Environmental Science Instrumentation for Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Teams

霍普学院最近开发了一个环境科学未成年人。现在，在其第二年，新的未成年人计划经历了学生总数的三倍（从8到24）。 这一积极的迹象支持我们决定提供一个扩大的能力，进行现场样品的分析测试，并开发一种手段来组织，分析，存档和传播学生收集的环境数据。 购买FTIR光谱仪可以让学生在环境科学未成年人的早期阶段，了解空气和水中的污染物，例如，进行废气排放控制对碳基气体的有效性实验。紫外-可见分光光度计增加了评估一氧化二氮排放的能力，以便学生可以探索和了解空气污染的因素。 这两种仪器都有能力在自然发生的背景浓度下分析各种其他对环境重要的化学品。这使学生在未成年人的顶点课程，高级环境研讨会，追求人类对当地流域的影响独立的研究项目。这些研究项目由学生设计和执行，他们在跨学科团队中工作。 具有地理信息系统（GIS）功能的新学生计算机设施为学生提供了组织和分析他们收集的数据的方法，这些数据与以前的课程以及地方和州环境机构的数据相结合。地理信息系统还有助于与马卡塔瓦地区协调理事会（一个大都市规划组织）、当地决策者和公众的合作者共享原始数据和分析。

Hope College has recently developed an environmental science minor. Now in its second year, the new minor program has experienced a tripling of the total number of students (from 8 to 24). This positive sign supports our decision to provide for an expanded capability to perform analytical testing of field samples and to develop a means to organize, analyze, archive, and disseminate the environmental data collected by students. Acquisition of a FTIR spectrometer allows students in early stages of the environmental science minor to learn about pollutants in air and water by, for example, conducting experiments on the effectiveness of exhaust emission controls on carbon-based gases. A UV-Vis spectrophotometer adds the ability to evaluate emissions of nitrous oxides in a companion comparison, so that students can explore and understand factors involved in air pollution. Both instruments have the capability to analyze a wide array of other environmentally important chemicals at naturally occurring background concentrations. This enables students in the capstone course for the minor, the Advanced Environmental Seminar, to pursue independent research projects on the impact of humans on the local watershed. These research projects are designed and executed by the students, who work in interdisciplinary teams. A new student computer facility with Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities gives students the means to organize and analyze the data they gather in combination with data from previous classes and local and state environmental agencies. The GIS system also facilitates sharing raw data and analyses with collaborators from the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, a metropolitan planning organization, local decision makers, and the public.