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The Bermuda Ins.tute of Ocean Sciences REU Program: Tools for Measuring a Successful REU Program.
Parsons, Rachel1, Peters, Andrew1 and Barnes, Penelope1
1 Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Bermuda
Student Mentor Project Title Home University
Harrison Specht Andrew Peters Bioavailability of petroleum hydrocarbons from weathered oil deposits in Bermuda's li<oral zone Cornell University
Derek Schwenkmeyer Helena Reinardy & Kristen Buck
Genotoxic effects of environmental copper contaminaHon in Bermuda University of California
Ameena El-‐Bibany Helena Reinardy DNA damage and repair in marine echinoderms University of California Davis
Amy Wong Rachel Parsons Can corals change the microbial community to select for species that are beneficial for nutriHon University of Georgia
Esra Mescioglu Natasha McDonald DeterminaHon of the effect of microbial acHvity on the chemical composiHon of lignin phenols University of Massachuse<s
Ryan Jones Eric Hochberg Reef community light-‐use efficiency University of Alabama
Kelsey Cowen Ruth Curry Climate change and the AtlanHc Ocean h<p://oceancirculaHon.wordpress.com/ Mount Holyoke College
Amanda Alker Rachel Parsons & Shervon DeLeon
Looking at anHbioHc resistance in bacteria associated with the Seabright sewage ouWall Florida AtlanHc University
Table 1: REU Students and their Mentors for the 2013 REU Program. Included are the Project Titles and student’s Home University
Abstract The Bermuda Ins.tute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) REU Program has been running since 1991. Here are five ways for measuring the success of an REU Program including:-‐ • Project Diversity, • Recruitment, • Student Feedback, • Publica.on Rates • Alumni remaining in Science. These tools for measuring success are used to showcase the BIOS REU Program but can be useful for all REU Programs.
Project Diversity BIOS has had a diverse range of REU Projects and this makes for a more interes.ng Program (Table 1). We try to ensure most ocean science topics are covered provided that there is a relevant faculty mentor. • Biology, chemistry, and physics of the open ocean • Biology, physiology, and biochemistry of coral reef ecosystems • Aspects of the molecular biology of marine organisms • Environmental chemistry of Bermuda's atmosphere and inshore waters • Effects and consequences of global environmental change
REU Programs need to ensure project diversity in order to appeal to a wide range of students. This helps to increase recruitment.
Recruitment, Applica.ons and Site Visits
Recruitment was doubled in 2012 as a result of an improved online presence, social media, available free lis.ngs for ocean sciences internships and targe.ng university departments offering relevant degrees. In addi.on, Ocean Sciences REU sites that take place during the Summer would direct unsuccessful applicants to our Fall program. • There were 12,469 site visits to the BIOS REU page in 2012. • Student project posts reached over 1,000 views on the BIOS REU Facebook page.
An increased online presence will help REU Programs with recruitment and PR. Tools like Google analy.cs and Facebook Page Insights are very useful for tracking reach.
Student Evalua.ons and Tes.monials
Student Evalua.ons rated The BIOS REU Program as 7 out of 10 points or higher Students Tes.monials highly recommend the BIOS REU Program
Tes.monials
• "My experience at BIOS really pushed me to learn and challenge myself. I thank you for your support. If you could create an insHtuHonal impact factor that measured an insHtuHon's culHvaHon of young intellects, quality of science , and educaHonal outreach, it would be hard to surpass BIOS." -‐John Zablocki (2007)
• "As an undergraduate I have had many opportuniHes to do research, but the BIOS REU Internship program offers something truly unique. With this internship I was able to immerse myself in my project and completely focus my a<enHon on the execuHon and compleHon of this research. I felt that spending an enHre semester focused on one thing I gained a deeper understanding of my experiments and the relevant scienHfic literature than would be possible in any other se^ng. If you are a moHvated student and considering pursuing marine science research as a career, I strongly encourage you go apply!" -‐Kelly Speare (2012)
• "I believe university students o`en graduate without understanding the true scope of being a field scienHst. I’m so grateful that this program allowed me to gain those invaluable skills, from the technical aspects of working on the ocean to what it means to be involved in a scienHfic community. The staff at BIOS are a wonderful support system to have behind you; I strongly encourage any undergrad interested in marine science to take advantage of the REU program and apply." -‐ Stacy Pel.er (2011)
Acknowledgments
The BIOS REU Program has been supported by the Na.onal Science Founda.on (OCE-‐0552453; OCE-‐0851691; OCE-‐1156626; OCE-‐1262880) to Bermuda Ins.tute of Ocean Sciences from 2006-‐2013 through our Program Manager, Elizabeth Rom. In addi.on, we would like to thank Russell Cuhel and Carmen Aguilar whose REU to Ocean Sciences award enabled Bio-‐Oce REU students to afend ASLO for 15 years. Finally, thanks to Benjamin Cuker whose ASLOMP award enabled Bio-‐Oce REU Students to afend ASLO in 2014.
