At Paul Smith's College, a two year college of arts and sciences there are both pre-baccalaureate programs and technically oriented programs in Environmental Science and Forestry which help students develop skills and attitudes necessary to solve problems, in the areas of pollution control and resource conservation. Environmental Science and Forestry graduates are regularly admitted to four year programs with full junior status, while those who elect to enter directly into employment benefit from the technical skills they have developed through the use of analytical equipment. There currently include gas chromatography, HPLC, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Ion chromatography is an important technique for this kind of program since the Dionex Ion Chromatograph has been specified by the Environmental Protection Agency as the method of choice for anions and acid rain studies. With this system our students are instructed in the newest techniques of analysis. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.
