REU Site: Forecasting for Resilience and Strategic Action in Weather

This project will provide undergraduate students with hands-on research opportunities in a variety of scientific disciplines. Students from across the United States will be selected to participate in intensive research projects, working closely with faculty and researchers who offer mentorship and guidance. Students will gain valuable scientific skills, professional networks, and career exploration, strengthening the workforce of qualified scientists and engineers. This REU site focuses on water resources essential for food and energy production, healthy ecosystems, and economic development and provides a unique opportunity to conduct research and present findings to stakeholders at a regional meeting. The students will develop skills in managing natural resources (encompassing the disciplines of soil, water, and atmospheric sciences, forestry, fisheries and wildlife, parks and recreation, tourism, and organizational management), AI methods and machine learning, and stakeholder engagement through independent research projects and collaboration within a cohort of researchers. These experiences will prepare students for the workforce and provide them with the tools to address current and future water resources challenges. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.