MRI: Acquisition of an Infrared Microscope for Research Expansion and Training in the Earth Sciences

该奖项支持在沙漠研究所（DRI）购买显微镜支持的傅里叶变换红外光谱仪，用于DRI/内华达州大学，里诺本科生和研究生的研究扩展和培训。红外显微镜提供了有机和无机化合物分子结构的基本信息，并且是非破坏性的和通用的。该仪器将用于推进至少两个研究领域的知识：1）识别环境样品中的微塑料（塑料颗粒5毫米）; 2）从沉积木炭沉积物中重建过去的野火温度。这种研究将通过进一步测试新的应用、现场和实验室方法，有可能改变科学界。此外，早期职业和经验丰富的教师团队及其学生将使用红外显微镜来推进地球科学中各种应用的知识，包括考古学，沉积学，气候变化，人类对环境影响的评估和古气候。本科生和研究生将通过研究经验和教学机会参与使用该仪器的实践培训。显微镜支持的傅里叶变换红外光谱仪将支持DRI的广泛研究和教育机会。红外显微镜将用于识别环境样品中的微塑料，进一步研究微塑料的现场和实验室采样方法，开发聚合物类型的时空数据集，并评估塑料/生物相互作用。此外，该仪器还将进一步测试红外显微镜在确定美国西部沉积木炭野火燃烧温度方面的应用。这些研究领域具有以下意义：1）识别微塑料污染源; 2）将现代野火观察置于过去野火的背景下。通过这些项目，该仪器将加强地球科学领域的研究，并为访问研究人员和学生提供实践培训。红外显微镜将为早期职业团队和经验丰富的教师提供最先进的研究工具，以建立新的研究领域并扩大合作。该奖项反映了NSF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。

This award supports the acquisition of a microscope-enabled Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy instrument at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), for research expansion and training of DRI/University of Nevada, Reno undergraduate and graduate students. Infrared microscopy provides fundamental information on the molecular structure of organic and inorganic compounds and is both non-destructive and versatile. This instrument will be used to advance knowledge for at least two areas of research: 1) identification of microplastics (plastic particulates 5 mm) in environmental samples; and 2) reconstruction of past wildfire temperatures from sedimentary charcoal deposits. Such research will potentially transform the scientific community through further testing of new applications, field, and laboratory methodologies. In addition, the team of early career and experienced faculty and their students will use the infrared microscope to advance knowledge for various applications in the earth sciences including archaeology, sedimentology, climate change, assessment of human impacts to the environment, and paleoclimate. Undergraduate and graduate students will be engaged in hands-on training using this instrument through research experiences and teaching opportunities.The microscope-enabled Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy instrument will support a wide range of research and educational opportunities at DRI. The infrared microscope will be used for the identification of microplastics in environmental samples, to further field and laboratory sampling methodologies for microplastics, development of a spatiotemporal dataset of polymer types, and to assess plastic/biotic interactions. In addition, this instrument will further test the application of infrared microscopy for determining wildfire combustion temperature from western U.S. sedimentary charcoal. These areas of research have implications for: 1) the identification of microplastic pollution sources and 2) placing modern wildfire observations in the context of past wildfires. Through these projects, the instrument will enhance research in areas of the Earth sciences and enable hands-on training to visiting researchers and students. The infrared microscope will provide the team of early career and experienced faculty with a state-of-the-art research tool necessary to establish new areas of research and to broaden collaborations.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.