IRES: U.S.-Czech Student Research Experience on Understanding Water and Chemical Transport in the Earth's Vadose Zone

Award Abstract #1460129

About the Program

The collaborative research program Research on Vadose Zone for Understanding Water and Chemical Transport at Various Scales between the University Nebraska-Lincoln and Czech Technical University at Prague will be held at the Czech Technical University in Prague, from May 27 to July 20, 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic. This International Research Experiences for Students program, funded by the National Science Foundation, is open to undergraduate and graduate students within the U.S. majoring in science or engineering. An abstract of the project can be found at NSF.

Participants will live in on-campus dormitory rooms at the Czech Technical University. Students will work collaboratively with Czech students and researchers in the laboratory and at field sites within various watersheds. Instrumented sites in the Jizera Mountains and soil core collection from the Sumava Mountains the catchment are shown in the following figures. The students will also analyze data for pore structure for undisturbed soil cores (see below for one image using Neutron beams) to examine preferential flow pathway and measure hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils in the field. Students selected for this program will receive a living allowance of $350/week, a stipend of $550/week, and roundtrip airfare to Prague. The program includes cultural activities, and travel within Prague and the Czech Republic.