The Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program is an interdisciplinary summer program that is funded by NASA.  This ten week program brings 13 students from a variety of science and engineering backgrounds to the U of A campus to research topics in space and planetary sciences.  The students are assigned mentors in their respective research areas, and the students get a chance to experience life as a graduate student.  REU student research interests vary from volcanology to martian sinkholes.  The students also create midterm posters, participate in end of term orals, and attend a follow-up conference.

The students go on several field trips throughout the summer that reflect the major disciplines in the space center (planetary astronomy, planetary atmospheres, planetary geology, orbital mechanics and astronautics, or origin and evolution of life).  At the Oklahoma Aquarium, students get a behind the scenes look at what life in extreme environments might be like.  On their trip to western Oklahoma, the students observe land formations that are comparable to those on Mars.  At the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, students get a chance to visit the lunar and meteorite processing labs and will take a public tour of the JSC.  The students will also visit a local industrial partner to see what the space business is like.

The last trip the students have is to the observation deck on Kimpel Hall at the U of A where they will peer through a telescope at the night sky.  The viewing this year will be hosted by Claud Lacy, a member of the space center and a faculty member in Physics.

The students attend weekly seminars covering a variety of topics in space and planetary sciences; seminars are given by spece center faculty and graduate students and by external speakers. Students also receive "how-to" seminars on making poster and oral presentations.

The students, their mentors, their projects, and their home institutions are as follows:

	Rozmin Daya, Claud Lacy, "Extrasolar planets, near-Earth asteroids". Southern Methodist University
	Brian Fleming, Julia Kennefick, "Quasar astronomy". Illinois Institute of Technology
	Jennifer Hanley, Derek Sears, "Water on Mars, planetary simulations". Cornell University
	Jessica Haseltine, Larry Roe, "Microthrusters, sample collectors, structures on asteroid Eros". Harding University
	Daniel Hawkins, Glen Mattioli, "Volcanology, remote sensing". Western Kentucky University
	Mona Houcheime, Rick Ulrich, "Planetary atmostpheres, planetary instruments". San Jose State University
	Jill Jackson, Tim Kral, "Methanogens on Mars." William Jewell College
	Jason Kramb, Larry Roe, "Microthrusters, sample collectors". University of Dayton
	Daniel Ostrowski, Derek Sears, "Space materials, planetary simulations". Carroll College
	Herbert Pablo, Glen Mattioli, "Volcanology, remote sensing." Vanderbilt University
	Lucija Rakocevic, John Dixon, "Digitization and web access of SEASAT." University of Arkansas
	Nikhil Revankar, Julia Kennefick, "Quasar astronomy". Cornell University
	Zackery Smith, Jason Tullis, "Martian sinkholes". Alfred University

Jesse Buffington and Jonathan Craig, two former REU students (2004), are currently working at the space center.

	Jesse, who attends the University of Arkansas, is doing Hera research with Larry Roe and Derek Sears.  Hera is a mission to return samples from asteroids; it is proposed by center researchers partnered by JPL to NASA's Discovery program.  Jesse also provides technical assistance for the center equipment (including the Andromeda chamber).  Jesse was recently awarded a co-op at JSC for the fall 2005 semester.
	Jonathan, who attends the University of Southern Illinois, is researching water on Mars with Derek Sears.  He is finishing his undergraduate degree in Geology/Physics in Illinois and then he hopes to start his graduate work at the space center in 2006.
	Madhuri Penumarthi is working part-time in the space center this summer.  She is a graduate student in computer engineering at the U of A and is working software applications for the Andromeda chamber.

The space center is pleased to announce the addition Jessica Park as a Programs Administrator for the space center.

She recently graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Master's degree in higher education.  Jessica has primary responsibility for managing and implementing center undergraduate education programs (including REU), outreach programs, and center publications.

Seminars will be held at 3pm (space center library; room 118, Old Museum building).

Week 1 - May 24
Orientation

Week 2 - May 31
Mars Exploration 1 (water and microbes)
Julie Chittenden, Tim Kral

Week 3 - June 7
Making a poster presentation
Derek Sears

Week 4 - June 14
Asteroids, meteorites and the Hera mission
Larry Lebofsky

Week 5 - June 21
Asteroid sampler development
Larry Roe, Melissa Franzen

Week 6 - June 28
Review presentations by REU students full day
Keck Lab, MUSE 109

Week 7 - July 5
Searching for NEO
Claud Lacy, Al Grauer

Week 8 - July 12
Mars exploration II (Mars, sinkholes and missions)
Derek Sears, Ken Steele

Week 9 - July 19
Making an oral presentation
Rick Ulrich

Week 10 - July 28
Final presentations (oral) by REU students full day
Keck Lab, MUSE 109