"Instructional Equipment to Support Undergraduate Field Studies in Aquatic Microbiology"

该系的水生微生物学项目为两年制大学生提供了进行高质量野外工作所需的机会、指导和设备。南伊利诺伊州(以及整个中西部)最大的资源之一就是丰富的水资源。这个项目以这些资源为目标，将学生的体验集中在水生生态系统的微生物上。该项目的初步工作始于1987年夏天，增加了两门新课程：野外生物学和生物科学研究。这一课程的增加，加上新设备的采购，代表了教师将教室与生物有机体世界联系起来的决心和承诺。为了支持这一项目，国家科学基金会资助购买了一台高质量的显微镜，配备了相位对比度、荧光和显微照相附件，以及一艘装有湖泊和水库沉积物采样设备的小型多功能船。随着这些设备的增加，水生微生物学专业的学生将有机会将野外工作的兴奋和动力与进行健全的科学研究的经验结合起来。参加这些课程的学生大多是学院四年转学项目的学生，他们希望在与科学相关的领域完成学士学位。通过这些学生经常向当地高中班级和社区成人团体提交的报告，该项目还有助于更好地了解公众对科学的理解，并提高大学预科学生对科学职业的兴趣。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。

This department's aquatic microbiology project provides two-year college students with the opportunity, instruction, and equipment necessary to conduct quality field work. One of the great resources of Southern Illinois (and all of the Midwest) is the abundance of water. This project targets these resources by focusing student experiences on the microorganisms of aquatic ecosystems. Initial work on this project began during the summer of 1987 with the addition of two new courses: Field Biology, and Research in Biological Science. This curriculum addition, combined with new equipment purchases, represents the faculty's determination and commitment to link the classroom with the world of living organisms. To support this project the NSF award has financed the purchase of a quality microscope with phase contrast, epifluorescence and photomicrographic accessories, as well as a small utility boat with equipment for sampling lake and reservoir sediments. With these equipment additions, the aquatic microbiology students are being given an opportunity to combine the excitement and motivation of field work with experience in conducting sound scientific inquiry. Students enrolled in these courses are largely those in the college's four-year transfer program who look forward to completing the baccalaureate in a science-related field. Through reports by these students often presented to local high school classes and to community adult groups, the project also contributes to better public understanding of science and to increased pre-college student interest in science careers. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.