Modernization of the Plant Science Facility at California State University, Northridge

加州州立大学北岭分校生物系是ARI计划的资金接受者，该计划用于翻新和改善其植物科学设施。由于四个温室、一个主楼和一个辅楼的陈旧性质，教员的研究项目近年来受到严重阻碍，本科生的研究培训机会也受到了限制。这与该机构的长期目标背道而驰，即支持教师研究，鼓励在植物科学方面的卓越表现，同时为学生带来专业知识和洞察力，并鼓励少数族裔学生在该学科从事职业。目前，该设施有5名教职员工、10名研究生和11名本科生研究人员。主题涵盖从植物生态和进化到生理学。此外，该设施还用于植物系统学、植物形态学、野外植物学以及种群和群落生态学的研究培训。在四个温室内，翻新将包括更新环境系统和控制装置以及植物实验室固定装置。将更新头顶照明设备，以便为植物提供更多补充光线。将在总房和温室内安装现代液体肥料混合和管道系统，以方便维护大量植物物种。在总校设立的用于实验的长凳和储藏柜将进行更新，以提高效率，并允许残疾教师和学生进入。辅助楼将进行翻新，以提供一个大型受控环境生长室，使大型实验能够在精确的光照和温度条件下进行。随着翻修工程解决了环境控制问题，教职员工将能够在目前不可行的水平上进行研究。由于研究培训和经验的改善，预计从事研究的学生人数将会增加，从而鼓励他们攻读研究生课程。

The Department of Biology at California State University Northridge is the recipient of funds from the ARI Program to renovate and improve its plant sciences facilities. Because of the antiquated nature of four greenhouses, a Head-house, and an Auxiliary building, faculty research projects have been severely hampered in recent years, and research training opportunities for undergraduates have been curtailed. This has countermanded the long-standing goals of the institution to support faculty research, encourage excellence in the plant sciences while bringing expertise and insight to students, and encourage minority students for careers in the discipline. Currently five faculty members, 10 graduate, and 11 undergraduate researchers are engaged in research at the facility. Topics range from plant ecology and evolution to physiology. In addition, the facility is used for research training in Plant Systematic, Plant Morphology, Field Botany, and Population and Community Ecology. Within the four greenhouses, renovations will consist of updating the environmental systems and controls and plant laboratory fixtures. Overhead lighting fixtures will be updated to allow more supplemental light for plants. A modern liquid fertilizer mixing and plumbing system will be installed in the Head-house and greenhouses, facilitating the upkeep of large collections of plant species. Benches and storage cabinets used for experiment set up in the Head-house will be updated to improve efficiency, and to allow access by physically challenged faculty and students. The Auxiliary building will be renovated to provide a large controlled environmental growth chamber, which will allow large experiments to be conducted under precise lighting and temperature conditions. With the environmental control problems resolved by the renovations, faculty will be able to conduct research at a level that is currently not feasible. It is anticipated that the number of students doing research will increase, as a result of improved research training and experiences, thus encouraging them to pursue graduate studies.