MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis System

该合同为购买变压扫描电子显微镜（VPSEM）和能量色散光谱仪（EDS）提供资金。这些仪器将被放置在斯基德莫尔显微成像中心，一个共享使用的设施，服务于生物学，化学，人类学和地球科学的教师和学生的研究和培训需求。这些仪器将用于各种项目，其中包括：分析湿地生物膜中发现的绿色藻类细胞外基质的结构和发展;研究天然和合成粘土与包裹的金属离子、金属络合物或金属酶的结构和元素组成;热带鱿鱼肠组织中发现的共生细菌生物膜的发展研究;对dacryoconarid化石的鉴定和生物无机分析;对在哈德逊和莫霍克河谷发现的具有考古学重要性的燧石文物进行结构和元素分析。 除了他们在研究中的作用，这些仪器将用于提高完善的师生合作研究的机会，并丰富学习几个先进的显微镜课程。他们还将发现在几个推广计划，包括斯基德莫尔科学研究所的女孩，以及当地高中教师和大学教师之间的合作努力，涉及斯基德莫尔显微成像中心的使用。该机构将提供必要的资金，以确保该文书在整个使用寿命期间有效和持续运作。

This award provides funds for the acquisition of a Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope (VPSEM) and an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). These instruments will be placed in the Skidmore Microscopy Imaging Center, a shared use facility serving the research and training needs of faculty and students in Biology, Chemistry, Anthropology and Geosciences. The instruments will be used in a variety of projects, including the following: analysis of the structure and development of the extracellular matrix of green algae found in wetland biofilms; studies of the structure and elemental composition of natural and synthetic clays with encapsulated metal ions, metal complexes, or metalloenzymes; developmental studies of symbiotic bacterial biofilms found in intestinal tissues of tropical squid; identification and bioinorganic analyses of dacryoconarid fossils; textural and elemental analyses of chert artifacts found in the Hudson and Mohawk River valleys that have archeological importance. In addition to their role in research, the instruments will be used to enhance well-established student-faculty collaborative research opportunities and to enrich learning in several advanced microscopy-courses. They will also find use in several outreach programs including the Skidmore Science Institute for Girls, and collaborative efforts between faculty of local high schools and college faculty that involve the Skidmore Microscopy Imaging Center. The Institution will provide funds needed to assure the effective and continuing operation of this instrument throughout its useful life.