Establishing an Undergraduate Sedimentology Laboratory in Central Connecticut for Paleoenvironmental, Paleoceanographic and Paleoclimatic Teaching & Research

该项目解决了以下问题：(1)新英格兰南部没有自动粒度分析设备，(2)地球与环境科学课程的学生没有接触到现代实验室数据收集技术，(3)沉积学实验课程应该有一个连贯的学期重点，(4)需要更多的本科生研究机会。本项目购买了4台设备，在SNE中心位置建立了现代化的沉积学教学和研究设施，并开发了一个重点的沉积学实验课程。描述新设施的信件被发送到半径150英里内所有有地球科学/地质系的学校，并开发了一个重点实验室课程，其中包括新的实验室练习。在该大学从事沉积学研究的本科生主要是女性和少数族裔，而这两种群体目前在地球科学领域的代表性不足。SNE的研究人员可以使用新一代的颗粒大小分析仪，并通过它有机会调查古环境变化。学生有更多的动手接触数据收集，分析和解决问题。

This project addresses the following problems: (1) there are no automated particle-size analysis facilities in Southern New England (SNE), (2) students in Earth & Environmental Science classes are not exposed to modern laboratory data-collection techniques, (3) the Sedimentology Laboratory course should have a coherent semester-long focus, and (4) more undergraduate research opportunities are needed. This project purchases four pieces of equipment to establish a modern sedimentological facility for teaching and research in a central SNE location and develops a focused sedimentology laboratory course. Letters describing the new facility are sent to all schools with earth science/geology departments within a 150-mile radius, and a focused laboratory course with new laboratory exercises is developed. Undergraduate students doing research in sedimentology at the university are primarily women and minorities, both of which are currently underrepresented in the earth sciences. Researchers from SNE have access to a new generation of particle-size analyzer and through it the opportunity to investigate paleoenvironmental changes. Students have more hands-on exposure to data collection, analysis, and problem solving.