Engaging students in an ocean data analysis based Virtual REU

In the summer of 2020, many Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) programs around the country were forced to cancel their on-site programs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the midst of this crisis, the OOI Ocean Data Labs project at Rutgers University was asked to develop an alternative “virtual REU,” relying on our existing network of faculty and virtual community professional development experience. In the end, 15 faculty members were recruited to support 16 undergraduate students, as part of a combined program with Rutgers Research Internship in Ocean Sciences (RIOS). With only a month of planning, the Data Labs-RIOS team put together an 8-week research experience for students, including a 2-week professional development, and a 6-week research project, where students worked virtually with a faculty mentor, in keeping with typical REU summer programs. In this paper, we review the elements of the virtual program enacted in 2020, and how the various components were scaffolded to provide a coherent and positive research experience for students. The program produced a number of positive components worthy of consideration for future virtual REU or other internship programs. Virtual or hybrid programs might be a suitable alternative for nontraditional students or others who cannot participate in traditional programs, but would still benefit from the opportunity to engage in research.