HR: 0800h
AN: ED31A-1197    [Abstracts]
TI: The Science of Design in Flume Experiments: A Research Experience for Undergraduates at Humboldt State University
AU: * Cashman, E
EM: emc7001@humboldt.edu
AF: Humboldt State University, Environmental Resources Engineering, Arcata, CA 95521 United States
AU: Amoussou, G
EM: ga7001@humboldt.edu
AF: Humboldt State University, Computer Science, Arcata, CA 95521 United States
AU: Calderon, J
EM: jecaldero@yahoo.com
AF: Bakersfield College, Engineering Program, Bakersfield, CA 93305 United States
AU: Castro, A
EM: amc65@humboldt.edu
AF: Humboldt State University, Environmental Resources Engineering, Arcata, CA 95521 United States
AB: Humboldt State University hosted an NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) during the summer of 2005 entitled "The Science of Design". This REU was a joint venture between the Computer Science, Math and Environmental Resources Engineering Departments. Eight students participated in research projects including energy efficient building design, fish population modeling, design of computer code requirements and bedload transport flume experiments. The recruitment of students for this REU emphasized heavily the participation of underrepresented students in the sciences. As a result, five of the eight students were women, four of the eight students were non-white, and three of the eight students were first-generation college students. The research presented in this paper began as a proposal to evaluate models that are commonly used to predict bedload transport. Many of these models relate bedload transport to hydraulic variables such as water velocity, water depth and bed slope and sediment properties such as particle size and distribution. We used a laboratory flume to conduct controlled experiments to evaluate a select number of these mathematical models. The research evolved over the eight-week program and the students were only able to touch on the evaluation of bedload transport models using experimental data during the last week of the program. However, the students did collect valuable data from multiple runs and analyzed data for variability in bedload transport with respect to flow discharge, flow velocity, water depth and channel slope. A significant finding from their research is that there is large variation in bedload transport under constant hydraulic conditions. These results will be analyzed further by the advising faculty and other undergraduate students. The focus on the "Science of Design" enabled students to respond to experimental results and adjust their research so that the experience was educational and worthwhile for both faculty and students.
UR: http://www.humboldt.edu/~reu-rms/index.php
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
DE: 0855 Diversity
DE: 1862 Sediment transport (4558)
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005