Acquisition of a Microanalysis System for a Scanning Electron Microscope at Carleton College.

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0420680DavidsonThis grant, made through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, provides support for acquiring a microanalysis system for an existing scanning electron microscope at Carleton College. The addition of a energy dispersive spectrometer based microanalysis system will greatly enhance the research, research training, and educational capabilities in Geology, Chemistry, Physics, and Anthropology at the college. Microanalysis is an essential tool for characterizing the chemical composition of solid materials at the micron scale. Current student and faculty research that will be enhanced by the acquisition of a new microanalysis system include 1) metamorphic petrology and tectonic studies in Southeast and south central Alaska; 2) evolution of Yellowstone volcanism; 3) characterization of sedimentary layers in early hominid sites in eastern Africa; and 4) investigations into the processes that control biogeochemical rates and species diversity in simple, microbially-dominated ecosystems. In addition, the new microanalysis system will be used in various courses to enhance the quantitative reasoning skills of science and non-science majors at the college.***