NSF Org:	EAR Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient:	BOARD OF REGENTS OF NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Initial Amendment Date:	July 25, 2005
Latest Amendment Date:	July 25, 2005
Award Number:	0521196
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Russell Kelz EAR  Division Of Earth Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	August 1, 2005
End Date:	July 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$248,520.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$248,520.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2005 = $248,520.00
History of Investigator:	Matthew Lachniet (Principal Investigator) matthew.lachniet@unlv.edu Ganqing Jiang (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Nevada Las Vegas 4505 S MARYLAND PKWY LAS VEGAS NV  US  89154-9900 (702)895-1357
Sponsor Congressional District:	01
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Nevada Las Vegas 4505 S MARYLAND PKWY LAS VEGAS NV  US  89154-9900
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	DLUTVJJ15U66
Parent UEI:	F995DBS4SRN3
NSF Program(s):	Major Research Instrumentation
Primary Program Source:	app-0105
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR, 0000
Program Element Code(s):	118900
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

0521196
Lachinet

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program grant provides support for acquisition of a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer, submitted by two early-career researchers in Geoscience Department at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). NSF/MRI grant support will serve to: 1) establish the first-ever Stable Isotope Laboratory (SIL) at UNLV to facilitate generation of data for ongoing research projects, 2) foster collaborations in isotope geochemistry between the principal investigators and with other faculty across disciplines, 3) promote direct undergraduate and graduate student participation in research projects, and 4) integrate the research facility into teaching and learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Research by Dr. Matthew Lachniet and graduate students investigates past rainfall histories in Central America and other areas, using the stable oxygen isotope measurements preserved in cave stalagmites, which grow continuously over time and whose age is determined by radiometric dating. These past rainfall histories will help researchers understand past variations in the El Nino/Southern Oscillation, which produces global climatic anomalies, in order to predict future recurrence intervals of El Nino events in Central American and beyond. The research by Dr. Ganqing Jiang and graduate students has investigated the isotopic evidence for "Snowball Earth" events approximately 500 to 700 million years ago, when geologic evidence suggests the possibility that the majority of the Earth was glaciated. Acquisition of a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer at UNLV will permit in-house analysis of samples, ensuring high sample throughput. Importantly, the SIL will give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to learn a state-of-the-art analytical technique at UNLV, which will promote the integration of research and education into their research programs.

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