MRI: Acquisition of an electron microprobe at the American Museum of Natural History

这项MRI奖将资助美国自然历史博物馆(AMNH；纽约市，NY)用一种新的、最先进的仪器更换已有21年以上历史的电子探针显微分析仪(EPMA)。EPMA可能是岩石样品和实验样品的最重要的地球化学分析仪器，在高精度、高空间分辨率下为大多数元素提供无与伦比的能力，并且对大多数分析是无损的。目前的系统服务于AMNH、哥伦比亚大学(CU)、纽约市立大学(CUNY)和其他地区机构的许多教职员工、博士后研究人员、研究生和本科生。电子探针分析为火山学、火成岩、变质岩和沉积岩石学(包括气候科学)、矿石/资源地质学和材料科学等一系列备受瞩目的科学研究提供基础数据。考虑到纽约市地区依赖EPMA的高密度地球科学研究人员，一种新的最先进的仪器对他们正在进行的和未来的研究项目的成功至关重要。新的EPMA将影响AMNH、CU和CUNY主要用户的多方面研究、教育和公共外联活动，包括：(1)EPMA培训，并在CUNY校园向未被充分代表的科学和技术本科生进行外联；(2)在AMNH和CU参加REU计划的本科生；(3)AMNH收藏材料和实验生成的参考材料的特征，与研究同事和公众分享；(4)每年500万参观者参观博物馆关于地球和地外地球科学的公共展览，以及(5)博物馆的众多科学教育项目，将公众、K-12学生和教师与积极的科学研究项目联系起来。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This MRI award will fund the replacement of the 21+ year-old electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH; New York City, NY) with a new, state-of-the-art instrument. The EPMA is probably the most important instrument for geochemical analysis of rock samples and experimental samples, providing unmatched capabilities for most elements at high precision, high-spatial resolution, and is nondestructive for most analyses. The current system serves many faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students at AMNH, Columbia University (CU), institutions of the City University of New York (CUNY) and other regional institutions.Electron probe analyses provide fundamental data for a wide spectrum of high-profile scientific research on volcanology; igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology, including climate science; ore/resource geology; and material science. Considering the high density of geoscience researchers in the New York City area who depend on EPMA, a new state-of- the-art instrument is vital for the success of their ongoing and future research projects. The new EPMA will impact the multi-faceted research, education, and public-outreach activities of the primary users at AMNH, CU and CUNY including: (1) EPMA training and outreach to under-represented undergraduates in science and technology at the CUNY campuses, (2) undergraduates participating in REU programs at AMNH and CU, (3) characterization of AMNH collection materials and experimentally generated reference materials which are shared with research colleagues and the general public, (4) the 5 million annual visitors to the Museum's public exhibitions on Earth and extraterrestrial geoscience, and (5) numerous science education programs at the Museum that connect the public and K-12 students and teachers with active scientific research programs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.