MRI: Acquisition of an SEM-EDS System: Advancing Scientific Discovery and Student Scientific Inquiry in Rural Illinois

西伊利诺伊大学将获得一台带有能量色散探测器的扫描电子显微镜，用于地质、化学、生物科学和人类学的研究和本科教育。研究范围从非生物材料的基础研究到需要高倍观察的生物体。电子显微镜系统也将被整合到本科生和研究生的培训中，这些本科生和研究生是西伊利诺伊州研究激励学生（RISE）计划的一部分，为他们提供最先进的观察和分析工具的重要经验。电子显微镜系统也将用于合作推广项目，以帮助将有意义的科学体验带到伊利诺伊州农村的中小学教室。该项目将使西伊利诺伊大学（WIU）获得带有EDS（能量色散x射线）的SEM（扫描电子显微镜），该设备的可用性将有助于推进伊利诺伊州西部一个小型农村机构的积极研究项目，范围从无机材料的基础研究到植物和微生物之间复杂的共生关系。具体的研究项目包括研究1)脊椎动物腐烂和保存的因素和过程；2)无机材料的合成、结构和性质；3)蛤虾的进化和化石保存的过程；4)岩浆混合事件的深层过程；5)无脊椎动物的摄食形态；6)洞穴中独特岩层的微生物作用。7)植物与真菌的相互作用和微生物对极端条件的适应。来自科学和科学教育的学生将在课堂上和通过个人研究项目（作为威斯康星大学研究激励学生（RISE）计划提供的机会的一部分）接触到这种现代化设备。

Western Illinois University will acquire a Scanning Electron Microscope with an Energy-Dispersive detector for research and undergraduate education in the Departments of Geology, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Anthropology. Research ranges from basic study of non-biologic materials to organisms that require high magnification to observe. The electron microscope system will also be integrated in the training of undergraduate and graduate students who are part of Western Illinois' Research Inspiring Student (RISE) program, giving them important experience with state-of-the-art observational and analytical tools. The electron microscope system will be used as well in a cooperative outreach program to help bring meaningful scientific experiences to primary and secondary classrooms in rural Illinois. This project will enable Western Illinois University (WIU) to acquire an SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) with EDS (energy dispersive X-ray), The availability of this equipment will help advance active research programs at a small rural institution in western Illinois that range from the basic study of inorganic materials to complex symbiotic associations between plants and microorganisms. The specific research projects include studying 1) factors and processes involved in decay and preservation of vertebrates, 2) synthesis, structure, and properties of inorganic materials, 3) evolution of clam shrimp and the processes involved in fossil preservation, 4) deep processes involved in magmatic mixing events, 5) feeding morphology in invertebrates, 6) microbial involvement in the unique rock formations found within caves, and 7) plant-fungal interactions and microbial adaptations to extreme conditions. Students, both from the sciences and science education, will be exposed to this modern equipment in their classes and through individual research projects as part of the opportunities offered by the Research Inspiring Student (RISE) program at WIU.