Acquisition of a FEI Quanta 400 Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope with Oxford E400 EDS in Support of Research and Training in the Life and Physical Sciences

西切斯特大学的John T. Beneski博士获得了一笔资金，用于购买一台带有EDS系统的环境扫描电子显微镜。西切斯特大学增加这些设备将大大增加我们的教师和学生的研究机会（特别是在科学领域），增强我们吸引来自最广泛背景的新学生的能力，增强我们培养学生最先进的市场技能的能力，并为我们的教师和学生提供与当地生物技术相关产业高科技走廊的科学家合作的新机会。新的电子显微镜将被生物、地质、天文、化学等系的师生广泛使用，以研究各种各样的问题，包括：(1)苔藓植物的分类研究；(2)泌尿系脊椎动物尿球的形成、结构、组成和生理；(3)对从古代（250万年及更早）表面灭菌盐晶体中分离出的各种嗜盐细菌的检测；(4)中白垩世海洋环流动力学。贝内斯基博士将通过积极推动独立的学生研究项目和实习，为学生提供更多的机会。除了研究和培训之外，新的SEM/EDS将被用作吸引来自传统和非传统背景的新科学专业学生的招聘工具。为了实现这一目标，贝内斯基博士将扩大实践演示和参观，展示先进科学成像中心可用的成像技术；这些示范和参观是向定期访问大学的潜在学生展示的，作为现有项目的一部分，目标是地区高中，转学生和服务不足的群体。西切斯特大学在提供最先进的成像技术和资源方面的持续增长不仅满足了我们的教师和学生在科学方面的当前和未来的需求，它也反映了宾夕法尼亚州和宾夕法尼亚州高等教育系统对科学和技术的日益重视。这两所大学都希望西切斯特大学能招收和培养更多的理工科学生。获得所要求的设备是西切斯特大学先进科学成像中心作为研究和研究培训的关键资源继续发展的关键一步。

Abstract A grant has been awarded to Dr. John T. Beneski at West Chester University to purchase an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope with an EDS system. The addition of this equipment to West Chester University will significantly increase the research opportunities for our faculty and students (particularly in the sciences), enhance our ability to attract new students from the widest diversity of backgrounds, enhance our ability to train students in state-of-the-art marketable skills, and provide new opportunities for our faculty and students to collaborate with scientists from the local high-tech corridor of biotechnology-related industries.The new electron microscope will be used extensively by faculty and students in the Departments of Biology, Geology & Astronomy, and Chemistry to investigate a wide variety of problems including: (1) a taxonomic investigation of bryophytes; (2) the formation, structure, composition, and physiology of urine spheres in uricotelic vertebrates; (3) the examination of various halophilic bacteria isolated from ancient (250 mya and older) surface sterilized salt crystals; and (4) the dynamics of Mid-Cretaceous ocean circulation. Dr. Beneski will provide additional opportunities for students by actively promoting independent student research projects and internships. In addition to research and training, the new SEM/EDS will be used as a recruitment tool for attracting new science majors from both traditional and non-traditional backgrounds. To accomplish this, Dr. Beneski will expand the hands-on demonstrations and tours that showcase the imaging technologies available in the Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging; these demonstrations and tours are presented to the potential students that regularly visit the University as part of existing programs targeting area high schools, transfer students, and underserved groups.West Chester University's continued growth in providing state-of-the-art imaging technologies and resources not only serves the immediate and future needs of our faculty and students in the sciences, it also mirrors a growing emphasis on the sciences and technology by the State of Pennsylvania and PA State System of Higher Education. Both of these institutions expect West Chester University to recruit and train more students in the sciences and technology. The acquisition of the requested equipment is a critical step in the continued development of Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging as a key resource for research and research training at West Chester University.