In recognition of the many challenges that environmental problems pose, and the dire need for trained scientists and management personnel in this field, the grantee will initiate an REU Site program with an ecology /environment theme via a collaborative effort between New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Howard University (HU). Their goal is to provide a multi-cultural group of students with a rigorous research experience in ecology/environmental biology during an eight-week summer period, followed by a 10 day visit to Washington, DC where they will be exposed to work being done by environmental agencies. At NMSU, groups of 3 or 4 students will collaborate in data collection on an original research project; each student will be responsible for analyzing and presenting a unique subset of the data at a mini-symposium. During meetings with their group mentor(s) students will discuss relevant literature, problems encountered, and new hypotheses and experimental designs for others to test in future years. While at NMSU, a series of visitors knowledgeable in environmental problems specific to the southwest will speak informally with the entire group. Discussions will encompass many topics of particular interest to minority groups including environmental justice and how cultural perceptions affect interpretation of environmental problems and implementation of appropriate policies. Next the entire group will visit HU where formal lectures on environmental policy, justice and related issues will be presented. The group will also tour governmental and non-governmental agencies where they will meet representatives concerned with environmental problems. This experience will not only make the students more aware of how ecological research is used to make policy decisions but will provide them with knowledge od job opportunities in environmental biology.