Poster Presenta.ons and Publica.on Rates
Reten.on of REU Alumni in Science
Student Year (BIOS REU) Present Posi.on Present Affilia.on (Country)
Amy Apprill 1999 Assistant ScienHst WHOI (USA)
Thomas Miller 2000 Assistant Professor Rice University (USA)
Iara Del Mar Carbery 2001 Product Manager Sigma-‐Aldrich (USA)
Alex Gagnon 2001 Assistant Professor University of Washington
(USA)
KrisHna Evans 2002 Librarian University of Newcastle,
(Australia)
Benjamin Daly 2003 Biologist University of
Alaska,Fairbanks (USA)
John Casey 2005 Doctoral Candidate University of Hawaii (USA)
Rachael Heuer 2005 Doctoral Candidate RSAMS
Jared Kibele 2006 Doctoral Candidate University of Auckland,
(NZ)
Alicia Shepard 2007 Doctoral Candidate Texas A&M (USA)
Kelly Pennoyer 2007 Doctoral Candidate Texas A&M, (USA)
Carmen Denman 2008 Research Fellow London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK)
Andrew Kledzik 2008 Doctoral Candidate Florida InsHtute of Technology (USA)
Emily Giles 2009 Graduate Student KAUST (Saudi Arabia)
Diane Wyse 2009 Graduate Student/ Research Assistant
Moss Landing Marine Laboratory (USA)
Miles Borgen 2011 Research Technician Scripps InsHtute of Oceanography (USA)
Nicholas Fylstra 2011 Geochronology Technician Berkeley Geochronology
Center (USA)
Table 3: Post-‐program informa/on on selected BIOS REU alumni in chronological order (1999-‐2011).
Year Students Poster Presenta.ons
Publica.ons and Theses
2001 8 1 1 2002 7 1 1 2003 7 1 0 2004 8 6 3 2005 8 1 2 2006 8 1 1 2007 8 2 3 2008 7 5 1 2009 8 1 1 2010 8 3 1 2011 8 1 0 2012 6 2 0 2013 8 3 1
Poster Presenta.ons
• An average of 2 BIOS REU Student Presenta.ons a year
• 28% of BIOS REU students present at conferences each year
Publica.ons
• An average of 1.5 BIOS REU
Student publish each year • 19% of BIOS REU students
publish each year
Table 2: The number of poster presenta/ons and publica/ons by BIOS REU students in chronological order (2001-‐2013). Students enrolled in the BIOS REU Program are also indicated (2001-‐2013).
Evalua.ons and Tes.monials can be used to improve recruitment and to measure the success of a REU Program. These can be used posi.ve PR for your Program through websites and social media. Survey Monkey, a free online survey program has analy.cal tools for assessing your REU Program. In addi.on, photos of your students working on their projects are essen.al.
A high rate of publica.on can be used as a measure of success for a REU Program. However, most student projects are more suited to poster presenta.ons. Thus, presenta.on of posters at conferences should be included as a measure of success. In addi.on, senior theses should also be considered.
Following alumni can be .me consuming via email but use of professional social networking sites like Linkedin, Academia.edu and ResearchGate can make it easier.
The Bermuda Ins.tute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) REU Program
• Ocean Sciences REU site since 1991 • Trained and mentored over 150 undergraduate students • Diverse REU Projects (Table 1) • Strong Student evalua.ons and tes.monials • Strong history in student Poster Presenta.ons and Publica.ons (Table 2) • Has successful reten.on of alumni in research (Table 3)
Photo of the 2013 REU students and their mentors