Equipment: MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a Micro X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer to Support Multidisciplinary Research and Education in the Upper Midwest

苏必利尔湖州立大学被授予支持收购具有远程操作能力的微型X射线荧光光谱仪(μXRF)的奖项。μXRF支持高分辨率成像和元素分析，支持八个机构的14名研究人员及其合作者组成的联盟，促进研究、教育、工程/工业应用的外部使用，并促进区域研究社区。这些能力丰富了几个科学学科的本科教育和培训，为本科研究创造了新的机会，并使微量分析和植物营养新陈代谢方面的新课程得以开发。与东上半岛中级学区合作提供的K-12外展计划提供实践教育机会，并促进招收代表不足的学生，促进地区STEM劳动力的多样化发展。该奖项支持的工作将带来实际利益，包括改进植物修复战略，改进渔业管理做法，以及对法国殖民文物的分析，这些文物将纳入麦基纳克州历史公园米希里马基纳堡的公开展示。由该奖项推动的研究将促进我们对植物营养新陈代谢、土壤植物修复、淡水生态学、法医学、生物生物学、地质学和历史文物表征的理解。该仪器的关键能力包括在大气压下以几十微米的分辨率进行元素定量和测绘，对重元素的检测下限在数十ppm，轻元素分析，适用于完整和/或活生物的分析，以及高通量样品分析。与X射线荧光和其他μX射线荧光仪器相比，其优越的分辨率和检测下限将使元素定量并在不同范围的生物体中分布。元素分布的成像和量化将能够调查元素的迁移和储存，加强对植物矿物质代谢和水生生物中金属定位的研究。该仪器还将用于分析当地岩石结构中的稀土元素，用于充电电池和麦基纳克州立历史公园的考古文物。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。

An award is made to Lake Superior State University to support the acquisition of a micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (μXRF) with remote operation capabilities. The μXRF enables high-resolution imaging and elemental analysis, supports a consortium of 14 researchers at eight institutions and their collaborators, facilitates external use for research, education, engineering/industrial applications, and promotes a regional research community. These capabilities enrich undergraduate education and training across several scientific disciplines, create new opportunities for undergraduate research, and enable the development of new coursework in microanalysis and plant nutrient metabolism. A K-12 outreach program offered in collaboration with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District provides hands-on education opportunities and enhances recruitment of underrepresented students promoting the development of a diverse regional STEM workforce. Work supported by this award will provide practical benefits including improvement in phytoremediation strategies, improved fisheries management practices, and analysis of French colonial artifacts that will be incorporated into public displays at Fort Michilimackinac, part of Mackinac State Historic Parks. Research facilitated by this award will advance our understanding of plant nutrient metabolism, phytoremediation of soils, freshwater ecology, forensic science, organismal biology, geology, and characterization of historical artifacts. The key capabilities of this instrument include elemental quantification and mapping at tens of micrometers resolution under atmospheric pressure, detection limits for heavy elements in the tens of ppm, light element analysis, suitability for analysis of intact and/or living organisms, and high throughput sample analysis. The superior resolution and detection limits compared to XRF and other μXRF instruments will enable element quantification and distribution in a diverse range of organisms. Imaging and quantification of element distributions will enable the investigation of element mobility and storage, enhancing research in plant mineral metabolism and localization of metals in aquatic organisms. This instrument will also allow for the analysis of the rare earth elements in local rock structures for use in rechargeable batteries and of archeological artifacts at Mackinac State Historic Parks.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.