Modernization of a Coastal Marine Laboratory in North Carolina

海岸实验室联盟由四所北卡罗来纳州大学组成，经营海洋科学研究和研究培训方面的学位授予计划。该奖项将为北卡罗来纳大学教堂山海洋科学研究所的现代化提供资金。该研究所目前在五个一般领域开展跨学科研究活动：海底群落生态过程的实验分析、沿海水域的生物地球化学循环和生产力、沉积海岸线地质学、近岸水域的沿海生物生态学和海洋与空气的相互作用。海洋科学研究所吸引了来自美国和海外许多机构的来访科学家，促进了强有力的研究合作。研究生和本科生都参加了该设施的研究培训活动，包括来自历史上少数族裔学院和大学的很大比例的少数族裔学生。这个有25年历史的设施目前的条件不安全，实验室不足以进行研究。缺乏气候控制、适当的电力和空气供应、孵化设施、洁净的房间和现代化的实验室空间，增加了研究人员每天遇到的问题。需要资金来升级实验室空间，以容纳复杂的化学、生物技术、分析研究活动和设备。海洋科学研究所的现代化研究设施将有助于联盟机构的海洋科学计划中的生产性研究和研究培训，并加强国家的科学基础设施。

The Coastal Laboratory Consortium, comprised of four North Carolina Universities, operates degree granting programs in marine science research and research training. This award will provide funding for the modernization of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill's Institute of Marine Science. Interdisciplinary research activities currently performed at the institute are in five general areas: experimental analyses of ecological processes of sea floor communities, biogeochemical cycling and productivity in coastal waters, geology of sedimentary coastlines, ecology of coastal organisms and air and sea interactions in near shore waters. The Institute of Marine Science attracts visiting scientists from many institutions in the US and abroad, fostering strong research collaborations. Both graduate and undergraduate students participate in research training activities at the facility, including a large percentage of minority studnets from historically minority colleges and universities. Present conditions, at the 25 year old facility, are unsafe and laboratories are inadequate for conducting research. The lack of climate control, proper electrical and air supply, incubation facilities, clean rooms, and modernized laboratory space adds to the problems researchers encounter daily. Funds are requested to upgrade laboratory space that is designed to accommodate sophisticated chemical, biotechnological, analytical research activities and equipment. Modern research facilities at the Institute of Marine Science will contribute to the productive research and research training within the marine science programs of the consortium institutions and strengthen the nation's scientific infrastructure.