FSML: Enhancing research support infrastructure at the University of Kansas Field Station

堪萨斯大学野外研究站（KUFS）在实地研究方面有着丰富的历史，并为北美东部落叶林和高草草原地区之间的过渡带提供了越来越多的新研究、教学和推广机会。将会发展一个新的研究支援设施，以配合库务局迅速发展的实地环境研究和教育。RSF将允许更换过度拥挤和老化的车间设施，提供足够的空间和设备以适应不断增长的样品处理和存储需求，并为常驻和访问科学家提供项目暂存区。RSF还将提供土壤处理和土壤灭菌设施的新能力，以支持来自堪萨斯大学和其他地方的越来越多的合作研究人员，他们专注于土壤生物学和土壤微生物与植物的相互作用。RSF与其他现有KUFS设施的集成将允许集中操作并提高内部和外部用户的效率。这些改进将建立在KUFS正在进行的强大的外部资助研究项目的基础上，支持新的研究计划，促进教育产品，并提高KUFS研究和教育参与者的安全性。建设拟议的RSF是KUFS更大愿景的一个特点，以吸引来自世界各地的更多学生和研究人员利用我们的世界级平台。一个新的研究支持设施（RSF）将适应堪萨斯大学野外站（KUFS: https://biosurvey.ku.edu/field-station）迅速扩大的实地研究和教育活动。RSF的发展将包括建造一个新的研究支持大楼，翻新和重新利用一个陈旧的车间大楼，购买通用设备，并安装将这两座大楼与其他现场站设施相结合的功能，并提高安全性。新建筑将包括：一个新的车间和制造空间；项目暂存区；土壤灭菌预备区；“粗”样品加工区；“洁净仪器室”，以及灵活的研究项目和实地课程空间。改造后的结构将适应样品处理的季节性需求，包括样品干燥和冷藏、储存和多用途空间。将安装防风棚、消火栓和其他提高现场用户安全的设施。这些设施的改善，将满足库教所的住校学者和访问学者对实地研究和教育机会日益增长的需求。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The University of Kansas Field Station (KUFS) has a rich history of field-based research, and provides a growing variety of opportunities for novel research, teaching, and outreach within the ecotone between the eastern deciduous forest and tallgrass prairie regions of North America. A new Research Support Facility (RSF) will be developed to accommodate rapidly growing, field-based environmental research and education at KUFS. The RSF will allow replacement of over-crowded and ageing workshop facilities, provide adequate space and equipment to accommodate growing sample processing and storage needs, and provide project staging areas for resident and visiting scientists. The RSF will also provide new capacity with a soil processing and soil sterilization facility to support a growing cadre of collaborative researchers from KU and elsewhere focused on soil biology and soil microbe-plant interactions. Integration of the RSF with other existing KUFS facilities will allow centralization of operations and increase efficiency for internal and external users. These enhancements will build upon the strong, externally-funded research programs underway at KUFS, support new research initiatives, facilitate educational offerings, and enhance safety for KUFS research and education participants. Construction of the proposed RSF is one feature of a larger vision of the KUFS to attract a greater diversity of students and researchers from around the globe to utilize our world-class platform.A new Research Support Facility (RSF) will accommodate rapidly expanding field-based research and education activity at the University of Kansas Field Station (KUFS: https://biosurvey.ku.edu/field-station ). Development of the RSF will include construction of a new research support building, renovation and repurposing of an antiquated workshop building, acquisition of general use equipment, and installation of features that integrate the two buildings with the rest of the field station facilities, and enhance safety. The new building will include: a new workshop and fabrication space; project staging areas; soil sterilization and preparation area; "rough" sample processing areas; "clean instrumentation room", and flexible spaces for research projects and field-based classes. The renovated structure will accommodate seasonal demands for sample processing including sample drying and refrigeration, storage, and multi-purpose space. Storm shelters, a fire hydrant, and other elements to enhance safety for site users will be installed. These enhancements to KUFS facilities will accommodate growing demands by resident and visiting scholars at KUFS for field-based research and education opportunities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.