CCI Phase I: Center for Chemistry of the Universe

第一阶段的CCI将把化学放在描述宇宙分子组成的研究工作的中心。宇宙化学中心将组建一个多机构、多学科的研究小组，调查和了解星际介质中的化学过程。在星际介质的独特条件下发生的化学反应产生了太阳系形成的初始分子起始材料。这种化学反应产生了一组丰富的普通有机分子和更多的外来反应物质，也为陨石和彗星提供了分子，这些分子可能为年轻的行星提供生命的基石。了解这种化学反应将需要开发用于化学鉴定的高速宽带毫米波分光光度计，以及探测冷气体和表面化学反应性的新方法。中心将以“极端条件下的化学”为主题，建立燃烧化学、大气化学、材料加工等领域之间的联系。中心将为研究生和博士后研究人员提供一个以团队为导向、协作和多学科的研究环境。协同中心的活动充分利用了空间科学的广泛吸引力，包括夏季本科生研究项目、大学水平的普通科学课程、面向公众的新网络材料以及科学中心和博物馆校外项目的展示材料。化学创新中心（CCI）计划支持能够解决重大、长期基础化学研究挑战的研究中心，这些研究中心有很大可能产生变革性研究并导致创新。这些中心将吸引广泛的科学和公众兴趣。

This Phase I CCI will place chemistry at the center of research efforts to describe the molecular composition of the universe. The Center for Chemistry of the Universe will assemble a multi-institutional, multidisciplinary group of researchers to investigate and understand chemical processes in the interstellar medium. The chemistry occurring under the unique conditions of the interstellar medium produces the initial molecular starting materials for solar system formation. This chemistry, which produces a surprisingly rich set of common organic molecules along with more exotic reactive species, also supplies the molecules in meteorites and comets that may deliver the building blocks of life to young planets. Understanding this chemistry will require the development of high-speed broadband mm-wave spectrophotometers for chemical identification as well as new methods to probe chemical reactivity in cold gases and on surfaces. The Center will establish connections between fields such as combustion chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, and materials processing that share the theme of "chemistry under extreme conditions." The Center will provide a team-oriented, collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment for graduate student and postdoctoral researchers. Synergistic center activities capitalize on the broad appeal of the space sciences and include a summer undergraduate research program, a university-level general science course, new web materials for the general public and display materials for out-of-school time programs in science centers and museums.The Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) Program supports research centers that can address major, long-term fundamental chemical research challenges that have a high probability of both producing transformative research and leading to innovation. These Centers will attract broad scientific and public interest.