Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
298 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (142186)
Principal Investigator: Quetschke,Volker M
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 499,191
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): Yes
Start and End Dates: 5/1/23 - 4/30/26
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Physics and Astronomy
Department, Center, School, or Institute: Physics and Astronomy
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: REU and RET Site in Physics at UTRGV
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
National Science Foundation
CFDA Link: NSF
47.049
Program Title:
Mathematical and Physical Sciences
CFDA Linked: Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Note:
SAMs 1.1.1--We propose the continuation of an REU and RET Site at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). This site will give 12 undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in a ten-week summer research program at UTRGV during each of the next three years. Six of the students will be visiting non-UTRGV students, while six of the students will be local UTRGV students. This joint program with the visiting students will not only expose the local students to research activities, but also to the different cultures and backgrounds found at various other universities across the nation. The program targets students for predominantly undergraduate institutions in South Texas and along the Texas border with Mexico and other predominantly Hispanic serving institutions. The site will also support one local area high school teachers participating in similar research activities. The goal is to give students and teachers a short-term research experience in the areas of gravitational wave astronomy, lasers and optics, optical astronomy, radio astronomy, blue energy and materials science that will stimulate students’ desire to become scientists and give teachers a better understanding of the activity of scientific research. The ARCC program was supported by an NSF PAARE (Partnerships in Astronomy & Astrophysics Research and Education) grant but is now focusing on providing added value through mentoring and research opportunities instead of stipends and financial support. Students selected to work in this program are called ARCC scholars. This is a well-structured research program that starts each new cycle by recruiting the most talented students from area high schools and continues with active student involvement beginning in the first semester of the freshman year at the university. Students participate in the search for new pulsars by commanding and observing with the Arecibo radio telescope. Students from the program regularly attend and present at national meetings. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is also firmly behind this program and will support the visiting and local undergraduate REU students with all means necessary. We also plan to continue the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program at UTRGV through this proposal. College-readiness levels are increased through the active training and support of local area high school teachers.
Discussion: No discussion notes