Quantitative Measurement and Analysis Laboratory for Undergraduates

该项目正在开发一个用户友好的测量和分析实验室，为马歇尔大学的教师指导和本科生研究项目提供极大的灵活性。马歇尔大学是一所以本科生为主的机构。在科学界，越来越重要的是详细量化结构和有机体之间的差异。随着新仪器和更强大的计算机和软件的发展，超越对变化的单纯定性描述的能力是可能的。这些新的形态测量技术已经被开发用于一些机构(例如杜克大学和纽约州立大学石溪分校)的研究生学习，然而，该项目的目标是首次将杜克大学和纽约州立大学的实验室设施和练习应用于本科教学。目前我们的教学努力中缺少的是以严格的方式测量和分析科学标本的能力。我们一直无法将详细的结构测量和分析纳入我们的许多实验室练习和独立研究项目。该项目通过获得各种测量设备来纠正这些情况，允许对可变大小的样品进行二维和三维分析。使用数字卡尺、数字化平板电脑、双目显微镜，或通过摄像机取帧或我们最近购买的扫描电子和共焦显微镜获得的图像并导入适当的软件系统，就可以进行二维测量。学生还将能够使用3D数字化平板电脑进行三维测量，或者当需要更高精度时，使用激光数字化系统Surveyor 810或VoxBlast成像软件。此外，计算机设施允许学生进行图像分析、定量和统计评估、图形表示和幻灯片演示。本科生在入门和高级实验室练习中都会接触到这项技术。实验室练习被纳入五门非专业和专业的入门课程。此外，该实验室还用于几门高级课程，包括一门新的科学量化和分析课程。从事科学研究的本科生越来越多地可以使用这种设备。根据Capstone的高级论文要求，必须扩大学生进行独立研究的机会，测量/分析实验室为复杂的问题解决提供宝贵的工具。

This project is developing a user-friendly measurement and analysis laboratory with tremendous flexibility for faculty instruction and undergraduate student research projects at Marshall University, a predominantly undergraduate institution. Increasingly important in the scientific community is detailed quantification of variation among and between structures and organisms. With the development of new instrumentation and more powerful computers and software, the ability to go beyond mere qualitative descriptions of variation is possible. These new morphometric techniques have been developed for graduate studies at a few institutions (e.g., Duke University and SUNY Stony Brook), however, the goal of this project is, for the first known time, to adapt the laboratory facilities and exercises from Duke and SUNY for undergraduate instruction. Currently missing from our instructional efforts is the ability to measure and analyze scientific specimens in a rigorous manner. We have been unable to incorporate detailed structural measurement and analyses into many of our laboratory exercises and independent study projects. This project rectifies these situations by obtaining various measurement devices, permitting both 2- and 3- dimensional analyses of variable-sized specimens. Two-dimensional measurement will be possible with digital calipers, digitizing tablets, binocular microscopes, or by images obtained from either video camera frame-grabbing or our recently purchased Scanning Electron and Confocal microscopes and imported into appropriate software systems. Students will also be able to make three-dimensional measurements with either 3D digitizing tablets, or when more precision is needed, the laser digitizing system Surveyor 810 or VoxBlast imaging software. Additionally, computer facilities permit image analysis, quantitative and statistical evaluation, graphic representation, and slide presentations to be conducted by the students. Undergraduates encounter this technology in both introductory and advanced laboratory exercises. Laboratory exercises are incorporated into five of the non-majors and majors introductory courses. In addition, the lab is used in several upper-division courses, including a new course in scientific quantification and analysis. This equipment is available to the ever-growing number of undergraduates involved in scientific research. With the Capstone senior thesis requirements, student opportunities for independent research must be expanded, and the measurement/analysis laboratory provides invaluable tools for sophisticated problem-solving.