Rennovation of Field Station Building for Teaching and Research Use: Bath Field Station, University of Akron

该奖项为现有的6000平方英尺的马丁野外站大楼的改造提供了支持。这是一个相对较新的野外观测站，由阿克伦大学与巴斯（俄亥俄州）镇合作运营。由于国家科学基金会支持的规划工作的结果，大学已经租用了马丁大楼，以前是一个私人住宅，它有足够的空间来极大地促进教学，研究，并在现场推广。为了实现这一潜力，部分设施将被改造为教学和研究实验室，基本服务，包括管道和电力供应，将现代化到与计划使用一致的水平。该合同所支持的改进还将改善空间站的安全性、通道和通信。自1998年成立以来，该站的教育和研究活动迅速增加。它的城市位置（位于俄亥俄州东北部的阿克伦和克利夫兰之间）以及土地的高质量和多样性使其成为研究该地区迅速消失的自然栖息地的绝佳地点。保护区被该地区的一些教育机构用于从初级教育到研究生水平的教育、研究和培训活动。目前，该站正在进行14项获资助的研究项目和若干长期研究，包括两栖动物监测和湿地恢复。教育和推广活动包括超过24门课程，积极推广到K-12学校和一般社区，并强调将学生和公众与该站当前的研究联系起来。位于阿克伦大学二十分钟的车程内，巴斯场站允许小学，高中和大学生从城市地区体验自然环境。该台站已经允许一些机构丰富了传统上不使用野外台站的大学项目的环境导向课程，如法律、艺术、文学、社会学和工程学。该站大力推广K-12学生的外展计划，包括参加NSF的K-12计划。

This award provides support for renovation of the Martin Field Station building, an existing 6,000 sq.ft structure at the Bath Nature Preserve, a relatively new field station operated by the University of Akron in cooperation with the Bath (Ohio) Township. As the result of an NSF supported planning effort, the University has leased the Martin building, formerly a private residence, which has sufficient space to greatly facilitate teaching, research, and outreach at the site. To realize this potential, part of the facility will be remodeled for teaching and research lab use, and basic services, including plumbing and electrical supply, will be modernized to a level consistent with the planned usage. The improvements supported by the award will also provide improved safety, access, and communications at the station. Since its establishment in 1998, educational and research activities at the Field Station have increased rapidly. The combination of its urban location (midway between Akron and Cleveland, in Northeastern Ohio), and the high quality and diversity of the land make this an excellent site in which to study the rapidly disappearing natural habitats of the region. The preserve is used by a number of educational institutions in the region for education, research and training activities at levels extending from K through postgraduate levels. Currently, there are 14 funded research projects and several long-term studies including amphibian monitoring and wetland restoration being conducted at the station. Education and outreach activities include over 24 courses, an active outreach to K-12 schools and the general community, and an emphasis on connecting students and the public with current research at the station. Located within twenty minute's drive of The University of Akron, the Bath Field Station allows grade school, high school, and University students from an urban area to experience natural environments. The station has already permitted a number of institutions to enrich the environmentally-oriented curricula of University programs that are not traditional users of field stations, such as law, art, literature, sociology, and engineering. The station has promoted a vigorous program of outreach to K-12 students, including participation in NSF GK-12 program.