Collaborative Research: An Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer for Biogeoscience Research and Teaching at the University of New Orleans and Tulane University

在威廉·西蒙斯博士的指导下，新奥尔良大学和杜兰大学获得了一笔赠款，用于部分支持用于生物地球科学研究和教育的同位素比质谱仪(IRMS)设施。稳定同位素测量提供了关于地球的关键信息，这些信息是任何其他方法都无法获得的，对于回答生物地球科学中的基本问题是必要的。新奥尔良大学和杜兰大学的研究人员目前在他们的研究项目中使用碳、氮、氧和S的稳定同位素，但由于缺乏当地的IRMS设施，这些测量不得不依赖州外的实验室。UNO/杜兰IRMS设施将用于高精度测量氮、氧、二氧化碳、一氧化碳、氧化氮和二氧化硫的稳定同位素比率。将受益于IRMS设施的研究项目涉及流域科学、古气候调查、食物网研究和热带生态学领域的一系列基本和应用问题。对路易斯安那州南部逆转海岸侵蚀和保护湿地的计划进行科学评估，通过提供有关生态系统动态和元素在环境中移动的关键信息，将从这一新设施中受益匪浅。除了促进研究项目外，IRMS还将加强对联合国大学和杜兰大学本科生和研究生的培训。几门高年级和研究生级别的课程现在将把质谱学纳入现场和实验室练习中。联合国组织的特殊教育倡议，包括由国家科学基金会资助的加强环境生物学领域代表性不足的少数群体的计划(UMEB)，将利用IRMS作为一种招聘工具和培训设施。除了提供对许多研究项目的成功至关重要的工具外，IRMS设施还将促进新奥尔良主要私立大学和公立大学之间的合作；这些大学为来自生物地质科学中代表性较低群体的学生和早期职业科学家提供服务。IRMS系统将是一个共享设施，有利于联合国大学和杜兰大学以及路易斯安那州其他大学的研究和教学活动。

A grant has been awarded to the University of New Orleans and Tulane University under the direction for Dr. William Simmons for partial support of an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) facility for biogeoscience research and education. Stable isotope measurements provide critical information about the earth that is unobtainable by any other means and that is necessary to answer fundamental questions in the biogeosciences. Researchers at the University of New Orleans (UNO) and Tulane University are currently using stable isotopes of C, N, O and S in their research programs, but due to lack of a local IRMS facility, have to rely on out-of-state laboratories for these measurements. The UNO/Tulane IRMS facility will be used for high precision measurement of stable isotope ratios on N2, O2, CO2, CO, N2O and SO2. The research projects that will benefit from the IRMS facility address a broad suite of basic and applied problems in the fields of watershed science, paleoclimate investigation, foodweb study and tropical ecology. Scientific assessment of programs to reverse coastal erosion and preserve wetlands in southern Louisiana will benefit greatly from this new facility by providing critical information on ecosystem dynamics and the movement of elements through the environment. In addition to facilitating research programs, the IRMS will enhance the training of undergraduate and graduate students at UNO and Tulane. Several upper division and graduate level courses will now incorporate mass spectrometry in field and laboratory exercises. Special educational initiatives at UNO including an NSF-funded program to enhance under-represented minorities in environmental biology (UMEB) will take advantage of the IRMS as a recruiting tool and training facility. Besides providing a tool that is vital to the success of many research programs, the IRMS facility will stimulate collaboration between the major private and public Universities in New Orleans; these universities serve students and early-career scientists from underrepresented groups in the biogeosciences. The IRMS system will be a shared-use facility benefiting research and teaching activities at UNO and Tulane University as well as other Louisiana Universities.