Infrastructure via Science- and Technology-Enhanced Partnerships (INSTEP)

通过科技增强伙伴关系建设基础设施 (INSTEP)

• 批准号: 0701906
• 负责人: Mark Young
• 金额: $ 900万
• 依托单位: Montana University System Office
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-08-01 至 2011-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0701906&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Infrastructure; via; Science; Technology; Enhanced

The Montana EPSCoR research infrastructure improvement project focuses on two research areas: Hydrogen and the Environment (HE) and Large River Ecosystems (LRE) that are each regionally relevant, nationally significant, and capitalize on the unique resources of Montana. The HE program, led by Montana State University (MSU), builds on existing HE studies and integrates research efforts across participating institutions. The scientific goals and questions of the program are: (1) to discover and understand the biological diversity of metal transformations and metal mediated catalysis, with a focus on hydrogen, using bioprospecting, genomics, and proteomics approaches; (2) researching mechanisms of metal transformations and metalloenzyme-mediated catalysis with a focus on hydrogen, using biochemical and physical methods and theoretical modeling; and (3) integration and implementation of process engineering and bio-inspired materials synthesis for hydrogen production and coupling to developing fuel-cell technologies. The Yellowstone National Park and the Berkeley Pit (Butte, MT) superfund environments provide unique laboratories for the study of how biological systems have evolved metal transport and transformation systems to thrive in high metal and gaseous (including hydrogen) environments. The selection of the HE emphasis aligns with national interest in developing alternative fuels sources and positions Montana for informing dialogue on a hydrogen fuel economy. The project coordinates statewide efforts in basic science, biochemical and chemical mechanistic understanding, and applied science. The next generation of researchers is promoted through new faculty hires and investments in graduate and undergraduate students. The newly developing Large River Ecosystems (LRE) effort, led by the University of Montana (UM), focuses on processes driving ecological systems of a free-flowing river (the Yellowstone) and the impacted Missouri and Columbia Rivers. Questions to be addressed relate to physical processes that control timing and quantity of snow melt runoff under changing climatic conditions; effects of nutrient sources and sinks on watershed dynamics; and differences between natural drivers of change in river systems vis-a-vis man-caused changes. These factors are important to watershed management efforts in the Northwest United States. The LRE program would also develop a new graduate program. The project presents a strong plan for integrating research and education. The LRE component incorporates notable research and education partnerships with Montana's Tribal Colleges that show promise for increasing Native American participation in study and research in scientific fields. The Science Learning Complex, which hosts lecture series and a public radio show, as well as other outreach efforts assure effective dissemination of EPSCoR research findings across the state. Partnerships with Immersion Presents and the Science and Natural History Filmmaking Program bring HE and LRE research and education products to a national audience. Immersion Presents, for example, is creating curricula and supplementary materials to increase understanding of extreme environments such as the thermal vents of Yellowstone Park. The National Science Teachers' Association, through SciLinks, provides linkages for educational web sites developed by Montana EPSCoR to some of the nation's most commonly used science and mathematics textbooks. Finally, the Montana Indians and Science Program is touring hands-on science exhibitions to tribal colleges and reservations throughout the State; a special focus calls attention to contributions of native peoples to science and technology in fields such as medicine, ecology, and preservation of Montana's rivers and other natural resources.

蒙大拿州EPSCoR研究基础设施改善项目侧重于两个研究领域：氢与环境（HE）和大河生态系统（LRE），每个区域相关，国家重要，并利用蒙大拿州的独特资源。 由蒙大拿州立大学（MSU）领导的HE计划以现有的HE研究为基础，并整合了参与机构的研究工作。 该计划的科学目标和问题是：（1）利用生物勘探，基因组学和蛋白质组学方法发现和理解金属转化和金属介导的催化的生物多样性，重点是氢;（2）利用生物化学和物理方法以及理论建模研究金属转化和金属酶介导的催化的机制，重点是氢;以及（3）整合和实施用于氢生产的工艺工程和生物启发材料合成，并与开发燃料电池技术相结合。 黄石国家公园和伯克利坑（巴特，MT）超级基金环境提供了独特的实验室，用于研究生物系统如何进化金属运输和转化系统，以在高金属和气态（包括氢）环境中茁壮成长。 高等教育重点的选择符合国家在开发替代燃料来源方面的利益，并使蒙大拿州能够就氢燃料经济进行信息对话。 该项目协调全州在基础科学，生物化学和化学机械理解和应用科学方面的努力。 下一代研究人员通过新的教师招聘和对研究生和本科生的投资得到提升。由蒙大拿大学（UM）领导的新开发的大河生态系统（LRE）工作重点是推动自由流动的河流（黄石）和受影响的密苏里州和哥伦比亚河的生态系统的过程。 需要解决的问题涉及到在不断变化的气候条件下控制融雪径流的时间和数量的物理过程;营养源和汇对流域动态的影响;以及河流系统变化的自然驱动因素与人为变化之间的差异。 这些因素对美国西北部的流域管理工作很重要。 LRE计划还将开发一个新的研究生课程。该项目提出了一个强有力的计划，整合研究和教育。 LRE的组成部分包括与蒙大拿州部落学院的显着研究和教育伙伴关系，这表明有希望增加美洲原住民参与科学领域的学习和研究。 科学学习综合体，它主办系列讲座和公共广播节目，以及其他推广工作，确保有效传播EPSCoR的研究成果在整个国家。 与沉浸呈现和科学和自然历史电影制作计划的伙伴关系带来了他和LRE的研究和教育产品，以全国观众。 例如，Immersion Presents正在创建课程和补充材料，以增加对黄石公园热喷口等极端环境的了解。 全国科学教师协会通过SciLinks为蒙大拿州EPSCoR开发的教育网站提供链接，使其与全国最常用的一些科学和数学教科书联系起来。 最后，蒙大拿州印第安人和科学方案正在全州的部落学院和保留地巡回举办实践科学展览;一个特别重点是呼吁注意土著人民在医学、生态学和蒙大拿州河流和其他自然资源保护等领域对科学和技术的贡献。