This grant will continue support for the Research Experiences for Undergraduates physics program at the University of Washington. The program offers prospective students a wide variety of research opportunities: astrophysics and cosmology, atomic physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, particle physics, and physics education. Each student is paired with a faculty advisor, who often is supported by interested postdocs and advanced graduate students. The program lasts 10 weeks and includes a machine shop course, a faculty lecture series on research opportunities in physics, and informal Monday gatherings. Special efforts are made to encourage women and minority group members to apply and participate. As the new UW physics/astronomy building meets or exceeds the latest ADA standards, we also emphasize our ability to accommodate the needs of physically challenged students. As typically one student in 10 works with the UW Physics Education Group, our project also has an impact on the training of in-service elementary and secondary teachers.
