MRI: Acquisition of a micro-computed tomography scanner for interdisciplinary research at Western Washington University

该主要研究仪器（MRI）计划奖支持购买微型计算机断层扫描（micro-CT）扫描仪，以支持西部华盛顿大学（WWU）的各种研究和培训计划。Micro-CT成像是一种X射线技术，可以在不损坏样品本身的情况下三维观察岩石、骨骼、牙齿、沉积物、复合材料和木材等各种分析物的表面和内部结构。微型CT扫描仪的收购将通过支持至少10个WWU教师跨越5个部门的研究计划，以及促进与区域社区和技术学院的新合作，促进科学的进步。由于WWU是一个主要的本科院校，拥有相当数量的第一代和/或有色人种学生，该扫描仪还将通过学生主导的研究，整合到现有课程中以及开发新的微型CT课程来支持教育和多样性，这将培养下一代乐器演奏家。微CT系统的增加将补充校园内现有的仪器，并使WWU继续作为研究和学习的区域中心。微CT仪器将补充校园内现有的扫描电子和拉曼显微镜，以支持微成像核心设施。虽然它将被WWU和邻近社区和技术学院的许多研究人员使用，但它将在地球科学，人类学和材料科学领域得到特别大量的使用，以探索从火山喷发动力学到灵长类动物进化再循环热固性聚合物到海洋酸化如何影响经济重要的渔业等问题。由于无法使用微型CT扫描仪，许多领域的研究生产力受到限制，因此获得这种仪器将立即推进现有的研究项目，并为探索新的研究思路开辟一条可行的道路。微型CT扫描仪将由经过培训的博士进行维护和操作，在一个大学范围内的组织，有一个长期的运行，管理和维护主要仪器，以支持跨学科的研究和教育的跟踪记录水平的技术人员。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的评估支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program award supports the acquisition of a micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanner to support diverse research and training programs at Western Washington University (WWU). Micro-CT imaging is an X-ray technique that allows the surfaces and internal structures of diverse analytes such as rocks, bones, teeth, sediments, composites and wood to be observed in three dimensions without damage to the sample itself. Acquisition of the micro-CT scanner will promote the advancement of science by supporting the research programs of at least 10 WWU faculty spanning 5 departments, as well as foster new collaborations with regional community and technical colleges. Because WWU is a predominantly undergraduate institution with a considerable population of first-generation and/or students of color, the scanner will also support education and diversity through student-led research, integration into existing courses and the development of a new micro-CT course that will train the next generation of instrumentalists. The addition of a micro-CT system will complement existing instrumentation on campus and allow WWU to continue to serve as a regional hub for research and learning.The micro-CT instrument will complement existing scanning electron and Raman microscopes on campus in support of a micro-imaging core facility. Although it will be used by many researchers at WWU and neighboring community and technical colleges, it will receive particularly heavy use in the fields of geosciences, anthropology and materials science to explore questions ranging from volcano eruption dynamics to the evolution of primates to recycling thermoset polymers to how ocean acidification affects economically-important fisheries. The absence of access to a micro-CT scanner has limited research productivity in many of these fields so acquisition of this instrument will immediately advance existing research projects and create a viable path toward exploring new research ideas. The micro-CT scanner will be maintained and operated by a trained, Ph.D.-level technical staff within a university-wide organization that has a long track record of operating, managing and maintaining major instrumentation in support of research and education across disciplines.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.