Integrated Undergraduate Physical Geography Laboratory

位于奥尔巴尼的纽约州立大学（SUNYA）的地理与规划系（DGP）和地球与大气科学系（DEAS）传统上提供的环境课程建立在强大的理论框架之上，但缺乏环境分析实用方法的指导。 在这个项目中，我们将建立一个综合本科自然地理实验室（IUPGL），以弥合环境教育实践与理论之间的差距，并为学生提供一个明确的指导，通过不同的环境课程。IUPGL将是SUNYA地理与规划系（DGP）和地球与大气科学系（DEAS）的联合设施。 此外，我们将通过联合操作电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（ICP-MS）分析设施，加强SUNYA和联合学院（位于纽约州谢内克塔迪附近）之间的联系。这一合作将把联合学院各系在实际环境地球化学方面的专门知识带到SUNYA，同时将改善联合学院学生学习SUNYA环境课程的机会。本科生将接受土壤和水的化学和物理分析以及水文和气候观测方法的培训。 全球定位系统将用于确定环境参数，现有地理信息系统实验室的地理信息系统技术将用于空间数据处理。 实用科学技能的发展将为学生在GIS/GPS，地理理论，公共政策和规划未来的课程提供基础。这项培训也将大大拓宽SUNYA学士毕业生的就业前景。通过各种学生项目在IUPGL中收集的所有数据将作为年度数据库提交，供SUNYA和Union College的不同自然科学课程进一步使用。

The Departments of Geography and Planning (DGP) and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (DEAS) at the State University of New York at Albany (SUNYA) have traditionally offered environmental courses built on the delivery of a strong theoretical framework but lacking in the instruction of practical methods of environmental analysis. In this project we will establish an Integrated Undergraduate Physical Geography Laboratory (IUPGL) to bridge the gap between practice and theory in environmental education and to provide students with a clear guide through different environmental courses. The IUPGL will be a joint facility for the Department of Geography and Planning (DGP) and Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (DEAS) of SUNYA. Additionally, we will strengthen links between SUNYA and Union College (located in nearby Schenectady, NY) through the joint operation of the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) analytical facility. This cooperation will bring the expertise of Union College faculties in practical environmental geochemistry to SUNYA and, simultaneously, will improve the access of SUNYA environmental courses to Union College students. Undergraduate students will be trained in chemical and physical analysis of soil and water as well as in methods of hydrological and climatological observations. Global Positioning System units will be used to locate environmental parameters and GIS technology in the existing GIS Laboratory will be used for spatial data processing. Development of practical science skills will provide a base for students taking future courses in GIS/GPS, geographic theory, and public policy and planning. This training also will significantly broaden employment prospects for SUNYA baccalaureate graduates. All data collected in the IUPGL through a variety of student projects will be presented as an annual database available for further use in the different natural science courses at SUNYA and Union College.