Experience Developing and Implementing an NSF REU Site on Sustainable Management and Beneficial Reuse of Residual Wastes and Byproducts

The following paper summarizes recent experiences in designing and implementing a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Faculty at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo recently established the Global Waste Research Institute (GWRI), which provides unique opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in the advancement of fundamental engineering and scientific research. The GWRI provides the focal point of the REU program. The program, currently in its second year, supports ten students over a 10-week period during the summer. Faculty and graduate students serve as research mentors. The principal objectives of the program are: (1) to engage undergraduate participants on projects that provide opportunities for discovering new knowledge; (2) to mentor a diverse team of undergraduates; (3) to promote graduate study as a future professional goal; and (4) to provide instructive and appealing learning components. Undergraduates in the program attain three learning outcomes: design, conduct, and document a research experiment; function effectively on a multidisciplinary research team; and summarize both the technical and experiential aspects of the research experience. The program assessment plan and initial program results are discussed in the paper. The research team assessed and evaluated specific performance metrics defined under each outcome, where a performance metric represents a skill or ability that the undergraduate participant is expected to demonstrate by the end of the research appointment. Also included in the paper are short discussions on schedule and programming, professional development activities, student tasks/submittals, and mentoring. In addition, the paper provides a summary of research projects undertaken during the first year of the program.