This project is providing equipment (Carbon/Hydrogen/Nitrogen analyzer and an autoanalyzer) necessary to complete a modern instrumental analysis laboratory for undergraduate studies of plants and soils, ecosystem dynamics, and environmental problems in the Department of Environmental Science at Allegheny College. This program was begun in 1985 with modernization of a course in Water Quality Analysis and with development of a Water Quality laboratory. The program has been furthered recently by creation of a new faculty position to provide expertise in ecosystem biogeochemistry and analytical analysis, and by introduction of two new courses, Soils and the Environment, and Biogeochemistry. Both courses involve field trips for investigation of ecological processes and sample collection, and laboratory exercises for sample preparation and instrumental analysis. An additional and extremely important component of this program is availability of instruments for use by students during senior comprehensive research projects, required of all students. Completion of this laboratory through acquisition of a CHN analyzer and an autoanalyzer is providing direct experience in the use of modern techniques and analytical instrumentation to perform process-level analyses of ecosystem and environmental dynamics. The grantee is matching this award from non-Federal sources.
