MRI: Acquisition of an Intuitive Multi-Touch Scanning Electron Microscope to Enhance Research as well as Undergraduate Student Research and Natural Science Courses

MRI：购买直观的多点触控扫描电子显微镜以加强研究以及本科生研究和自然科学课程

• 批准号: 1429113
• 负责人: Matthew Lehnert
• 金额: $ 16.1万
• 依托单位: Kent State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1429113&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Intuitive; Multi; Touch

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award will fund the acquisition of a multi-functional scanning electron microscope (SEM) to support research and teaching initiatives at Kent State University at Stark. The JEOL SEM will accommodate innovative faculty research projects that span multiple disciplines, and deliver novel, hands-on research opportunities for the undergraduate students in our expanding science program. Researchers, educators, and students, including those at neighboring K-12 school systems with underrepresented groups, will have the opportunity to explore insect structures, bacteria, fossils, and minerals at the micro-scale with high-resolution, 3D images produced by the SEM. In addition, the remote control capabilities of the SEM will enhance science courses by allowing students to watch SEM usage in real time during lectures, via computers installed in the classroom.The user-friendly SEM and additional hardware and software accessories include Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis system (EDS) for quantifying elemental properties of structures and minerals and 3-D image software for topographical analysis. It will accommodate faculty research and provide research opportunities for undergraduate students. In particular, current and future interdisciplinary research projects include the examination of 1) convergent evolution in insect mouthparts, particularly butterflies and flies, to study structure and function relationships associated with fluid uptake mechanisms, 2) changes in cuticle (shell) structure and composition of fossilized decapods (i.e., lobsters, shrimp) over evolutionary time, 3) dental microwear patterns (i.e., scars on teeth) of extinct vertebrates to better understand their ecology and feeding habits, 4) surface microtopography and chemical reactivity of minerals associated with human health, and 5) the physical relationship between the filamentous form of Agrobacterium and plant transformation. The acquired images will be uploaded to pre-existing NSF-funded databases for public access. The SEM, with its real time remote control functionality, will integrate into existing undergraduate courses, including Evolution and General Microbiology, and new courses, such as Virology and Principles of Microscopy. The SEM also will supplement K-12 science courses through workshops for teachers to acquire their own images and learn the remote control usage. This instrument aquisition will be a highly valued addition to the new science building at Kent State University at Stark and will enrich and provide unique opportunities of inquiry to our vibrant, growing research programs.

这项重大研究仪器（MRI）奖将资助收购多功能扫描电子显微镜（SEM），以支持斯塔克肯特州立大学的研究和教学计划。 JEOL SEM将容纳跨越多个学科的创新教师研究项目，并在我们不断扩大的科学计划中为本科生提供新颖的实践研究机会。研究人员，教育工作者和学生，包括那些在邻近的K-12学校系统与代表性不足的群体，将有机会探索昆虫结构，细菌，化石和矿物在微观尺度与高分辨率，3D图像产生的扫描电镜。此外，扫描电镜的遥控功能将加强科学课程，让学生通过安装在教室里的电脑，在课堂上真实的时间观看扫描电镜的使用。用户友好的扫描电镜和其他硬件和软件附件，包括能量分散X射线显微分析系统（EDS），用于量化结构和矿物的元素属性和三维图像软件的地形分析。它将容纳教师的研究，并为本科生提供研究机会。特别是，当前和未来的跨学科研究项目包括：1）检查昆虫口器的趋同进化，特别是蝴蝶和苍蝇，以研究与流体吸收机制相关的结构和功能关系，2）角质层（壳）结构和组成的变化（即，龙虾，虾），3）牙齿微磨损模式（即，（4）与人类健康相关的矿物表面微地形和化学反应性;（5）丝状农杆菌与植物转化之间的物理关系。获取的图像将上传到现有的NSF资助的数据库中，供公众访问。SEM具有真实的时间远程控制功能，将整合到现有的本科课程，包括进化和普通微生物学，以及新的课程，如病毒学和显微镜原理。SEM还将通过研讨会补充K-12科学课程，让教师获取自己的图像并学习远程控制的使用。这仪器购置将是一个非常有价值的除了在肯特州立大学在斯塔克新的科学建设，并将丰富和提供调查我们充满活力，不断增长的研究计划的独特机会。