RIMI: Strengthening Research and Training in Environmental Science

该项目概述了在跨学科环境研究与培训中心（CERT）的支持下，加强阿拉巴马农工大学环境科学项目的计划。重点将放在解决几个水质问题的研究上，同时特别强调提出一种机制，以增加少数民族本科生进入环境科学专业。为了实现这些目标，提出了四个目标。目的1侧重于有毒重金属与矿物表面的相互作用。在无机阴离子的影响下，有毒金属与土壤和纯粘土矿物表面（吸附/解吸/沉淀）的相互作用机制将被一并研究。目的2研究土壤性质对渗透带挥发性有机物迁移的影响。在这里，将研究选定的土壤性质对两种常见挥发性有机污染物迁移的影响。目的3提出了土壤物理、化学和水文性质对有机污染物在渗透带迁移的影响研究。利用田间数据和模型对大孔隙对农药向下运移的影响进行评价。最后，目标4提出了一种促进少数民族学生进入环境科学的方法。特别强调的是环境科学本科学生的入学。

This project outlines a plan to enhance the Environmental Science Program at Alabama A&M University under the aegis of an interdisciplinary Center of Environmental Research and Training (CERT). Emphasis will be given to research addressing several water quality issues coupled with special emphasis on a mechanism proposed to increase entry of minority undergraduate students in environmental science specializations. In attempt to achieve these goals, four objectives ar presented. Objective 1 focuses on toxic heavy metals interaction with mineral surfaces. Mechanisms of toxic metals interactions with soil and pure clay mineral surfaces (sorption/desorption/precipitation) as affected by inorganic anion will be investigated in tandem. Objective 2 deals with research on soil property effects on volatile organic compound migration in the vadose zone. Here, the impact of selected soil properties on the migration of two common volatile organic contaminants will be investigated. Objective 3 proposes research on soil physical, chemical and hydrologic properties effects on organic contaminant transport in the vadose zone. the downward movement of pesticide as influenced by macropores will be evaluated using field data and modeling. Finally, objective 4 presents a method to facilitate the entry of minority students in the environmental sciences. Special emphasis is placed on the entry of undergraduate students in environmental science.