REU: Stable Isotopic Applications to Great Plains Ecology, Paleoecology, and Archeology

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This award will provide continuing support for a Research Experiences for Undergraduate Site at Augustana College. This project will support undergraduate participation in a focused research program which integrates the research activities of six investigators, four from Augustana College, one from St. Olaf College, and one from The Nature Conservancy. The projects are integrated at the scientific level because of the common interests in prairie ecology and paleoecology and because aspects of each project benefit form the applications of the stable isotopes of C and N to the research methodology. This program will provide a coherent group and a unique methodology to approach paleoecological reconstructions in a geographic area of rich ecological resources. Nine students will study field and laboratory problems with a common focus. They will be expected to gain some mastery of the theoretical basis for their study as well as the experimental design and ultimate interpretation. Weekly seminars and workshops will review each project's theoretical basis and research design; enhance the students' library, laboratory and data handling research skills; and broaden their understanding of the related projects. The ten-week summer program will be followed by a January Symposium in which each student will present the interpreted results and conclusions and help develop the hypotheses and research designs for the on-going projects.