A New REU Site: Basic and Environmental Soil Science Training (BESST).

Soils play a fundamental role in myriad global processes. The need to understand the flow of elements, energy, and water through soils is immense and widely accepted across the geosciences community. Yet, the number of scientists trained with specific soils expertise is rapidly declining. Working through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program, we have developed a new REU Site focused on attracting early-career undergraduates toward a career in Soil Science. Hosted by the Soil Science Department at NCSU, the Basic and Environmental Soil Science Training (BESST) REU Site utilizes a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of scientists to deliver individualized student research experiences in state-of-the art soil science topics, synergized through unifying themes and team training opportunities. Specific objectives are to: i) recruit outstanding students with or without extensive previous experience in soil science, with an emphasis on those from under-represented groups; ii) train these students by providing a substantive research experience and exposure to broad opportunities in basic and environmental soil science; and iii) develop a pool of future professionals empowered to advance understanding of soils in the geoscience community. The program will support 10 students per year, recruited from across the country, for a 10-week summer research experience. Program activities and opportunities for student involvement in this new program will be highlighted.