MRI-R2: Acquisition of Instrumentation in Support of Laboratory Research and Training in Botany and Conservation

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。来自主要研究仪器-回收和再投资（MRI-R2）项目的资金用于支持密苏里植物园（MBG）的台式扫描电子显微镜和相关设备的购买。还获得了一个自动显微镜系统，以促进标本载玻片的数字化。该仪器为MBG馆长、学生和参观者提供了广泛的研究机会，研究领域包括植物分类学、生态学、进化、生物地理学、花粉生物学、民族植物学、地理信息系统和保护。MBG的研究促进了世界各地植物的研究和保护，从生物多样性的热带热点到密苏里州的本土植物和栖息地，涉及来自不同文化、职业、年龄群体和种族的人们。对植物的科学研究为合理管理和保护植物资源提供了必要的知识。获得的仪器扩展了MBG实验室的能力，并允许植物学家和学生扩展他们的调查、发现和知识传播。这些仪器的使用是通过花园的K-12教育项目、教师培训、特别研讨会和本科生研究项目的示范来促进的。通过大众和技术出版物、研讨会、会议和建筑参观，广泛传播从使用该仪器中获得的知识。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Funds from the Major Research Instrumentation-Recovery and Reinvestment (MRI-R2) program were used to support the acquisition of a tabletop scanning electron microscope and associated equipment at the Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG). An automated microscopy system was also acquired to facilitate the digitization of specimen slides. The instrumentation provides expanded research opportunities for a wide range of MBG curators, students, and visitors in research areas such as plant taxonomy, ecology, evolution, biogeography, pollen biology, ethnobotany, GIS and conservation. Research at MBG promotes the study and conservation of plants all over the world, from biodiversity tropical hotspots to native plants and habitats in Missouri, involving people from diverse cultures, occupations, age groups and ethnicity. Scientific study of plants provides the knowledge needed for rational management and conservation of plant resources. The acquired instrumentation expands the MBG laboratory capacity and allows botanists and students to extend their investigations, discovery, and propagation of knowledge. Use of the instruments is promoted through demonstrations in the garden's K-12 education programs, teacher training, special workshops and undergraduate research programs. The knowledge gained from the use of this instrumentation is widely disseminated through popular and technical publications, seminars, meetings, and building tours.