This nine-and-a-half-week program is available to undergraduate students to pursue research in climate science, scientific inquiry, and science communication. The program seeks to expose students to the full range of scientific exploration, from the generation of hypotheses to communicating research findings and their implications to other scientists and the general public. With guidance from faculty advisors, students will learn to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and present results to scientific and non-scientific audiences. Research projects will involve the spectrum of climate science from fundamental physical processes of the atmosphere, oceans, and cryosphere and theoretical climate modeling, to interactions entailing the biosphere, and impacts on various natural and human systems. Each student will have a faculty advisor to guide the research activities.

Objectives of the REU:

- To bring together a diverse group of students in an environment where they can learn how to ask, answer, and communicate research questions in the area of climate science by using cutting edge tools to apply the scientific method: hypothesis, observation, experimentation, data analysis, interpretation, prediction, and dissemination of results.

- To instruct students how to use and become fluent in accessing the primary scientific literature, gain experience in experimental design and data collection, and participate in experiments using both up-to-date observation systems and numerical models.

- To acquire skills in integrating interdisciplinary research and estimate rates of environmental change to address problems related to climate change.

• Applicants must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at the time of the REU (summer). At the time of the REU, students are generally rising juniors and seniors. Students may come from a wide range of majors, including: atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, engineering, environmental science, geography, geology, geosciences, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography, physics, and statistics.
• Students who have received their bachelor’s degrees and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates at the time of the REU (summer) are not eligible.
• First year students are encouraged to apply.
• must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
• The REU program is open to any undergraduates from any institution.
• A strong science background is ideal. Preference is for applicants who have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or greater.
• Skills in computer programming are a plus for many projects. Some experience making measurements in laboratory or field settings may be helpful for some projects. Good verbal and written communication skills are useful because of the interactive nature of the program and because participants are expected to write up their research results at the end of the REU. Previous research experience, however, is not a requirement.