This REU introduces undergraduate students to the key elements of research on land and water resources that are essential to improving management practices. Research teams are hosted on two Native American reservations and at the University of Minnesota and projects are developed in collaboration with the tribes’ resource management divisions. The REU incorporates an interdisciplinary team-oriented approach that emphasizes quantitative and predictive methods, Indigenous and community-based research methods, and traditional ecological knowledge. Visit http://reuslawr.org for more information and application.
Projects take place on the main campus of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Northern Minnesota; and at Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Students in Civil Engineering, Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Sustainability, Mathematics, and related disciplines are invited to apply.
The REU on Sustainable Land and Water Resources introduces undergraduate students to the key elements of research on land and water resources that are essential to improving management practices, with a focus on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and diverse interdisciplinary research teams. Students work on one of three teams on projects that integrate Earth-surface dynamics, geology, hydrology and other disciplines. Research teams are hosted on two Native American reservations and at the Univ. MN and projects are developed in collaboration with the tribes’ resource management divisions. The REU incorporates an interdisciplinary team-oriented approach that emphasizes quantitative and predictive methods, CBPR, indigenous research methods, and traditional ecological knowledge.
Structure
The program is for 10 weeks in the summer from mid-June to mid-August. Participants live and work on three teams in three locations but form one research community. Participants gather at the beginning of the program for an Orientation in Glacier Park in Montana. Housing, food, and transportation are arranged. After intensive team-building activities, and orientation to our core program elements of Community-Based Research and Ethical Research on Tribal Lands, participants head for their research locations (at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT for Team SPA; in Minneapolis, MN for Team Stream; and in Duluth, MN for Team Zaaga’igan). Weekly videoconferences keep our community closely knit, and participants share their research progress. Participants are mentored to write a research paper or story map and create a poster. An All-Team Gathering at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory in Minneapolis, MN at the end of the summer allows everyone to come back together and share their research. Finally, students have the opportunity during the following year to share their research at a national conference.
Student Support
- Participants receive of stipend of $6000 for the summer (10 weeks).
- Participants’ housing is in dormitories at Salish Kootenai College, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, or University of Minnesota, Duluth. Dormitories either have a student food plan or cooking facilities.
- Participants’ round-trip travel to their research site, travel to the orientation and All-Team Gathering is paid for. Cars are not provided. However, transportation is arranged to provide for participants’ needs and varies by team.
- All research expenses are covered by the REU.
- All students are encouraged to share their research at a professional conference. The REU pays up to $1000/participant to support this activity.
Application deadline: February 19, 2023
In-person program dates: June 12 to August 18, 2023
We will start our journey in Glacier National Park in Montana on June 12 and then begin work at our research sites on June 16. We will gather in Minneapolis during the last week of August for final activities and an All-Team Poster Symposium. All transportation is provided.
Application and Eligibility
The program is open to undergraduate students majoring in civil engineering, geosciences, ecology, mathematics, or related fields. We encourage applications from students of all genders who are Native American, tribal college students, community college students, non-traditional students, veterans, students who have been historically under-represented in their discipline, and students who are first-generation college students. The program provides transportation, housing, and food or full kitchens depending on location, plus a $600/week stipend to all participants.
Visit http://reuslawr.org for more information and application.