An award was made to St. Olaf College to provide research training for 10 weeks for 10 students, for the summers of 2010-2012. The program will offer an array of research projects connected by the common theme of exploring the mechanistic basis of environmental change. By examining pathways of nutrient cycling and gene flow in rare and protected ecosystems, this research can answer a range of vital questions that will significantly expand our knowledge of natural processes. Students will work directly with faculty and will select from research programs that utilize stable isotope and/or other innovative tools for environmental analysis to ask a broad, yet interrelated, set of questions. Students are expected to contribute meaningfully to hypothesis development, methodological design, data analysis and interpretation, and ultimately, dissemination of results. In addition to laboratory and field experiences, students will participate in professional development activities that will prepare them for careers in the life sciences. By sharing their experiences and results with Tribal Colleges, the students involved in this program will further effect the appreciation of their work in environments that historically have had limited exposure to research in this field. Contact with students will continue after the summer program to assist students in producing final products for public dissemination and to monitor their progress after completion of the program. In addition, all students will be required to satisfactorily complete a module from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) related to ethics and research. Applicants should have completed one environmentally related course (either in Biology, Chemistry, or Environmental Studies) and should be interested in pursuing a scientific career. Students from groups underrepresented in environmental science and students from Tribal Colleges are especially encouraged to apply. Additional information is available by contacting Dr. Steve Freedberg at (507)786-3102 or freedber@stolaf.edu, or visiting www.stolaf.edu/REU.
The St. Olaf College REU Site provided 32 undergraduate students with a significant research experience in environmental science. In addition to laboratory and field experiences, students participated in professional development activities that will prepare them for careers in the life sciences. The diverse research projects brought together cutting edge technology in environmental analysis, hands-on guidance, and expansive natural habitat, which enabled our researchers to study broadly applicable questions related to environmental change. By illuminating pathways of nutrient and gene flow in several unique ecosystems, teams of students and faculty mentors worked together to address a range of vital questions that will significantly expand our knowledge of natural processes. In particular, much of the research has been and will continue to be disseminated to the broader scientific community via publications and conference presentations. Perhaps most importantly, the integrative structure of the research program allowed the student researchers to experience all aspects of environmental research, from methodological design to graduate school preparation to conference participation. Our professional development series and field trips further exposed these students to the culture associated with careers in the environmental sciences. The REU site program trained aspiring scientists in the skills and tools required to address fundamental questions in the environmental sciences. Roughly half of the students came from groups underrepresented in the field, including a significant number of students from Tribal Colleges. The interactions among students from these underrepresented backgrounds additionally benefited other students in the program and at the college, who were able to collaborate and socialize with a diverse cohort of researchers. Because the program focused on enhancing our understanding of natural processes in rare and protected ecosystems, we were able to incorporate public outreach opportunities, including direct interactions with volunteers and community members in areas related to environmental policy. In addition, much of the proposed research was conducted on Scientific and Natural Areas protected by the Nature Conservancy or in the Cannon River Watershed, and will help provide valuable information that can be used directly in the development of conservation programs.
