The French Creek Watershed Research Program

（99）培养本科生研究自然地球系统内复杂的相互关系需要加强跨学科的合作。在这个项目中，来自阿勒格尼学院生物系、化学系、环境科学系和地质系的教师正在开发法国溪流域（FCW）研究计划，为本科生自然科学课程和研究提供跨学科的方法。所获得的仪器能够对关键的生物和非生物分水岭成分进行固相和溶液相分析。FCW研究计划：1)正在使用新的分析设备来加强所有教学水平的本科科学课程的实地调查；2)通过显著提高分析能力和准确性，提高学院师生的研究水平；3)建立一个与地理信息系统（GIS）相连的项目网站，作为阿勒格尼大学在课程和学生/教师研究工作中收集的流域信息的集中机构数据库。这项研究是对希本斯堡大学（Shippensberg University）一个类似项目的改编。本项目旨在通过以下方式提高本科生和教师的智力活力：1)提高对课程作业和研究的分析能力；2)在区域流域环境中发展批判性思维和科学技能；3)通过学科间的合作，在课程作业和研究中培养跨学科的视角。通过网站、会议报告和出版物传播项目设计和结果将促进其他机构采用类似的合作、跨学科方法。

Interdisciplinary (99)Training undergraduate students to examine the complex interrelationships within our natural earth system requires improved collaboration across academic disciplines. In this project, Allegheny College faculty from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Geology are developing the French Creek Watershed (FCW) Research Program to provide an interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate natural science coursework and research. The instrumentation acquired is enabling solid and solution-phase analysis of critical biotic and abiotic watershed components. The FCW Research Program: 1) is using new analytical equipment to strengthen field investigations in undergraduate science classes at all instructional levels; 2) enhancing the caliber of student/faculty research within the College by markedly improving analytical capability and accuracy; 3) creating a program website, linked to a geographic information system (GIS), to serve as a centralized, institutional database for watershed information collected in courses and from student/faculty research efforts at Allegheny. The effort is an adaptation of a similar program at Shippensberg University. This program is enhancing the intellectual vigor of both undergraduate students and faculty by: 1) improving analytical capability for coursework and research; 2) developing critical thinking and scientific skills within a regional watershed setting; and 3) fostering an interdisciplinary perspective in coursework and research via collaboration among disciplines. Dissemination of program design and results via the website, conference presentations, and publications will facilitate similar cooperative, interdisciplinary approaches at other institutions.