Undergraduate Laboratory Equipment for an Environmental Monitoring Technology Program

该项目的目的是利用最先进的方法和技术开发一门新的环境监测技术课程。通过该奖项提供的设备包括一台气相色谱仪/质谱仪(GC/MS)、一台单独的GC、一台高效液相色谱仪(HPLC)、一台原子吸收光谱仪(AA)和一个现代化的、与计算机相连的气象站。在这种设备的帮助下，学生学习分析室内和室外空气、水、土壤以及动物和人体组织中农林农药、危险废物和工业排放产生的环境污染物的程序和原理。由此产生的新课程在该机构卓越的计算机设施的支持下，将技术重点放在了现有的环境研究学士学位课程上，并使设立新的环境监测技术AA学位课程成为可能。该项目满足了美国对称职的污染和危险物质控制技术人员日益增长的需求，为缅因州北部的环境实验室提供了熟练的人力，并为该机构服务的缅因州北部圣约翰山谷的经济贫困人口(主要是法裔美国人(Acadian))提供向上流动的机会。接受资助的机构正在将NSF的奖励与从非联邦来源获得的同等金额相匹配。

The project's aim is the development of a new technical curriculum in environmental monitoring using state-of-the-art methods and technologies. Included in the equipment provided through this award are a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), a separate GC, a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC), an atomic absorption spectrometer (AA), and a modern, computer-linked weather station. With the help of this equipment, students learn the procedures and principles involved in analyzing indoor and outdoor air, water, soil, and animal and human tissue for the presence of environmental contaminants resulting from agricultural and forestry pesticides, hazardous wastes, and industrial emissions. The resulting new curriculum, backed by the institution's excellent computer facilities, gives a technical focus to the existing B.S. in Environmental Studies Program and makes possible the institution of a new A.A. degree program in Environmental Monitoring Technology. The project addresses the nation's growing need for competent pollution and hazardous substances control technicians, provides skilled manpower for Northern Maine's environmental laboratories, and affords opportunities for upward mobility to the economically depressed predominantly French-American (Acadian) people of the St. John Valley in Northern Maine which the institution serves. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.