HR: 15:10h
AN: ED43C-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Research Experience for Undergraduates: an International Program Enhancing Interdisciplinary Learning
AU: * Pfiffner, S M
EM: pfiffner@utk.edu
AF: University of Tennessee, Dept. of Microbiology , Knoxville, TN 37932 United States
AU: Davis, K L
EM: kdavis17@utk.edu
AF: University of Tennessee, Dept. of Microbiology , Knoxville, TN 37932 United States
AU: Phelps, T J
EM: phelpstj@ornl.gov
AF: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division , Oak Ridge, TN 37831 United States
AU: Kieft, T L
EM: tkieft@nmt.edu
AF: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Dept. of Biology , Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AU: Gihring, T M
EM: gihring@ocean.fsu.edu
AF: Florida State University, Dept. of Oceanography, Tallahassee, FL 32306 United States
AU: Onstott, T C
EM: tullis@princeton.edu
AF: Princeton University, Dept. of Geosciences, Princeton, NJ 08544 United States
AU: Nthangeni, B
EM: ntangmb.SCI@mail.uovs.ac.za
AF: University of Free State, Dept. of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa
AU: Piater, L
EM: piaterla.SCI@mail.uovs.ac.za
AF: University of Free State, Dept. of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa
AU: van Heerden, E
EM: vHeerdE.SCI@mail.uovs.ac.za
AF: University of Free State, Dept. of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa
AB: This NSF-funded research experience for undergraduates (REU) took place in South Africa, where gold mines provided outstanding field sites to investigate biogeochemical processes in deep subsurface environments. Underrepresented minorities were encouraged to participate. Cross-disciplinary training was a major ambition for this REU Site: Biogeochemical Educational Experiences - South Africa. Students were selected from diverse academic disciplines (biology, chemistry, and geology) to participate in this interdisciplinary research program. Research projects included characterizing microbial communities with molecular and biochemical techniques, cultivating microorganisms, utilizing geochemical and isotopic parameters to constrain nutrient cycling in groundwater, investigating extreme enzymes and examining functional genes. During the REU, students collected biofilms and fissure water emanating from gas-rich boreholes in 2-3 km deep mines and performed laboratory research in teams under joint mentorship of U.S. and South African scientists. Research teams consisted of three to five students with at least one student from each country and at least two of the disciplines represented. Team membership reflected students' ranking of their choices among mentor-proposed projects. The REU encouraged students to increase scientific knowledge across disciplines, improve oral and written communication skills, and explore cultural and international challenges for scientific research in the global community. Each research team presented oral progress reports to the other research teams to provide communication skill development and to provide a forum for data exchange and interpretation among the various disciplines. Oral communication training culminated in a public presentation by each team at a university/industry science symposium. Mentors reviewed students' writing skills as they prepared text on experimental design, research findings, data interpretation, and literature reviews, leading to final team reports in manuscript format. Students learned how their research contributes to the big picture of biogeochemical processes in the mines. The group research teams and the forums for discussion allowed the students to gain interdisciplinary knowledge and expanded thought processes and views of interdisciplinary research. Thirty-two undergraduates from three countries have participated in this program. Several students are continuing their REU-initiated research as senior thesis projects at their home institutions; some are applying for graduate study in biogeochemistry, and others have started graduate studies.
UR: http://geomicro.utk.edu
DE: 9305 Africa
DE: 4805 Biogeochemical cycles (1615)
DE: 4803 Bacteria
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting