History

Goals

Initiatives

Members

 

 REU Leadership Group Initiatives

The LG crafted a plan and obtained funding in 2002 for a number of initiatives in support of the chemistry REU community including:

• A travel grants program to help REU students attend the spring National Meeting of the ACS in 2002-5. Students presenting at the meeting could obtain a $200 travel grant to help defray costs.

• Organization of a series of symposia around emerging themes in undergraduate research at each of the spring National ACS meetings beginning in 2002.

• Compilation of data about the pool of students who apply to Chemistry REU programs nationwide.

• Hosting a 2003 workshop with the NSF LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) program.

• Meeting with directors from other “REU-type” programs (NSF-DUE, NIH, DOE, DoD) to explore potential partnerships.

• Hosting a 2005 workshop involving all disciplines supported by NSF-REU

• Development of an on-line “celebration of research” nationwide virtual poster session of REU undergraduate research projects, launched in 2005.

• Oral and poster presentations on the importance of the REU program and the role of the Chemistry LG group at a variety of national venues.

• Making the LG membership available on a regular basis to NSF staff during meetings, workshops and review panels to assist in the ongoing activities of the NSF Chemistry Division.

In addition to these important community-wide initiatives, the LG has continued to meet semi-annually to independently develop, assess and evaluate various projects that enhance the REU program nationally. They serve as an important advocacy group for the chemistry undergraduate research community nationwide.
History of the REU Leadership Group

In March of 2001, the "Workshop for Chemistry REU Site Directors" (modeled after a workshop that had taken place 11 years earlier) was held at NSF. To maintain the momentum from the March 2001 workshop, and to address its recommendations, John Stevens, then the director of Special Programs in NSF Chemistry, solicited individuals to form the NSF Chemistry REU Leadership Group (LG). Working as a team, the LG crafted a plan and obtained funding for a number of initiatives in support of the chemistry REU community. The LG meets semiannually to discuss and plan action on issues related to the NSF Chemistry REU program. They serve as an important advocacy group for the chemistry undergraduate research community nationwide.

The Chemistry REU Leadership Group is composed of REU Site Directors and is supported by a special grant from the NSF. Its mission is to improve the REU program through workshops, travel grants, symposia, and other innovative activities. Members are elected to three-year terms by the current LG and are chosen to represent the broad diversity of Chemistry REU sites. If you are interested in serving on the LG, you are encouraged to contact the Chair and to participate in LG activities.

This material is based upon work supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation under Grants REU #0739442. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.