Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies

化学（12）认识到跨学科研究对本科生的智力价值，化学，环境工程和生物学的部门已经联合起来，创建一个跨部门的合作，以促进本科教育中的环境科学研究。为化学、环境工程和生物学课程开发了新的实验室实验，以测量对环境有重要意义的样品。我们正在将现有的仪器分析实验室课程转换为跨学科的，以环境为主题的仪器分析课程。 开发更多涉及金属分析的相关实验（例如，铅），需要一种对金属含量具有低检测限的仪器。 原子吸收光谱法（AAS）在环境分析中得到了广泛的应用，因为它在水和土壤样品中大多数元素的痕量测量中具有多功能性。 在此基础上，我们获得了火焰原子吸收分光光度计，这增加了可以进行的环境分析的类型，并通过提供可应用于各种含金属样品的通用分析技术，进一步加强了三个部门之间的合作。 这笔赠款的更广泛影响是双重的。 首先，在UDM，教师有一个重要的机会，以促进STEM教育，以多样化的学生团体。 其次，该计划的跨学科性质非常适合社区学院和小型大学的应用。 一个评估过程正在监测用于教授环境科学的拟议跨学科方法的成功。 TEST，Incorporated是一家方案评价咨询公司，协助筹备对该项目的评价。 计划通过出版已开发的实验室实验和项目评估，以及在参与该赠款的所有三个学科的地方，区域和国家会议上进行介绍来传播。

Chemistry (12)Recognizing the intellectual merit of interdisciplinary studies to undergraduate students, the departments of chemistry, environmental engineering, and biology, have joined together to create an interdepartmental collaboration to promote environmental science studies in undergraduate education. New laboratory experiments for chemistry, environmental engineering and biology courses have been developed for measuring environmentally important samples. We are converting the existing instrumental analysis laboratory course into an interdisciplinary, environmentally-themed instrumental analysis course. To develop more relevant experiments that involve metal analysis (e.g., lead), an instrument with low detection limits for metal content was required. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) has gained wide application for environmental analysis because of its versatility in the measurement of trace quantities of most elements in water and soil samples. Based on this grant, we acquired a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, which increases the types of environmental analyses that can be carried out and further strengthens the collaboration between faculty in the three departments by providing a common analysis technique that can be applied to a variety of metal-containing samples. The broader impact of this grant is two-fold. First, at UDM, faculty members have a significant opportunity to promote STEM education to a diverse student body. Secondly, the interdisciplinary nature of the program is well-suited for application at community colleges and small universities. An evaluation process is monitoring success of the proposed interdisciplinary approach used to teach environmental science. TEST, Incorporated, a program evaluation consulting firm assisted in the preparations for evaluation of this project. Dissemination is planned through publication of developed laboratory experiments and assessment of the project, as well as presentation at local, regional, and national meetings in all three disciplines participating in this grant.