Proposal

Narrative

Faculty and students from the Dept. of Civil, Environmental & Geomatics Engineering (CEGE) request funds to purchase a state of the art fluorometer to enrich laboratory experiences in multiple degree programs. In our 2020 accreditation review and recent exit interviews, the engineering lab instrumentation has been cited as obsolete. Since we strive to deliver high quality laboratory experiences, it is necessary to upgrade our teaching labs with the latest in modern equipment. Furthermore, CEGE has recently entered into a partnership with FAU High to create authentic undergraduate experiences focused on the intersection of science and engineering for their research courses. This is part of a larger effort to recruit/retain our top high school STEM talent. This request is aligned with the FAU strategic pillars and platforms: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute for environmental water quality reconnaissance, I-SENSE for real-time sensors, and Distinction Through Discovery as a part of the Undergraduate Research and Inquiry platform. Access to a flow-through real-time fluorometer instrument will help students be better prepared for graduate programs and high-paying STEM jobs. We have selected the QEPRO-FL fluorometer from Ocean Insight ($23,486 deeply discounted) as a versatile tool that uses ultraviolet light to quantify a variety of environmentally relevant pollutants in water, air, and soil. This portable multipurpose instrument can be deployed in the field and will serve several laboratory courses required in the undergraduate curricula of CEGE’s 3 programs, namely ENV3001C-Environmental Science & Engineering (3 credits), ENV4053C-Environmental Fate & Transport (3 credits), ENV6668-Environmental Systems & Processes (3 credits), among others. The currently available fluorometer is almost 20 years old and not suitable for teaching purposes. This acquisition will enable as many undergraduate students as possible to benefit from using this very important technology.

Facilities

N/A

Hardware Requirements

The instrument will be connected to a computer to run the analytical software. No other additional hardware is required.

Software Requirements

The instrument requires OceanView spectroscopy software, the cost of which is included in the quote.

Personnel Costs

N/A

Other Costs

Using this instrument for analysis requires consumable glassware (e.g. cuvettes) and bandpass filters, the costs for which would be covered from other sources (lab fees).

Timeline

As soon as the award is announced the instrument will be ordered. Upon its arrival, it would be used immediately for the purposes stated.

Sustainability

This high-performance fluorometer would allow measuring absorption, reflectance, fluorescence, and Raman measurements with great precision for various environmental samples as well as other chemical solutions. Such measurements are required while conducting relevant research by undergraduate and graduate students. The Department and the PI have funds set aside for routine maintenance for the life of the instrument.

Resource Matching

As stated earlier, consumables and instrument maintenance will be covered from lab fees and other departmental funds set aside for this purpose.

Implementing Organization

The Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatics Engineering faculty and students will implement the set up and installation of the equipment and will be trained on the instrument use, calibration, analysis, and maintenance. No additional costs are anticipated. The instrument will be initially housed in the engineering chemistry lab in EG-36, Room 263.