Summary

California State University, Monterey Bay serves as the hub of this dynamic REU program. In addition to working with faculty at CSUMB, we place students at five host institutions: Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, the Naval Postgraduate School, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. The 10-week summer REU program leverages the scientific and educational assets of the Monterey Bay region to increase the number and diversity of students pursuing careers in Ocean Science. The program engages students in innovative research in Oceanography, Marine Biology and Ecology, Ocean Engineering, and Marine Geology; provides rigorous research and professional development support for students during and after the REU to maintain interest and involvement in the Ocean Sciences and, provide students with high-caliber faculty mentoring across all phases of the REU experience.

Student Involvement

As of 2015-16, the project has supported 33 undergraduate students from across the United States in Ocean Science research in the Monterey Bay. Four CSUMB MSCI majors, Taylor Eddy, Madison Heard, Aileen San and Catrin Wendt and one CSUMB CSIT major, Jay Lowe have participated in the program.

Broader Significance

The Monterey Bay REU forms an undergraduate research alliance among a Hispanic Serving Institution (CSUMB), Tier One Research Institutions (Hopkins, MBARI, and NPS), a California State University consortium marine lab (MLML), and a federal research reserve (ESNERR). The REU program aims to 1) recruit 11 REU participants with an emphasis on students from underrepresented groups and those with limited access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research; 2) prepare students in advance of the 10 week REU for the rigors of undertaking an original research project; 3) engage students in innovative research in Oceanography, Marine Biology and Ecology, Ocean Engineering, and Marine Geology; 4) provide rigorous research and professional development support for students during and after the REU to maintain interest and involvement in the Ocean Sciences; and 5) provide students with high-caliber faculty mentoring across all phases of the REU experience. The social context of the program is the demographics of the U.S, whose composition is rapidly changing, with little reflection of this change seen in the ranks of Ocean Science institutions of the U.S. To meet this need, a vigorous recruitment and outreach effort leverages campus based resources, connections with diversity-focused programs of professional societies, and the experience of the PI in engaging with students from underrepresented student populations. Our outreach model allows us to recruit, engage and retain diverse student populations who can provide the unique perspectives required to engage in 21st century Ocean Science research.