MRI: Acquisition of a Malvern Particle Size Analyzer for Interdisciplinary Research and Undergraduate Education and Research Training

EAR-2116744拉森该重大研究仪器(MRI)计划奖支持购买自动粒度分析仪，以支持西方学院地质系和生物系的研究和研究培训，西方学院是一家非博士授予机构。粒度分析与自然科学中的许多学科相关，有助于阐明过去导致湖泊、海洋和岩化沉积物中记录的沉积记录的地球表面环境条件和物理过程。粒度分析也与对土壤和沉积物中影响人类健康和生物活性的矿物气溶胶的研究有关。该设备将支持该本科拉美裔服务机构的地质学和生物学方面的学生研究培训。将获得基于激光衍射的粒度分析仪，并用于支持研究调查员和学生的研究，这些研究将包括识别和表征美国西部地震敏感湖泊中的地震造成的浊流沉积，构建北极和高山环境中气候和冰川动力学的连续记录，评估气候和人类驱动北极景观变化的相对作用，研究由于人为压力而发生在浅海生态系统中的海洋生物侵蚀和溶解过程，这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

EAR-2116744LarsenThis Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program award supports acquisition of automated particle size analyzer to support research and research training in the Geology and Biology Departments at Occidental College, a non-Ph.D. granting institution. Grain size analysis is relevant to many disciplines within the natural sciences helping to elucidate past surface Earth environmental conditions and physical processes that led to the sedimentary record recorded in lake, ocean, and lithified sediments. Grain size analysis is also pertinent to studies of mineral aerosols that impact human health and biological activity in soils and sediments. The equipment will support student research training in Geology and Biology at this undergraduate Hispanic Serving Institution.A laser diffraction based particle size analyzer will be acquired and used to support research investigator and students research that will include identifying and characterizing earthquake-generated turbidite deposits in seismically-sensitive lakes in the western US, constructing continuous records of climate and glacier dynamics in Arctic and alpine environments, assessing the relative roles of climate and human drivers of Arctic landscape change, studies of marine bioerosion and dissolution processes occurring in shallow coastal ecosystems as a result of anthropogenic stressors, and studies of soil geochemistry and plant-soil interactions.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.