This is a proposal for a planning grant to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to plan a South American REU site in chemistry. The PI and CO-PI's will visit the University of Sao Paulo-Brazil (USP), Papal University Catolica of Chile (PUC), and the University of Buenos Aires -Argentina (UBA) and will also visit the regional and national funding agencies with foreign collaborators. The planning visit will identify additional collaborators and plan important logistical aspects, such as housing, associated with optimal operations of an international REU site. The best one or two countries will be selected for the proposed REU program. The PI and CO-PI's will also identify funding opportunities for South American undergraduates to make reciprocal visits to the US. This award is being jointly funded by the Division of Chemistry and the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE).
