Collaborative Research: Acquisition of New Instrumentation for Geochemical Studies in the Earth and Environmental Sciences

该合同将为Lamont-Doherty地球观测站（LDEO）和美国自然历史博物馆（AMNH）的地球化学研究提供主要设施升级的部分支持。具体来说，这笔资金将在3年内用于购买(1)新一代惰性气体质谱仪和入口系统，(2)高灵敏度单收集器（SC） ICP-MS,(3)高精度多收集器（MC） ICP-MS。LDEO和AMNH对这类仪器的需求不断增加，而现有设备的性能已不足以进行最先进的研究，再加上两家机构都对地球化学做出了重大的新承诺。其中包括正在进行的耗资4500万美元的地球化学大楼的建设，LDEO地球化学部门高级和初级教员的新任命，LDEO与AMNH之间合作的新阶段，以及通过机构对技术支持的贡献来稳定仪器维护和技术开发的前所未有的承诺。新的仪器是相互联系的，因为它促进了跨主题的跨学科研究。稀有气体质谱仪将测量氖同位素比率，用于地表暴露测年，进一步发展古海洋学的恒定通量代用物，并推进地幔动力学研究。SC-ICPMS将满足对水、冰和气溶胶中超低微量元素丰度分析日益增长的需求。目前，这些努力受到使用共用仪器对高浓度样品进行其他测量的影响。新型MC-ICPMS的高灵敏度将允许在比目前可行的更小的样品中测量同位素比率，并将与由机构资金单独购买的激光器相连。激光烧蚀MC-ICPMS能力将为大量LDEO和AMNH的研究人员和学生提供服务，他们现在广泛旅行以获得LA-ICPMS分析。新的仪器将开辟新的途径，以推进基础课题的知识，如固体地球动力学，海洋动力学和气候，以及水系统和大气中污染物的运输和命运。该仪器对于为纽约市地区的地球科学研究和教育提供最先进的技术也至关重要。加强的基础设施将促进跨学科和机构间的合作。这些设备对于在本科和高中阶段继续进行强大的研究生教育计划和研究培训计划至关重要。自2000年以来，LDEO地球化学为哥伦比亚大学提供了19篇博士论文，AMNH接待了来自各大学的15名研究生。目前，27名哥伦比亚大学的博士生与通过该提案申请仪器的团体有联系。LDEO实验室为来自地区机构的研究生提供服务，包括纽约市立大学和石溪大学。LDEO地球化学家积极参与REU项目（自2000年以来有40名实习生）。AMNH REU项目自2003年启动以来，已经接待了22名实习生，其中大多数是女性，还有一些是非裔美国人或西班牙裔。LDEO地球化学家也为高中生提供研究机会（自2000年以来为25人）。新的仪器将为满足至少两个纽约市立大学校区（Queens和Kingsborough CC）和福特汉姆大学（Fordham University）的研究和教育需求做出根本性的贡献，LDEO和AMNH的兼职研究人员在福特汉姆大学拥有教职。该项目的地球化学家广泛参与公共教育和推广活动，如公开讲座、新闻媒体投稿、流行文章和带头举办重要展览（例如，行星地球大厅、陨石大厅、AMNH的宝石和矿物大厅）。AMNH展览和其他公共项目是公众科学教育的重要工具；每年约有450万人，其中包括60万K-12学生访问AMNH。参与本提案的地球化学家定期在地球课堂计划（www.earth2class.org/）中为K-12科学教师讲课。LDEO的科学家利用他们的专业知识担任政府顾问委员会成员，包括纽约市市长布隆伯格？联合国可持续发展委员会。新的仪器为我们继续开展公共宣传工作提供了必要的工具

This award will provide support for part of a major facility upgrade to benefit geochemical research at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Specifically, funds will be allocated over 3 years for acquisition of (1) a new generation noble gas mass spectrometer and inlet system, (2) a high sensitivity single collector (SC) ICP-MS, and (3) a high precision multi-collector (MC) ICP-MS. The timing of this award is motivated by a combination of increasing demand at LDEO and AMNH for access to this type of instrumentation at a time when the performance of aging existing facilities is inadequate to pursue state of the art research, coupled with major new commitments by both institutions to geochemistry. These include ongoing construction of a $45M Geochemistry Building and new appointments of senior and junior Faculty to the Geochemistry Division at LDEO, a new phase of cooperation between LDEO and AMNH, and an unprecedented commitment to stabilize instrument maintenance and technique development through institutional contributions to technical support. The new instrumentation is linked in that it fosters interdisciplinary research across a spectrum of themes. The noble gas mass spectrometer will measure neon isotope ratios for surface exposure dating, further the development of constant flux proxies for paleoceanography, and advance studies of mantle dynamics. The SC-ICPMS will fulfill a growing need for analyses of ultra-low trace element abundances in water, ice and aerosols. At present, these efforts are compromised by other measurements of high concentration samples using shared instruments. The high sensitivity of a new MC-ICPMS will allow measurement of isotope ratios in smaller samples than is currently feasible and will be linked with a laser, bought separately with institutional funds. The laser ablation MC-ICPMS capability will serve a large number of LDEO and AMNH researchers and students who now travel extensively in order to obtain LA-ICPMS analyses. The new instrumentation will open new avenues to advance knowledge on fundamental topics such as solid earth geodynamics, ocean dynamics and climate, as well as the transport and fate of contaminants in aqueous systems and the atmosphere.The instrumentation is also critical for providing state-of-the-art technology for Earth science research and education in the New York City area. The enhanced infrastructure will promote cross-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaborations. The equipment is critical to continuance of both a strong graduate education program and a research training program at both the undergraduate and high school levels. Since 2000 LDEO Geochemistry has produced 19 Columbia PhD dissertations and AMNH has hosted 15 graduate students from various universities. Currently, 27 Columbia PhD students are associated with the groups requesting instrumentation through this proposal. LDEO labs serve graduate students from regional institutions, including CUNY and Stony Brook. LDEO geochemists are actively involved in REU programs ( 40 interns since 2000). The AMNH REU program has hosted 22 interns since it started in 2003, in which most have been women and several have been African American or Hispanic. LDEO geochemists also provide research opportunities for high school students ( 25 since 2000). The new instrumentation will make a fundamental contribution to meeting research and educational needs of at least two CUNY campuses (Queens and Kingsborough CC) and at Fordham University, where LDEO and AMNH adjunct researchers have faculty positions. Geochemists in this project are extensively involved in public education and outreach, such as public lectures, news media contributions, popular articles, and spearheading prominent exhibits (e.g., the Halls of Planet Earth, and of Meteorites, and of Gems and Minerals at AMNH). The AMNH exhibits and other public programs are important tools of public science education; some 4.5M people, including 0.6M K-12 students, visit AMNH each year. Geochemists involved in this proposal regularly give lectures in the Earth2Class Program (www.earth2class.org/) for K-12 science teachers. LDEO scientists use their expertise as members of governmental advisory boards, including NYC Mayor Bloomberg?s Council of Sustainable Development. The new instrumentation provides essential tools for continuation of our public outreach efforts.***