Funding from this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant supports acquisition of multiple instruments for watershed biogeochemical research and research training at Vassar College. Specific instruments to be acquired include an ion chromatograph, two multi-parameter sondes (Yellow Springs Instruments) for temporal sampling of water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentrations, and four water level monitoring devices. Vassar College is an undergraduate institution originally founded as a women's college though it has been co-educational since 1969. The equipment will support faculty and student research on stream biogeochemical cycling with a focus on anthropogenically impacted systems in urbanized areas. Examples include studies of the impacts of development on in-stream nutrient budgets and nutrient storage; transport, storage, and fate of deicing salts in soils and groundwater; and long-term changes in atmospheric deposition and biotic accumulation of contaminants. The instrumentation will further Vassar College's commitment to involving undergraduate students, including women and minorities, in faculty-mentored research. The instrumentation would be integrated into numerous existing courses across multiple departments. The proposed suite of instrumentation targets local environmental issues and the PI's are engaged in the College's Casperkill Research Initiative (CRI) that spans the sciences and social sciences, engages student in summer research experiences, partners with local non-profits, and conducts outreach to the public and local governance sectors.
