MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope to Enhance Undergraduate Research Training in the Natural Sciences

这项主要研究仪器拨款支持购置变压扫描电子显微镜（SEM），这是一种有效的现代研究工具，可以提供高质量的标本表面特征成像，这些标本太小，无法用裸眼或传统光学显微镜观察到。该扫描电镜还包含一个微分析系统，当与扫描电镜结合使用时，可以定性地确定样品的元素组成。这些仪器将加强学院在生物学、地质学和大气科学领域的研究。教师和本科生将研究节肢动物角质层结构的元素组成和表面形态（如新热带蜘蛛和收割者的生殖解剖），腹足动物神经节，脊椎动物牙齿，粘土，砂岩和气溶胶颗粒（烟灰与盐晶体）。弗吉尼亚卫斯理学院（VWC）是一所小型的文理学院，拥有多元化的学生群体。收购最先进的电子显微镜将提高学院为少数民族、女性和残疾学生提供的本科研究培训机会的质量。SEM将大大提高VWC自然科学项目的知名度，支持学院教师、学生和弗吉尼亚东南部其他科学家之间的合作。在为期三周的冬季课程中，SEM将用于高级研究方法课程。本课程的目标之一是吸引和介绍学生在他们的教育生涯早期SEM。随后，作为大三和大四的学生，这些学生可以在他们的本科研究项目中使用这些仪器。为了加强对STEM学科的学生招募，SEM还将在夏季的几个月里用于专门为当地高中生提供科研企业机会的项目。

This Major Research Instrumentation grant supports the acquisition of a variable-pressure scanning electron microscope (SEM), an effective, modern research tool that provides high quality imaging of surface features of specimens that are too small to be observed with the unaided eye or a traditional light microscope. This SEM also contains a microanalysis system which when used in conjunction with the SEM can determine qualitatively the elemental composition of a specimen. The instrumentation will enhance faculty research in the fields of biology, geology and atmospheric sciences. Faculty and undergraduate research students will investigate the elemental composition and surface morphology of cuticular structures of arthropods (i.e. reproductive anatomy of Neotropical spiders and harvestmen), gastropod radulae, vertebrate teeth, clays, sandstones, and particulates from aerosols (soot vs. salt crystals). Virginia Wesleyan College (VWC) is a small, liberal arts college with a diverse student body. The acquisition of the state-of-the-art SEM will increase the quality of undergraduate research training opportunities at the college for minorities, women and physically-challenged students. The SEM will substantially improve the visibility of the natural science programs at VWC, supporting collaborations between the college's faculty, students, and other scientists in southeastern Virginia. The SEM will be used in an upper level research methods course to be offered during the college's three week Winter Session. One of the goals of this course will be to attract and introduce students to SEM early in their educational career. Subsequently, as juniors and seniors, these students can use the instrumentation in their undergraduate research projects. In an effort to bolster recruitment of students into STEM disciplines, the SEM will also be used during the summer months in programs designed specifically to provide exposure for local high school students to the scientific research enterprise.