Oregon Marine Science REU Site: From Estuaries to the Deep SeaDeveloping a Culture of Undergraduate Research in the Marine Sciences

G. W. Boehlert1; R. A. Duncan2; I. S. Cheung1; K. Yalcin3, 2

Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United States1

College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States2

Department of Geosciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States3

The REU program is Co-funded by the ASSURE program of the Department of Defense in partnership with the NationalScience Foundation REU Site program under Grant No. NSF OCE-1004947.

http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/REU/

Program ObjectivesThis REU program is designed to train and mentor undergraduate students inconducting high quality research through a summer research experience.Each component of the program is essential to the overall success of theintern and achieves the following objectives:

• Forming a fellowship of undergraduate students pursuing marine research• Stimulating student interest and understanding of marine research science• Learning about research opportunities at Oregon State University• Gaining hands-on research experience• Exploring and learning about marine science careers and pathways• Developing science communication and presentation skills• Cultivating a sense of belonging in the sciences• Academic and career planning• Retention of talented students in the marine sciences

Program BackgroundIn 2004 the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) at Oregon State University(OSU) established a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programto engage undergraduate students in hands-on research training in the marinesciences. The program has grown to offer students the opportunity to conductresearch at the HMSC in Newport on the Oregon coast (focused on biologicaland ecological topics) and at the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences(COAS) in Corvallis (focused on chemical and physical oceanography, marinegeology, and atmospheric science). The ten-week summer program has grownto include 18+ students annually. Participants gain academic background,training, and research experience to make informed decisions about careersand advanced degrees in marine and earth system sciences.

This REU program has developed a vibrant undergraduate researchcommunity in marine science which has become a catalyst for additionalundergraduate internship opportunities in marine science and source forundergraduate professional development. Several cooperating programs haveparticipated in our REU program components. Additional participants fromother programs have included community college students (COSEE PacificPartnerships PRIME), high school students (Natural Resources Crew), HighSchool Teachers and additional undergraduate students (NOAA Hollings,HMSC Visitor Center, PROMISE, COSIA and Oregon Sea Grant).

Program ComponentsInterns are completely immersed in academic research with very highexpectations. The REU program provides an extensive network of support sothat students can achieve far more than they believe possible. Components ofthe program are designed to support students in their research experience,explore career goals and develop skills necessary to become a successfulyoung marine scientist. The REU program at Oregon State Universityemphasizes these components and encourage interaction with the studentbody, faculty, staff and numerous agency researchers.

Two-Day Orientation. REU interns and mentors are involved in two-days oforientation that include: Welcome, Intern/Faculty Introduction and ProjectDescriptions, Program Overview & Expectations, Residential Logistics, CampusTour, Lab Safety Training, Attendance to the Markham Marine ScienceResearch Symposium and Research Ethics Introduction.

Mentors. Mentoring by faculty, postdocs, graduate students and advancedstudents is an essential element of this REU program. Students are integratedinto their research group.

Program Coordinators. Program coordinators with a background in academicresearch and an understanding of student needs orchestrates the timing andactivities to assure that all students are progressing at an appropriate pace andreceive all the support needed for a positive, successful individual and cohortexperience as a “community of scholars”.

Brown Bag Lunches. Scheduled gathering of interns, mentors and programcoordinator for discussions and updates during informal brown bag lunches.

Weekly Research Seminars and Discussion. Interns attend a weeklyresearch seminar series specifically organized for the REU program.Presentations are of original research by visiting scientists, OSU faculty andgraduate students.

Research Ethics Component. Interns attend a series of discussions and aresearch ethics faculty mentor panel that introduces research ethics in aframework for recognizing and dealing with issues in research with ethicalimplications. The series is outlined from the text, On Being A Scientist:Responsible Conduct In Research Committee on Science, Engineering, andPublic Policy, National Academy of Sciences.

Student Led Lab Tours. Interns attend and give tours of each other’s researchlabs and research settings.

Professional Development Workshops and Enrichment Activities. Internsparticipate in workshops on graduate school, communicating and presentingresearch, literature searches, research pathways and careers and more.Activities have included: tours of OSU campus, other research facilities and fieldsites. Participation in collaborative research opportunities through co-locatedagencies, labs and/or another intern’s field sampling.

Research Symposiums and Papers. Interns give a 15-minute oralpresentation at a formal public symposium. Participants also write a researchreport in a format of a peer reviewed publication.

Continued Mentorship and Scientific Meetings. Interns are encouraged topresent their summer research at conferences and meetings.

Summary of current REU ProgramThe OCE-REU program at Oregon State University offers undergraduate students asummer research experience and entry into a multitude of marine science fields,opportunities in collaborative research and exposure to incredible array of research careerdirections in academia and government agencies focused on the ocean environment.

Disciplines: Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture,Ocean Renewable Energy, Microbiology, Zoology, Physical, Chemical & Biological Oceanography, Marine Geology,and Atmospheric Sciences

Program Partners: Cooperative Institute of Marine Resources Studies Cooperative Institute for Oceanographic Satellite Studies United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Alaska Fisheries Science Center Northwest Fisheries Science Center Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)