This award provides funds to the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University to initiate a nine-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates project in the environmental sciences. Eleven students, half of whom will be from predominantly minority institutions and half of whom will be from Cornell will be selected to participate. To aid students in understanding the connection between their research and real-life concerns of communities, student research projects will be identified, the results of which have important applications to solving environmental problems. Example research topics include Design of Optimal Composting Systems, Microbially-Mediated Destruction of CFCs in Anaerobic Environments, Long-term Change in a Deciduous Forest, and Genetic Variability in Small Isolated Populations. A one-week orientation and weekly group sessions will include discussions of the research process, how to ask insightful questions of research mentors, and the applications of scientific knowledge to solving problems in minority communities. Academic-year faculty advisors will visit the students on their research assignments and will assist the students in writing up their research for publication.
