Enhancement of the Undergraduate Science Curriculum at Hamilton College through the Addition of an X-Ray Microanalytical System

将购置一个具有图像增强和处理能力的定量X射线显微分析系统，以增加现有扫描电子显微镜的分析和化学测绘能力。我们的目标是让学生接触到地质和生物标本分析的现代技术，提高我们的教学能力，并加强我们的本科生研究计划。我们要求的具体仪器是EDAX MX10 X射线系统。该系统由一个与Macintosh Power PC微处理器接口的能量色散光谱仪和数字成像软件组成。该系统将安装在生物系现有的Amray扫描电子显微镜上。在汉密尔顿学院的科学课程中增加这一设备将使我们能够：i)将目前半学期的课程扩展到整个学期的课程，并在课程中增加X射线显微分析；ii)显著改进实验室和课堂练习，包括入门课程和高级课程；iii)使学生的论文研究和自主学习项目现代化并得到改进。增加设备的意义将是提高学生对科学研究的兴趣，并为学生提供实践经验，使用研究生水平的研究和工业中使用的最先进的设备和技术。鼓励学生在专业会议上展示独立研究项目的成果。此外，联合PIS将通过汉密尔顿学院电子显微镜实验室的WWW网站向教育/科学界提供从这笔赠款开发的教学材料。

A quantitative X-ray microanalysis system with image enhancement and processing capabilities will be acquired to add analytical and chemical mapping capabilities to an existing scanning electron microscope. Our goal is to expose students to modern techniques in the analysis of geological and biological specimens, improve our instructional capabilities, and strengthen our program of undergraduate research. The specific instrumentation we request is an EDAX MX10 X-ray system. The system consists of an energy dispersive spectrometer interfaced to a Macintosh Power PC microprocessor with digital imaging software. This system will be attached to the Biology Department's existing AMRAY scanning electron microscope. The addition of this equipment to the science curriculum at Hamilton College will allow: i) us to expand the current one-half semester course to a full semester course with the addition of X-ray microanalysis to the curriculum; ii) for considerable improvement in laboratory and in-class exercises in both introductory and upper level courses; and iii) modernization and improvement of student thesis research and independent study projects. The significance of this equipment addition will be to enhance student interest in scientific research, and to provide students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques used in both graduate level research and industry. Students will be encouraged to present the results of independent research projects at professional conferences. In addition, the co-PIs will make the instructional materials developed from this grant available to the educational/scientific community through the Hamilton College Electron Microscope lab's WWW-site.