National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers

2022 Program Dates: June 15 to July 27

Dr. Hawthorne, UCF associate professor, is pictured here in front of the library in Hopkins Village, Belize with two community scientists after mapping data collection.

Application link and deadline: Priority application deadline is Friday, March 18 at: https://www.citizensciencegis.org/nsf-reuret-site

REU/RET Description: In summer 2022, 2023, 2024 through Citizen Science GIS at University of Central Florida, we are pleased to host the sixth year of our National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates & Teachers (REU/RET) Site “Preparing the Next Generation of Scholars through Community GIS and Citizen Science.” Our face-to-face program offers fully-funded summer research experiences for eight undergraduate students and 4 K-12 teachers each year. Participants will join us in Orlando for 2 weeks and an additional 1-month experience in Belize.

Two undergraduate students in Belize assemble a drone in the field to map a nearby island as part of their summer fieldwork experience.Eligibility requirements: As an NSF-funded program, we are open to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents. We are interdisciplinary emphasizing community geography, community GIS, and citizen science through mixed methods, including sketch mapping, mobile mapping applications, focus groups, in-depth interviews, GIS, spatial analysis, and drones. Since 2016, over 70% of participants have been from underrepresented groups in STEM, and from several disciplines including sociology, geography, GIS, environmental studies, anthropology, biology, chemistry, political science, business/economics, education, and more.


Research directions: Work with community partners and mentors from University of Central Florida (including Dr. Timothy Hawthorne), Esri, University of Belize, and The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Program.

  • Research Direction 1: Leveraging community geography & GIS to map disparities in flooding.
  • Research Direction 2: Leveraging community geography & GIS to reduce waste and prevent marine debris.

Dr. Hawthorne, UCF associate professor, is pictured here piloting a drone.

Funding: $4200 research stipend, $750 for post-REU conference travel or industry visits, technology support, and all expenses covered for 2022 Belize fieldwork.

Program Leadership:

  • Timothy L. Hawthorne, 2022 National Geographic Explorer and Associate Professor of Geographic Information Systems at UCF
  • Lain Graham, Senior Solutions Engineer at Esri, Research Associate at the Smithsonian, and UCF Sociology 2021 Graduate

Questions directed to:

  • Timothy Hawthorne: Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Geographic Information Systems, UCF Department of Sociology & Director of Citizen Science GIS at University of Central Florida. Email: timothy.hawthorne@ucf.edu.