The Challenge
Successful stewardship of natural ecosystems critically depends on understanding the ecological and evolutionary impacts of rapid, human-mediated habitat change on individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. The next generation of environmental scientists must be equipped to study these phenomena and communicate their findings to the public, resource managers, and policymakers. And because the next generation of environmental scientists will be confronting challenges that affect the diversity of human societies and cultures across the nation and globe, scientific training and environmental justice become inextricably linked.
Our Response
In the Ecology, Evolution, Equity, and Environmental Change (4EC) REU, we will prepare diverse undergraduates to address these challenges. They will be guided by UC Davis faculty members with established records as skilled mentors and who conduct use-inspired, multi-disciplinary research on the impacts of humans on ecosystems and the services they provide to diverse communities and societies.
Thus, the 4EC REU provides students with immersion into research and professional development in preparation for a career in ecology and evolutionary biology.
- 4EC scholars will conduct individual mentored research aimed at understanding ecological and evolutionary responses of organisms, communities, and ecosystems to rapid environmental change.
- The program will incorporate guided discussions of environmental justice and societal implications in the context of scholars’ research.
- Professional development includes training in scientific communication, instruction in responsible conduct of research, a short course in the scripting language R, information about careers in environmental biology, field trips to nearby research reserves, and post-program mentoring.
- Scholars will become part of a comprehensive network of mentoring that includes other undergraduate researchers, as well as graduate students, postdocs, and faculty.
Engagement with scholars’ communities, including family members and faculty mentors, also constitutes a key part of the 4EC REU.
4EC REU scholars will stay in UC Davis residence halls. We provide meals, a bicycle for local transportation, and a stipend of $5,150 for the eight-week program.
Explore the pages below to learn more about the 4EC program.
Research
We've designed the 4EC REU to provide an immersive research experience in ecology and evolutionary biology.
Prepare for grad school and explore careers
Prepare to apply for grad school and learn skills essential for academic and non-academic careers in environmental biology
Field trips
Field trips to iconic research sites near Davis will provide scholars with exposure to California ecosystems and implications for environmental justice.
Learn how to code in R
We introduce R, a free-commons for data-analysis platform widely used in ecology and evolutionary biology.
Presentations and community engagement
4EC REU scholars will present their work to their peers and faculty in a poster symposium. We welcome family members and friends, and encourage scholars to craft posters that will be clear and engaging to all.
Science communication training
Facility in communicating research results to colleagues and the general public has become an important skill for 21st century scientists.
Community expectations
The summer program orientation will include a discussion of the UC Davis Principles of Community, campus wellness resources, safety in the laboratory and field, and behavioral expectations of all summer research scholars and their mentors.
Logistics
Program dates, housing, transportation, stipends, and other important non-scientific details.