2021 Research & Extension Experience for undergraduates (REEU)
June 7 - July 30, 2021

2021 Confluence fellows!

  • Alayna Carter, Radford
  • Camryn Flores, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Christine Trieu, VT
  • Liz Myers, Ohio University
  • Hannah Kocen, Radford
  • Izzy Hausrath, UC Santa Barbara
  • Julia Post, VT
  • Matt Hall, VT
  • Nora Shanahan, Virginia Western Community College
  • Peter O'Brien, University of Maine at Orono
  • Rachel Inman, VT
  • Rand Bohner, Radford

Program summary

We aim to provide intellectually challenging, interdisciplinary research and extension experiences for diverse undergraduates from across the US. During the summer program our undergraduate fellows will: 1) Develop a detailed and nuanced understanding of the complexity of anthropogenic influences and stakeholder needs within mixed-use watersheds; 2) Gain appreciation for the disciplinary diversity required to address critical, complex water resources issues; 3) Improve their ability to communicate scientific findings to audiences of varying backgrounds in formal and informal situations; 4) Acquire a foundation in technical, social, and collaborative skills to help them succeed in future research and professional activities; and 5) Form a professional network that can support future careers in water management (e.g., graduate degrees, agricultural/industry careers, public service, etc.). This USDA-funded REEU will catalyze interactions between students from widely varying disciplines by focusing on research questions that require innovative approaches to scientific collaboration and data visualization, as well as communication to and engagement with an array of local stakeholders. Our diverse team of experienced mentors includes environmental scientists, social scientists, engineers, and computer scientist will both guide individual student efforts as well as collectively model successful interdisciplinary collaboration.

Successful participation in the REEU will require you to be:
  • a “self-starter” willing to ask questions, seek answers, and work within typical scientific uncertainty;
  • open to bi-directional communication and collaboration with other fellows, graduate students, and faculty from different disciplinary and academic backgrounds;
  • professional and gracious when working with others of different personalities and social identities;
  • physically present in Blacksburg for the 9- week program;
  • willing to room in a traditional, air-conditioned dormitory with an REEU fellow as a roommate; and
  • excited by the scientific and social possibilities offered by interdisciplinary water management.

2018 & 2019 Photos
​This work is part of the Virginia Tech "Training Future Leaders to Solve Resource Challenges at the Confluence of Water & Society"​ project, supported by the Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Program [grant no. 2018-67032-27705] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.