Project Grant 2329285

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences program Project Grant award of $122,152 to the CSU Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation (CSU Fullerton ASC) will fund the acquisition of a carbon dioxide and methane cavity ringdown spectrometer. This instrumentation will support research and educational activities to promote a better understanding of the carbon cycle and how carbon is converted into different materials across Earth's atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. The project will engage students at the high school, community college, and university levels, many from underrepresented groups, in field data collection, laboratory analysis, and classroom learning related to greenhouse gas production, microbe-induced mineral formation, biologically critical intervals in Earth's history, and wildfire ash formation. The project aims to leverage recent technological advances in cavity ringdown spectroscopy to enable more accessible geochemical analyses by both experienced scientists and novice student researchers. This award will further the NSF's mission to strengthen the national scientific enterprise through expanded fundamental knowledge and understanding of the integrated Earth system.