01_overview.md

# Project Summary
## Overview 
Project Elements: New REU Site

Title: Engineering in Extreme Environments Research Experience for Undergraduates (EX-REU)

PI: **Ryan C. Cooper** co-PI: **Jennifer Pascal**

Submitting Organization: University of Connecticut

Other organizations: none

Location of REU activities: School of Engineering and Institute of Materials
Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269

Main field(s): Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineeirng, and Biomedical Engineering

No. of undergraduate participants per year: 10

Summer REU Site

No. of weeks per year that the students will participate: 10

International or RET component?: No

Applicant point-of-contact: Ryan C. Cooper, 860-486-2239, ryan.c.cooper@.uconn.edu

Web address (if known): http://ex-reu.engr.uconn.edu



Energy, defense, and health applications require innovative solutions from
diverse teams of engineers to extreme environment challenges. The nation spent
over $5 billion on extreme research topics in 2017 [usaspending.gov].  Traditional
undergraduate engineering education builds a foundation in mechanics, materials,
and chemistry for ideal environments. Extreme environments include
extreme temperatures, long lifetimes, chemical attack, high mechanical loads, or
more often combinations of these factors. The long term goal of this REU site is to
encourage minority, Native American, and female engineers to pursue graduate
education in engineering in extreme environments.     


## Intellectual Merit

 The research challenges will address
national and global need in energy, defense, and health applications.  Students
will have research opportunities with UConn faculty and Pratt and Whitney
scientists through combined center of excellence projects. We will mentor and
develop career plans with students using superhero cognitive behavioral therapy
(CBT) [Superhero therapy](https://www.self.com/story/what-is-superhero-therapy).
We will identify action items with career and education.  Seminars from UConn
professors and entrepreneurs and trips to Pratt and Whitney and UConn start-ups
will demonstrate career opportunites. Ongoing UConn REU sites and research
experience for teachers will build networking opportunities.  Journal readings
and research discussion will draw from superhero extreme environment engineering
and summer Marvel blockbusters viewings. We will use cultural awareness
activities for networking and teambuilding exercises.  Superhero CBT mentoring
and cultural awareness activities can be incorporated into future programs and
clubs at UConn. <!--- - I really like this paragraph!-->

## Broader Impacts

Students will build upon their educational foundations with research in nonideal
situations that they are not likely to learn in typical undergraduate
engineering courses. This EX-REU site will provide 30 mostly minority students
with training in engineering in extreme environments. Preparing these diverse
students to collaborate and work in interdisciplinary environments will continue
the United States tradition of excellence in energy, defense, and health
research.