| NSF Org: |
EAR Division Of Earth Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | July 13, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | September 7, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 2018559 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Luciana Astiz
lastiz@nsf.gov (703)292-4705 EAR Division Of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | August 1, 2020 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $249,641.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $249,641.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1276 GILBREATH DR JOHNSON CITY TN US 37614-6598 (423)439-6000 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
1276 Gilbreath Dr. Johnson City TN US 37614-1707 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Major Research Instrumentation |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
This Major Research Instrumentation grant supports the acquisition of micron scale imaging X-ray Computed Tomography system (XRCT), to be housed on the campus of East Tennessee State University (ETSU) for the use of local and regional researchers and their students. Micro-XRCT allows for non-destructive imaging of the exteriors and interiors of solid sample with micron scale spatial resolution allowing for rapid and quantitative measurement of the morphology and structure of biological and paleontological specimens, physical samples, and cultural artifacts. It is particularly critical for study of museum specimens, artifacts, and rare samples owing to its non-destructive nature. The instrument will support research on an extensive collection of cultural artifacts, specimens, and fossils housed at the Museum of Natural History, Reece Museum, Biological Sciences invertebrate and vertebrate museums, and Geosciences osteological collections at ETSU. All told these public collections contain hundreds of thousands of objects that are curated using public funds but may be hard to access and view. Using XRCT, 3-D digital images of specimens can be generated, analyzed, and easily shared with the public, all while preserving the object for future generations to study. Combined with 3D printing, this technology will significantly boost STEM training in the region and engage a wider audience across Southern Appalachia.
The XRCT instrument will be used many researchers across ETSU and the region, however, it will receive heavy use from three departments at ETSU. In Biological Sciences it will be used for high resolution, 3-D imaging of biological specimens to reveal links between form and function, developmental processes, and evolution of organisms. In the Center of Excellence in Paleontology it will be used for high resolution, 3-D imaging of modern and fossil vertebrates to explore growth, development, morphology and pathologies of modern and fossil vertebrates and as part of large-scale digitization efforts at the ETSU Museum of Natural History and Gray Fossil Site, one of the world's premier archives of Cenozoic mammal fossils. The instrument will also support 3-D reconstruction of cultural artifacts at the Reece Museum for research on form and function and to enhance exhibitions and education opportunities.
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.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The purpose of this award was to purchase a microCT scanner and establish a self-sufficient, interdisciplinary imagining lab at ETSU. This imaging lab had the goals of training students from the Southern Appalachian region and therefore making them nationally competitive for postgraduate degree programs. The instrument has been purchased and faculty at ETSU have been trained on it by a technician from the manufacturer. ETSU has also established a billing system and account for generated funds to be collected so that repairs and maintenance can be carried out. Additionally, the department of Geosciences is employing a fulltime technician to run scans, render images and 3D models, and archive scan data on public repositories. All evidence of full investment by ETSU into maintaining a functioning instrument. A course designed to train undergraduate and graduate students on scanning protocol, image and 3D model rendering, model analysis, and simulation has been established and starts in Spring semester of 2024. All of these skills are leading edge and makes students competitive for graduate programs or jobs. Finally, our goal of training first generation students and making them competitive for national programs has begun to bear fruit. We recently had a local, nontraditional, first-generation student complete her master?s project using the scanner and associated modeling skills and gain acceptance into a PhD program at the University of Chicago.
Last Modified: 08/30/2023
Modified by: Richard T Carter
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