Renovation of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory-University of Minnesota, for research in energy and environmental sustainability

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。该项目是对圣安东尼瀑布实验室(SAFL)内研究基础设施的翻新，该实验室是明尼苏达大学的一个设施，用于与能源和地球表面环境有关的各种研究。它是明尼苏达大学对实验室进行的更大规模翻新的一部分。在SAFL进行的研究包括以下专题：水文和地貌地球表面过程、环境中的化学和生物运移、构造驱动的侵蚀和沉积系统、两相流、生物流体力学和可持续能源技术。SAFL拥有一系列设施，包括干净的实验室、引水的室内和室外渠道，以及能够处理复杂和材料的？地球、沉积物、生物群？地球表面环境的研究、风洞和模拟侵蚀地貌演变的大型实验设施等。该设施的翻新将使SAFL能够通过扩大其在可持续能源，特别是风能和水能和生物燃料，以及作为恢复和可持续管理基础的景观动态方面的研究能力，来解决与21世纪社会需求有关的研究。更具体地说，翻修工程将促进或加强研究和培训的主要内容包括：环境科学和工程方面的跨学科研究；湍流和大气边界层研究，特别是风能优化方面的研究；优化可持续水动力和水力发电的方法；生物燃料研究，重点是在多变环境条件下优化藻类生物反应器；以及环境恢复和管理研究，包括溪流、河流和三角洲。空间分布的团队将能够通过使用改造后的S实验室的协作工具、可视化和虚拟实验来参与研究和研究培训。除了为教师研究提供基础设施外，改造后的实验室还将供来自美国国内外的访问研究人员使用。此次翻修将加强SAFL通过其溪流恢复证书计划提供的培训。SAFL参与了一些正规和非正规的教育活动，这些活动很可能受益于使用改进后的设施。它与非正式的科学教育机构明尼苏达州科学博物馆合作，设计关于环境科学的展览。每年夏天，SAFL都会招收本科生实习生，参加河流和海岸修复项目。SAFL与Fond Du Lac部落和社区学院合作，参加针对美洲原住民青年的科学夏令营。SAFL工作人员与明尼苏达州科学博物馆和许多科学和技术中心项目参与者合作，参加旨在向公众和政策制定者通报能源和可持续发展研究成果的未来地球倡议。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This project is a renovation of research infrastructure within the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), a facility of the University of Minnesota that is used for a variety of research related to energy and the Earth-surface environment. It is a component of a larger renovation of the Laboratory undertaken by the University of Minnesota. Research conducted at SAFL includes topics such as: hydrological and geomorphological Earth-surface processes, chemical and biological transport in the environment, tectonically driven erosional and depositional systems, two-phase flows, biological fluid mechanics and sustainable energy technologies. SAFL houses a range of facilities, including clean labs, indoor and outdoor channels that route river water and can handle the complexity and materials ? earth, sediment, biota ? of the Earth-surface environment, a wind tunnel, and a large-scale experimental facility to model the evolution of landscapes through erosion, amongst others. Renovations to the facility will allow SAFL to address research related to societal needs in the 21st century by expanding its research capacity in sustainable energy, notably wind and water energy and biofuels, and in landscape dynamics as a basis for restoration and sustainable management. More specifically, the main elements of research and research training that would be enabled or enhanced by the renovation are: interdisciplinary research in environmental science and engineering; research in turbulence and atmospheric boundary layers, particularly with regard to wind-power optimization; the optimization of methods for sustainable hydrokinetic and hydro-power; biofuels research focusing on optimization of algal bioreactors under variable environmental conditions; and research in environmental restoration and management, including streams, rivers and deltas. Groups that are spatially distributed will be able to participate in this research and research training through collaboration tools, visualization, and virtual experiments using the renovated Laboratory?s cyberinfrastructure.In addition to providing infrastructure for faculty research, the renovated laboratory will be used by visiting researchers from across and outside the US. The renovation will enhance the training that SAFL offers through its certificate program in Stream Restoration. SAFL engages in a number of formal and informal education activities that are likely to benefit from access to the improved facilities. It partners with an informal science education institution, the Science Museum of Minnesota, to design exhibits on environmental science. Each summer, SAFL hosts undergraduate interns for a program in River and Coastal Restoration. In partnership with the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, SAFL participates in science camps aimed at Native American youth. Working with the Science Museum of Minnesota and a number of Science and Technology Center program participants, SAFL staff take part in the Future Earth Initiative aimed at informing the public and policymakers about the results of research in energy and sustainability.