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

该奖项将为研究提供持续支持 奥古斯塔纳学院的本科生体验网站。 这 该项目将支持本科生参与一个重点 研究计划，它整合了研究活动， 八名调查人员，五名来自奥古斯塔纳学院，一名来自圣。 奥拉夫学院，一个来自大自然保护协会，一个来自布莱克 希尔斯州立大学 这些项目在科学层面上得到整合 因为草原生态的共同利益， 古生态学，因为每个项目的各个方面都受益于 C和N的稳定同位素在研究中的应用 方法论 该项目将提供一个连贯的小组和一个 独特的方法来处理古生态重建， 生态资源丰富的地理区域。 十名学生将学习现场和实验室的问题， 共同的焦点。 他们将有望获得一些掌握 研究的理论基础和实验 设计与终极诠释 每周研讨会和 研讨会将审查每个项目的理论基础， 研究设计;加强学生的图书馆，实验室和 数据处理研究技能;并扩大他们的理解 相关项目。 为期十周的暑期课程将是 随后是一个学年REU研讨会，其中每个学生 我将介绍解释的结果和结论，并帮助 为正在进行的研究制定假设和研究设计 项目

This award will provide continuing support for a Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site at Augustana College. This project will support undergraduate participation in a focused research program which integrates the research activities of eight investigators, five from Augustana College, one from St. Olaf College, one from The Nature Conservancy and one from Black Hills State. 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 from the applications of the stable isotopes of C and N to the research methodology. This project will provide a coherent group and a unique methodology to approach paleoecological reconstructions in a geographic area of rich ecological resources. Ten 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 student's library, laboratory and data handling research skills; and broaden their understanding of the related projects. The ten-week summer program will be followed by an academic year REU 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.