$241K NSF grant helps experts bring cutting-edge water research instrument to GVSU

A $241,000 National Science Fund grant has allowed the purchase of an advanced measuring instrument that will transform research capabilities for a group of interdisciplinary GVSU environmental scholars and their students, enabling beneficial high-tech training for undergraduate researchers.

The water isotope analyzer offers GVSU researchers and their students a way to now collect their own specialized data on water chemistry rather than having to send the samples to another laboratory for analysis, which Ian Winkelstern, assistant professor of geology, called "an important experience for students." 

"For the students to be able to actually go collect a sample, bring it to this device and work it all the way through to the end to get their own numbers out the other side is very meaningful," Winkelstern said.

Winkelstern is part of a group of faculty members who applied for the competitive grant to bring the cutting-edge device to GVSU. The other faculty members are Matt Cooper, associate professor of biology; Tara Kneeshaw, assistant professor of geology; and Ryan Otter, professor of ecological research, who works with the Annis Water Resources Institute.

The potential uses for this instrument are as varied as the disciplines. The measurements from the device will help indicate the chemical fingerprint for water, "and also where it's from and what it's experienced," Winkelstern said.

Water from a lake, groundwater, evaporated water, a stream and more all have different stories that this device will help researchers learn. Which water masses are mixing? Is there nitrate contamination? Is the rainwater on collected on campus recycled from Lake Michigan or did it come from a weather system that moved through? What have been the effects of climate change?

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For Cooper, who studies wetland ecology and Great Lakes ecology, one of the important things he measures is an ecosystem's metabolism, which is generated by the presence of life such as algae and invertebrates.

"We use metabolism to identify wetlands that are out of balance because of nutrient inputs," said Cooper, who is a researcher on a long-term project called the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program.

Understanding the metabolism gives a holistic view of the system, but measuring the metabolism is difficult, Cooper said. His goal is to use the measured water isotopes as estimates for the metabolism.

He said using the analyzer is a straightforward process, which will be a benefit for the undergraduate students as they can be quickly trained to use it as he collaborates with them on research.

Multiple faculty members who were part of applying for this grant also work within the recently established Environmental and Climate Science Group, which draws together researchers from across the university to focus on environmental sciences issues, with a particular focus on water systems, water resources and aquatic restoration. Winkelstern said the interdisciplinary collaboration was cited as a key reason the grant was awarded to GVSU.

Janet Vigna, associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences , said the faculty members in this group "have a breadth of expertise related to environmental issues, management, and planning, and particularly beneficial to the West Michigan community, are distinctly adept in water-related analyses."

"Complex environmental issues require the engagement of scholars from multiple disciplines and often, high-performance equipment necessary to address our most pressing challenges," Vigna said. "A grant of this nature expands their opportunities, and those of their students, for collaborative inquiry. Their work is an outstanding model for the benefits of fostering interdisciplinary scholarly engagement."