REU site: wetlands in the modern world

The National Science Foundation Division of Biological Infrastructure awarded Lewis & Clark Community College $321,169 on May 1, 2026, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to operate a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site supporting undergraduate research training in wetland science. The award funds training of eight students per summer for ten-week sessions during summers 2026 through 2028, with research conducted at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center in East Alton, Illinois. The program recruits students with limited research access, including those from community colleges and first-generation backgrounds, to advance wetland science through multidisciplinary investigation spanning community ecology, hydrology, soil science, plant ecology, vertebrate ecology, restoration ecology, and policy. Student projects address how wetlands function and respond to modern threats including land development and pollution, with participants building skills for careers in wetland management, ecology, and policy while presenting research results at scientific conferences. The program emphasizes ecosystem structure, function, and responses to global change at the confluence of major rivers. Work is performed at Godfrey, Illinois. The period of performance runs through April 30, 2029. The assistance type is a Project Grant. The program participates in NSF priorities in artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

Abstract

This REU site award to lewis and clark community college, located in godfrey, IL, will support the training of 8 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2026-2028. Research is conducted at the national great rivers research and education center in east alton, IL. Wetlands are essential ecosystems that support diverse wildlife, clean water, protect against floods, and provide recreational opportunities, yet they face many growing threats (e.g., land development and pollution). This award advances scientific knowledge by bringing together biology, chemistry, hydrology, and other fields to better understand how wetlands function and respond to these modern challenges, helping to develop effective conservation strategies. IT also broadens participation in science by recruiting and training students with limited access to research, including those from community colleges and first-generation backgrounds, fostering their transitions to four-year programs and careers in wetland management, ecology, and policy. The program strengthens the institution's role in providing hands-on research access at a two-year college, empowering faculty to mentor early career stage students and enabling participants to build skills for stem success. Students will learn how research is conducted, and many will present the results of their work at scientific conferences. Students should apply to the REU site using NSF etap (education and training application: https://etap.NSF.GOV). The training students will receive is aligned with NSF priorities in artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The project emphasizes multidisciplinary wetland science at the confluence of major rivers, focusing on ecosystem structure, function, and responses to global change. IT involves fields such as community ecology, hydrology, soil science, plant ecology, vertebrate ecology, restoration ecology, and policy. Students, paired with experienced mentors, develop independent hypothesis-driven projects using facilities like mesocosms, tracking labs, and water quality labs; examples include examining reforestation's effects on invasive species in floodplains through field sampling and GIS analysis, and evaluating carbon storage in constructed wetlands via analytical chemistry. Professional development encompasses literature reviews, research technique training, data analysis, statistical methods, and scientific communication, supplemented by weekly lab meetings, field trips, seminars on career paths, and media training for press releases. Responsible conduct of research is addressed through full-day mentor workshops and mid-program check-INS. Program assessment includes real-time feedback via microsoft teams surveys for 100% completion and longitudinal biannual alumni surveys to track outcomes like publications, presentations, and career progression. 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.- subawards are not planned for this award.