Acquisition of a Spectral Confocal Microscope: Teaching and Research Explorations in Biological Sciences in an Undergraduate College Setting

奖项摘要9977366 barbara BeltzWellesley学院获得光谱共聚焦显微镜：本科院校生物科学教学与研究探索共聚焦显微镜是解剖学、生理学、生物化学和分子技术的交汇点。因此，激光显微镜正迅速成为生物技术领域的核心设备，是各院系为追求卓越的教学和研究设施而应配备的标准设备。该奖项将为韦尔斯利学院生物科学系购买一台徕卡TCS SP光谱共聚焦显微镜。这台显微镜是对我们下一代学生的重要投资。Wellesley在女性科学家教育方面卓有成效的记录，以及它最近在吸引更多代表性不足的少数民族进入科学领域方面取得的进展，预示着这一工具对研究培训的持续影响。韦尔斯利学院的主要任务是为女性提供本科教育。这一承诺在传统上女性代表性不足的科学领域具有特殊意义。在生物科学系，12名常任全职教师在教学和研究方面保持着很高的水平。绝大多数教师都有校外资金支持生产性研究项目，这些项目也以培养本科生为重点。因此，共聚焦显微镜不仅会对研究训练产生影响，而且还会改善我们大部分教师的研究环境。本申请中描述的7个项目代表了各种各样的生物研究方法：原核系统的研究；细胞生理学（哺乳动物细胞培养中的凋亡）；脊椎动物和无脊椎动物系统的神经科学；植物细胞生理学（拟南芥细胞骨架）。因此，共聚焦显微镜的收购将影响该系广泛的教师和本科生研究学生，以及韦尔斯利学院生物科学系课程中的特定课程。

Award Abstract9977366Barbara BeltzWellesley CollegeAcquisition of a Spectral Confocal Microscope: Teaching and Research Explorations in Biological Sciences in an Undergraduate College settingConfocal Microscopy is poised at the interface between anatomical, physiological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. The laser microscope therefore is rapidly becoming a centerpiece in biological technology, and instrument that should be included as standard equipment for departments striving toward excellent teaching and research facilities. With this award, a Leica TCS SP Spectral Confocal Microscope will be purchased for the Biological Sciences Department at Wellesley College. This microscope is a critical investment in our next generation of students. Wellesley's productive record in education of women scientists, along with its recent progress in attracting more underrepresented minorities to the sciences, bodes well for the sustained impact on this instrument on research training.The primary mission at Wellesley College is the undergraduate education of women. This commitment has taken on a special meaning in the sciences where women have traditionally been underrepresented. In the Biological Sciences Department, the permanent full-time faculty of 12 members maintains high standards for both teaching and research. The vast majority of faculty has extramural funding that supports productive research programs that also are focused on training undergraduate students. Therefore, the confocal microscope will not only have an impact on research training, but will also enhance the research environment for a high proportion of our faculty.The 7 projects that are described in this application represent a wide variety of approaches to biological research: studies of prokaryotic systems; cell physiology (apoptosis in mammalian cell cultures); neurosciences in both vertebrate and invertebrate systems; cell physiology in plants (Arabidopsis cytoskeleton). The acquisition of the confocal microscope will therefore impact a broad base of faculty and undergraduate research students in the department, as well as specific courses in the curriculum at Wellesley College Biological Sciences Department.