Undergraduate laboratories in Environmental Sciences: Environmental Analysis and Monitoring in an Urban Setting

该项目正在开发创新的实验室练习， 科学和非科学专业的学生参与一个跨学科的 在环境研究中。 补助资金支持 原子吸收分光光度计 石墨炉和扫描分光光度计。 这些 仪器是实验室的关键组成部分， 检查和分析的土壤，水，和植被的 查尔斯河流域在城市和郊区波士顿。 实验 向学生介绍科学方法的本质， 一种非传统的方法--实地和实验室 数据的获取和解释，而不是 建成“示范”型实验室。每个实验 包括四个部分：实验设计、现场 观察和样本采集、实验室准备和 分析和数据解释。 第一年的重点 是为两个学期的自然科学开发实验 非科学专业和环境专业的顺序 生物学课程是生物学专业的核心课程之一， 环境科学专业。 一本实验室手册 正在制作的序列可以作为一个模型， 类似的节目。 该设备还用于支持 实验练习和独立研究的修改 环境科学、生物学和 地质学。

This project is developing innovative laboratory exercises for science and non-science majors involved in an interdisciplinary program in Environmental Studies. Grant funds are supporting the purchase of an atomic absorption spectrometer with heated graphite furnace and a scanning spectrophotometer. These instruments are key components of laboratories built around the examination and analysis of soils, water, and vegetation of the Charles River Basin in urban and suburban Boston. Experiments introduce students to the nature of the scientific method with a non-traditional approach--the field and laboratory acquisition and interpretation of data, rather than the completion of "demonstration" type labs. Each experiment includes four components: experimental design, field observation and sample collection, laboratory preparation and analysis, and data interpretation. Emphasis in the first year is on developing experiments for a two semester natural science sequence for non-science majors and for an Environmental Biology course which is one of the core courses for the Environmental Science major. A laboratory manual for both sequences is being produced which can be used as a model for similar programs. The equipment also is being used to support the modification of laboratory exercises and independent study projects for majors in Environmental Science, Biology, and Geology.