minority students at Physics REU sites, foster use of a high-quality assessment tool for evaluating programs, and identify other opportunities to improve REU programs through coordinated action. Finally, the impact of this project has the potential to transfer beyond Physics REU programs to benefit other undergraduate research activities at host institutions.The NSF Physics REU Leadership Group (NPRLG) is a community of over 50 Physics REU site directors committed to enhancing undergraduate student research experiences through sharing of effective practices and community-wide initiatives. The project will carry out: (i) an in-person workshop for the NPRLG, (ii) ongoing virtual engagement of the NPRLG via an online forum and videoconferences, (iii) a workshop report and web resources for dissemination of effective practices, (iv) the implementation of a common assessment instrument, and (v) delegate exchanges with minority serving organizations to facilitate recruitment and inclusion efforts. The project will promote sharing of effective practices among REU site leaders, which ultimately supports the professional development of undergraduate physics researchers and their mentors. To promote participant learning and relationship building, the in-person workshop will emphasize interactive formats such as small-group discussions, panel discussions, and structured networking activities, among other activities. An evaluator external to the NPRLG will survey in-person workshop participants to assess outcomes, including adoption of effective practices and follow-up on proposed collective actions. The project will promote dissemination through a workshop report with identified goals and best practices, which will be shared via conference presentations and a webpage within the broader physics community and with REU programs outside of Physics.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.

参与研究的大学生是高质量本科物理教育的关键组成部分，提供了实践物理学家使用的方法和对尖端科学的接触的动手培训。 NSF物理研究经验（REU）计划包括50多种物理REU网站计划，每年为1000多名学生提供服务，而所有物理学专业的近四分之一都报告了在毕业之前参加REU的经验。为了实现跨物理REU网站影响的巨大影响，物理REU网站董事作为一个社区聚集在一起，并组建了NSF Physics REU领导力小组（NPRLG），该小组致力于增强本科生的研究经验。美国物理社会（APS）提供了这个实践社区所需的基础设施支持。该项目旨在加强NPRLG和AP的集体努力，以改善本科研究机会。在长寿，人员和编程方面，REU站点的广泛范围是现场领导者的定期亲自聚会对于促进卓越物理REU计划的卓越性至关重要。需要这样的研讨会为物理REU网站董事提供一个机会，以分享有效的实践，向相关专家学习，开发网站领导者网络，并识别和追求社区范围内的计划。 REU网站领导者之间的有效实践最终支持本科物理研究人员及其导师的专业发展。此外，该项目旨在改善物理REU网站中代表性不足的少数族裔学生的包含，促进使用用于评估计划的高质量评估工具，并通过协调的行动确定其他机会来改善REU计划。最后，该项目的影响有潜力超越物理REU计划，以使主机机构的其他本科研究活动受益。NSFPhysics REU领导力小组（NPRLG）是一个由50多名物理REU现场董事组成的社区，该社区致力于通过共享有效实践和社区范围的启动，致力于增强学生研究经验。该项目将进行：（i）NPRLG的面对面研讨会，（ii）NPRLG通过在线论坛和视频会计进行的持续的虚拟参与度，（iii）研讨会报告和Web资源，用于传播有效实践的有效实践，（iv）（iv）与少数评估工具的实施，以及（V）与招聘的实施，以及（V）与竞选组织的实施，以供应群体，以供派遣人员进行交流。该项目将促进REU网站领导者之间的有效实践，最终支持本科生研究人员及其导师的专业发展。为了促进参与者的学习和建立关系，面对面的研讨会将强调互动格式，例如小组讨论，小组讨论和结构化的网络活动，以及其他活动。 NPRLG外部的评估者将调查面对面的研讨会参与者，以评估结果，包括采用有效的实践和对拟议集体行动的后续行动。该项目将通过一份讲习班报告促进传播，并具有确定的目标和最佳实践，该报告将通过会议演示和更广泛的物理社区中的网页和物理外的REU计划共享。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的知识分子和更广泛影响的评估来评估的，并被认为是值得的。