Acquisition of an X-Ray Fluorescence instrument for research and teaching at Wesleyan University

X射线荧光（XRF）分析技术已得到充分验证，可提供各种元素的定量信息，样品制备相对简单，易于使用。该奖项将资助购买一种新的XRF仪器，该仪器非常适合用于中等规模，高度集中的地球科学系（如卫斯理大学E ES系）的教学和研究。 卫斯理大学的BA和MA学生以及来自邻近大学的学生将使用新仪器进行研究。卫斯理的老师会用乐器来激励学生走上怎样的道路？原创发现？激发学生对科学的好奇心，最终可能导致工业创新，认识环境危害或新能源。鉴于技术和科学话语在社会中的作用以及在全球经济中竞争的需要，大学生的科学教育非常重要。使用？积极的学习项目？大大方便了科学教学。学生从他们的样本中收集新数据，并解释这些数据以检验假设，显示空间异常，或推导出关于样本来源的新假设。岩石和矿物的化学成分为它们的起源和演化提供了直接的证据。因此，岩石学是解释地球历史的主要工具，也有助于寻找新的能源或矿体。沉积岩可以揭示出它们沉积时的气候证据，而火山岩则提供了地球更深、更难到达的部分（如地幔）的线索。土壤和沉积物的化学成分可能会提供线索，人为或自然污染的有毒元素，包括铅，铜和砷。在Wesleyan大学购买一台新的X射线荧光光谱仪使我们能够实现这些目标。

The analytical technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is well proven, and provides quantitative information on a broad range of elements, with relatively simple sample preparation and ease of use. This award will fund the acquisition of a new XRF instrument that is ideal for use in teaching and research in a mid-sized, intensely focused earth science department such as the Wesleyan University E&ES department. Wesleyan BA and MA students as well as those from neighboring universities will use the new instrument for their research. Wesleyan teachers will use the instrument to inspire students on the path of ?original discovery? and stimulate curiosity into scientific endeavors that may ultimately lead to innovations in industry, recognition of environmental hazards, or new energy resources.Science education of college students is important given the role that technology and scientific discourse play in society and the need to compete in the global economy. The use of ?active learning projects? greatly facilitates the teaching of science. Students collect new data from their samples, and interpret these to test a hypothesis, show a spatial anomaly, or derive a new hypothesis on the origin of the samples. The chemical composition of rocks and minerals provides direct evidence on their origin and evolution. Therefore, petrology is a prime tool in deciphering earth history as well as helping to locate new energy resources or ore bodies. Sedimentary rocks may reveal evidence of the climate at the time when they were deposited, whereas volcanic rocks yield clues to the deeper, inaccessible parts of the earth, such as the mantle. The chemical composition of soils and sediment may give clues to anthropogenic or natural pollution with toxic elements, including Lead, Copper and Arsenic. Acquisition of a new X-ray fluorescence spectrometer at Wesleyan University enables us to reach these goals.