The proposed program of undergraduate laboratory research experiences is based on a strong experimental research program using modern lab facilities in all principal subareas of civil and environmental engineering. The program is designed to generate excitement, motivations and research commitment by undergraduate students through hands-on lab research experiments performed with the guidance of experienced senior researchers. Students will be matched with the following laboratories, based on their interest, backgrounds, and talents: Concrete and Construction Materials, Environmental Engineering, Hydraulics, Remote Sensing, and Structural Engineering. The students could work in pairs. The program is building on a very successful REU program in civil and environmental engineering in the summer of 1989. Each laboratory program has a faculty member as co-principal investigator in charge. A carefully thought-out evaluation, feedback and interaction mechanism has been designed to assure that the undergraduate lab research experience will be enticement for talented students to think seriously about advanced studies in engineering. The proposal identifies a great number of research activities with which the students will be matched, based on interest and talent. A strong minority recruitment, and advising and counseling program will assure that the interested minority students can be identified and recruited.
