A new research greenhouse at Blandy Experimental Farm

资金将用于支持在布兰迪实验农场建造一个新的研究温室，布兰迪实验农场是弗吉尼亚大学在雪兰多山谷北方经营的一个环境科学野外站（http：//blandy.virginia.edu/）。 布兰迪支持环境科学的广泛研究，但对植物遗传学和植物生态学的研究是特别的优势。 布兰迪教师预计，在这些领域的实力是可持续的，在这方面的学生培训将继续增长。 布兰迪现有的温室已经有70多年的历史了，结构上已经受到了影响。 因为它最初建在奥兰E。白色植物园，它现在被树木包围，大大减少了阳光进入温室。 其低效的设计不允许扩展的灵活性。 这一提议是更换的第一阶段。 拟议的温室将包括两个510平方英尺的海湾，将提供总共612平方英尺的长凳空间。 拟建大楼的地板将是混凝土的，以帮助尽量减少病虫害问题。 新的温室将有改进的温度和环境控制系统，包括丙烷加热系统，简单的通风和排气系统，以及可伸缩的遮阳系统。 新的温室将为布兰迪的研究人员提供更好的支持。本科生和研究生培训是布兰迪使命的核心，研究温室是这两个项目的重要资源。 布兰迪过去的研究生继续从事从K-12科学教育到大学教师职位的科学工作。 布兰迪的本科研究项目在培养学生方面非常成功，他们中的大多数人都进入了备受推崇的生态学研究生课程。 这些学生包括许多来自代表性不足群体的有才华的年轻男女，他们现在已经获得了更高的科学学位。 布兰迪实验农场也是弗吉尼亚州植物园的所在地，拥有蓬勃发展的K-12和其他公共项目，所有项目都以环境科学为重点。 这些计划建立在布兰迪的研究计划创造的专业知识和发现。 例如，所有布兰迪的本科研究人员花了一个上午介绍他们的研究的一些方面，以儿童参加夏季自然营在布兰迪。 在K-12计划中发展起来的关系使得识别和招募当地教师进入NSF支持的教师培训计划相对容易，而且这些教师中的大多数都需要温室空间来进行他们的项目。 布兰迪还经常担任高中生的研究经验的来源，几乎所有这些学生都在温室里的项目工作。

Funds will support the construction of a new research greenhouse at Blandy Experimental Farm, an environmental sciences field station in the northern Shenandoah Valley operated by the University of Virginia (http://blandy.virginia.edu/). Blandy supports a broad range of research in the environmental sciences, but research on plant genetics and plant ecology are particular strengths. The Blandy faculty anticipates that strength in these areas is sustainable and that student training in this area will continue to grow. Blandy's existing greenhouse is over 70 years old and has become structurally compromised. Because it was originally built within the Orland E. White Arboretum, it is now surrounded by trees that greatly reduce sunlight into the greenhouse. Its inefficient design does not allow much flexibility for expansion. This proposal represents the first phase of the replacement. The proposed greenhouse would include two 510 square-foot bays that would provide a total of 612 square feet of bench space. The floors of the proposed building would be concrete to help minimize pest and disease problems. The new greenhouse would have improved temperature and environmental control systems, including a propane heating system, a simple ventilation and exhaust system, and a retractable shade system. The new greenhouse will provide substantially better support for Blandy researchers. Undergraduate and graduate training is central to Blandy's mission, and a research greenhouse is an essential resource for both of these programs. Past graduate students at Blandy have continued on to productive careers in science that range from K-12 science education to faculty positions at universities. The undergraduate research program at Blandy has been highly successful in training students, most of whom have gone on to highly regarded graduate programs in ecology. These students include many talented young men and women from underrepresented groups who have now gone on to higher degrees in science. Blandy Experimental Farm is also home to the State Arboretum of Virginia and has thriving K-12 and other public programs, all with an environmental science focus. These programs build from the expertise and discoveries created in Blandy's research program. For example, all Blandy undergraduate researchers spend a morning presenting some aspect of their research to children attending a summer nature camp at Blandy. The relationships that have developed in the K-12 program have made it relatively easy to identify and recruit local teachers into NSF-supported programs for teacher training, and most of these teachers have required greenhouse space for their projects. Blandy has also frequently served as a source for research experience for high school students, and almost all of these students have worked on projects in the greenhouse.