Collaborative Research: Acquisition of New Instrumentation for Geochemical Studies in the Earth and Environmental Sciences

这项奖励将为拉蒙特-多尔蒂地球天文台(LDEO)和美国自然历史博物馆(AMNH)的主要设施升级提供部分支持，以造福于地球化学研究。具体地说，将在3年内分配资金用于购买(1)新一代惰性气体质谱仪和进气系统，(2)高灵敏度单收集器(SC)电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICPMS)，以及(3)高精度多收集器(MC)ICPMS。在LDEO和AMNH对获得这种类型的仪器的需求不断增加的同时，老化的现有设施的性能不足以进行最先进的研究，加上这两个机构对地球化学的重大新承诺，促成了这一奖项的颁发时间。其中包括正在进行的耗资4500万美元的地球化学大楼的建设和LDEO地球化学部高级和初级教员的新任命，LDEO和AMNH之间的新阶段合作，以及通过机构对技术支持的贡献来稳定仪器维护和技术开发的前所未有的承诺。新的工具是联系在一起的，因为它促进了一系列主题的跨学科研究。惰性气体质谱仪将测量用于地表暴露测年的霓虹同位素比率，进一步开发用于古海洋学的恒通量替代物，并促进地幔动力学的研究。SC-ICPMS将满足对水、冰和气溶胶中超低微量元素丰度分析日益增长的需求。目前，这些努力因使用共享仪器对高浓度样品进行其他测量而受到影响。新的MC-ICPMS的高灵敏度将允许测量比目前可行的更小的样品中的同位素比率，并将与激光相连，由机构资金单独购买。激光消融MC-ICPMS的能力将服务于大量LDEO和AMNH的研究人员和学生，他们现在为了获得LA-ICPMS分析而广泛旅行。新的仪器将开辟新的途径，促进对固体地球动力学、海洋动力学和气候等基本主题的了解，以及污染物在水系统和大气中的传输和去向。该仪器也是为纽约市地区的地球科学研究和教育提供最先进技术的关键。加强的基础设施将促进跨学科和机构间的合作。这些设备对于继续实施强大的研究生教育计划和本科和高中水平的研究培训计划至关重要。自2000年以来，LDEO已发表了19篇哥伦比亚大学的博士论文，AMNH接待了来自不同大学的15名研究生。目前，27名哥伦比亚大学博士生与通过这项提案请求仪器的团体有关联。LDEO实验室为包括CUNY和Stony Brook在内的地区机构的研究生提供服务。LDEO地球化学家积极参与REU方案(自2000年以来有40名实习生)。自2003年启动以来，AMNH REU项目已经接待了22名实习生，其中大多数是女性，也有几名是非裔美国人或西班牙裔。LDEO地球化学家还为高中生提供研究机会(自2000年以来有25名)。新的仪器将为满足至少两个城市大学校区(皇后区和金斯伯勒CC)以及福特汉姆大学的研究和教育需求做出根本性贡献，LDEO和AMNH的兼职研究人员在福特汉姆大学设有教职。参与该项目的地球化学家广泛参与公共教育和宣传活动，如公开讲座、新闻媒体投稿、热门文章和主要展品(如地球、陨石和AMNH的宝石和矿物展厅)。AMNH展览和其他公共项目是公共科学教育的重要工具；每年约有450万人参观AMNH，其中包括60万名K-12学生。参与这项提议的地球化学家定期在地球课堂计划(www.Earth2Class.org/)中为K-12科学教师授课。LDEO的科学家利用他们的专业知识作为政府顾问委员会的成员，包括纽约市长布隆伯格？S可持续发展委员会。新工具为我们继续开展公众宣传工作提供了必要工具。*

This award will provide support for part of a major facility upgrade to benefit geochemical research at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Specifically, funds will be allocated over 3 years for acquisition of (1) a new generation noble gas mass spectrometer and inlet system, (2) a high sensitivity single collector (SC) ICP-MS, and (3) a high precision multi-collector (MC) ICP-MS. The timing of this award is motivated by a combination of increasing demand at LDEO and AMNH for access to this type of instrumentation at a time when the performance of aging existing facilities is inadequate to pursue state of the art research, coupled with major new commitments by both institutions to geochemistry. These include ongoing construction of a $45M Geochemistry Building and new appointments of senior and junior Faculty to the Geochemistry Division at LDEO, a new phase of cooperation between LDEO and AMNH, and an unprecedented commitment to stabilize instrument maintenance and technique development through institutional contributions to technical support. The new instrumentation is linked in that it fosters interdisciplinary research across a spectrum of themes. The noble gas mass spectrometer will measure neon isotope ratios for surface exposure dating, further the development of constant flux proxies for paleoceanography, and advance studies of mantle dynamics. The SC-ICPMS will fulfill a growing need for analyses of ultra-low trace element abundances in water, ice and aerosols. At present, these efforts are compromised by other measurements of high concentration samples using shared instruments. The high sensitivity of a new MC-ICPMS will allow measurement of isotope ratios in smaller samples than is currently feasible and will be linked with a laser, bought separately with institutional funds. The laser ablation MC-ICPMS capability will serve a large number of LDEO and AMNH researchers and students who now travel extensively in order to obtain LA-ICPMS analyses. The new instrumentation will open new avenues to advance knowledge on fundamental topics such as solid earth geodynamics, ocean dynamics and climate, as well as the transport and fate of contaminants in aqueous systems and the atmosphere.The instrumentation is also critical for providing state-of-the-art technology for Earth science research and education in the New York City area. The enhanced infrastructure will promote cross-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaborations. The equipment is critical to continuance of both a strong graduate education program and a research training program at both the undergraduate and high school levels. Since 2000 LDEO Geochemistry has produced 19 Columbia PhD dissertations and AMNH has hosted 15 graduate students from various universities. Currently, 27 Columbia PhD students are associated with the groups requesting instrumentation through this proposal. LDEO labs serve graduate students from regional institutions, including CUNY and Stony Brook. LDEO geochemists are actively involved in REU programs ( 40 interns since 2000). The AMNH REU program has hosted 22 interns since it started in 2003, in which most have been women and several have been African American or Hispanic. LDEO geochemists also provide research opportunities for high school students ( 25 since 2000). The new instrumentation will make a fundamental contribution to meeting research and educational needs of at least two CUNY campuses (Queens and Kingsborough CC) and at Fordham University, where LDEO and AMNH adjunct researchers have faculty positions. Geochemists in this project are extensively involved in public education and outreach, such as public lectures, news media contributions, popular articles, and spearheading prominent exhibits (e.g., the Halls of Planet Earth, and of Meteorites, and of Gems and Minerals at AMNH). The AMNH exhibits and other public programs are important tools of public science education; some 4.5M people, including 0.6M K-12 students, visit AMNH each year. Geochemists involved in this proposal regularly give lectures in the Earth2Class Program (www.earth2class.org/) for K-12 science teachers. LDEO scientists use their expertise as members of governmental advisory boards, including NYC Mayor Bloomberg?s Council of Sustainable Development. The new instrumentation provides essential tools for continuation of our public outreach efforts.***