"Instructional Equipment to Support Undergraduate Field Studies in Aquatic Microbiology"

本系水生微生物学项目为两年制大学生提供进行高质量野外工作所需的机会、指导和设备。南伊利诺斯州（以及整个中西部）最重要的资源之一是丰富的水资源。该项目通过将学生的经验集中在水生生态系统的微生物上，以这些资源为目标。这个项目的最初工作开始于1987年夏天，增加了两门新课程：野外生物学和生物科学研究。这一课程的增加，加上新设备的购买，代表了教师们将课堂与生物世界联系起来的决心和承诺。为了支持这个项目，美国国家科学基金会资助购买了一架高质量的显微镜，包括相对比、荧光和显微摄影配件，以及一艘小型多功能船，船上装有采样湖泊和水库沉积物的设备。随着这些设备的增加，水生微生物学学生将有机会将实地工作的兴奋和动力与进行合理科学探究的经验结合起来。参加这些课程的学生主要是那些期待在科学相关领域完成学士学位的大学四年转学课程的学生。通过这些学生经常向当地高中班级和社区成人团体提交的报告，该项目还有助于提高公众对科学的理解，提高大学预科学生对科学事业的兴趣。受资助机构将从非联邦来源获得等额的NSF奖励。

This department's aquatic microbiology project provides two-year college students with the opportunity, instruction, and equipment necessary to conduct quality field work. One of the great resources of Southern Illinois (and all of the Midwest) is the abundance of water. This project targets these resources by focusing student experiences on the microorganisms of aquatic ecosystems. Initial work on this project began during the summer of 1987 with the addition of two new courses: Field Biology, and Research in Biological Science. This curriculum addition, combined with new equipment purchases, represents the faculty's determination and commitment to link the classroom with the world of living organisms. To support this project the NSF award has financed the purchase of a quality microscope with phase contrast, epifluorescence and photomicrographic accessories, as well as a small utility boat with equipment for sampling lake and reservoir sediments. With these equipment additions, the aquatic microbiology students are being given an opportunity to combine the excitement and motivation of field work with experience in conducting sound scientific inquiry. Students enrolled in these courses are largely those in the college's four-year transfer program who look forward to completing the baccalaureate in a science-related field. Through reports by these students often presented to local high school classes and to community adult groups, the project also contributes to better public understanding of science and to increased pre-college student interest in science careers. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.