MRI: Acquisition of Major Instrumentation for Watershed Biogeochemistry Research

这项主要研究仪器（MRI）计划的资金支持为瓦萨学院的流域生物地球化学研究和研究培训购置多种仪器。需要购买的具体仪器包括一台离子色谱仪，两台多参数探空仪（黄泉仪器），用于对水温、盐度、溶解氧和营养物质浓度进行时间采样，以及四个水位监测装置。瓦萨学院是一所本科院校，最初是一所女子学院，但自1969年以来一直是男女同校。该设备将支持教师和学生对河流生物地球化学循环的研究，重点是城市化地区的人为影响系统。例如，研究发展对河流内营养收支和营养储存的影响；土壤和地下水中除冰盐的运输、储存和去向；大气沉积和污染物生物积累的长期变化。该仪器将进一步推动瓦萨学院的承诺，让包括女性和少数族裔在内的本科生参与教师指导的研究。这些仪器将被整合到多个系的众多现有课程中。拟议的仪器套件针对当地的环境问题，PI参与了学院的Casperkill研究计划（CRI），该计划涵盖科学和社会科学，让学生参与暑期研究经验，与当地非营利组织合作，并向公众和地方治理部门进行推广。

Funding from this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant supports acquisition of multiple instruments for watershed biogeochemical research and research training at Vassar College. Specific instruments to be acquired include an ion chromatograph, two multi-parameter sondes (Yellow Springs Instruments) for temporal sampling of water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentrations, and four water level monitoring devices. Vassar College is an undergraduate institution originally founded as a women's college though it has been co-educational since 1969. The equipment will support faculty and student research on stream biogeochemical cycling with a focus on anthropogenically impacted systems in urbanized areas. Examples include studies of the impacts of development on in-stream nutrient budgets and nutrient storage; transport, storage, and fate of deicing salts in soils and groundwater; and long-term changes in atmospheric deposition and biotic accumulation of contaminants. The instrumentation will further Vassar College's commitment to involving undergraduate students, including women and minorities, in faculty-mentored research. The instrumentation would be integrated into numerous existing courses across multiple departments. The proposed suite of instrumentation targets local environmental issues and the PI's are engaged in the College's Casperkill Research Initiative (CRI) that spans the sciences and social sciences, engages student in summer research experiences, partners with local non-profits, and conducts outreach to the public and local governance sectors.