FSML: Enhancing research support infrastructure at the University of Kansas Field Station

堪萨斯大学野外工作站（KUFS）拥有丰富的野外研究历史，并在东部落叶林和北美高草草原地区之间的交错带内提供越来越多的新颖研究、教学和外展机会。将开发一个新的研究支持设施（RSF），以适应KUFS快速增长的实地环境研究和教育。RSF将允许更换过度拥挤和老化的车间设施，提供足够的空间和设备，以满足日益增长的样品处理和储存需求，并为驻地和访问科学家提供项目集结地。RSF还将提供土壤处理和土壤灭菌设施的新能力，以支持来自KU和其他地方的越来越多的合作研究人员，他们专注于土壤生物学和土壤微生物-植物相互作用。RSF与KUFS其他现有设施的整合将使业务集中化，并提高内部和外部用户的效率。这些改进将建立在KUFS正在进行的强大的外部资助的研究项目的基础上，支持新的研究计划，促进教育产品，并提高KUFS研究和教育参与者的安全性。拟议的RSF的建设是KUFS的一个更大的愿景，以吸引来自地球仪的学生和研究人员利用我们的世界级平台的更大的多样性的一个功能。一个新的研究支持设施（RSF）将容纳迅速扩大的外地为基础的研究和教育活动在堪萨斯大学外地站（KUFS：https://biosurvey.ku.edu/field-station）。RSF的开发将包括建造一座新的研究支持大楼，翻新和重新利用一座陈旧的车间大楼，购置通用设备，安装将两座大楼与其他现场站设施整合在一起的功能，并提高安全性。新大楼将包括：一个新的车间和制造空间;项目筹备区;土壤消毒和准备区;“粗略”样品处理区;“清洁仪器室”，以及用于研究项目和实地课程的灵活空间。翻修后的结构将满足样品处理的季节性需求，包括样品干燥和冷藏、储存和多功能空间。将安装风暴避难所、消防栓和其他设施，以加强现场用户的安全。KUFS设施的这些改进将满足KUFS居民和访问学者对实地研究和教育机会日益增长的需求。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The University of Kansas Field Station (KUFS) has a rich history of field-based research, and provides a growing variety of opportunities for novel research, teaching, and outreach within the ecotone between the eastern deciduous forest and tallgrass prairie regions of North America. A new Research Support Facility (RSF) will be developed to accommodate rapidly growing, field-based environmental research and education at KUFS. The RSF will allow replacement of over-crowded and ageing workshop facilities, provide adequate space and equipment to accommodate growing sample processing and storage needs, and provide project staging areas for resident and visiting scientists. The RSF will also provide new capacity with a soil processing and soil sterilization facility to support a growing cadre of collaborative researchers from KU and elsewhere focused on soil biology and soil microbe-plant interactions. Integration of the RSF with other existing KUFS facilities will allow centralization of operations and increase efficiency for internal and external users. These enhancements will build upon the strong, externally-funded research programs underway at KUFS, support new research initiatives, facilitate educational offerings, and enhance safety for KUFS research and education participants. Construction of the proposed RSF is one feature of a larger vision of the KUFS to attract a greater diversity of students and researchers from around the globe to utilize our world-class platform.A new Research Support Facility (RSF) will accommodate rapidly expanding field-based research and education activity at the University of Kansas Field Station (KUFS: https://biosurvey.ku.edu/field-station ). Development of the RSF will include construction of a new research support building, renovation and repurposing of an antiquated workshop building, acquisition of general use equipment, and installation of features that integrate the two buildings with the rest of the field station facilities, and enhance safety. The new building will include: a new workshop and fabrication space; project staging areas; soil sterilization and preparation area; "rough" sample processing areas; "clean instrumentation room", and flexible spaces for research projects and field-based classes. The renovated structure will accommodate seasonal demands for sample processing including sample drying and refrigeration, storage, and multi-purpose space. Storm shelters, a fire hydrant, and other elements to enhance safety for site users will be installed. These enhancements to KUFS facilities will accommodate growing demands by resident and visiting scholars at KUFS for field-based research and education opportunities.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.