Center for Critical Zone Research

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Center for Critical Zone Research
October 10, 2006
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The External Terrestrial Layer Extending from the
Outer Limits of Vegetation Down to and Including
the Zone of Ground Water
The Critical Zone Sustains Life
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The root-soil interface
The microbe-mineral interface
Interactions at Critical Zone Interfaces Affect
the Availability of Every Life-Sustaining Resource
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Interfaces Between Disciplines is Where the
Action Is in Research
Team members interface skills and contributions
Hochella (2005)
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A Range of Scales

• Field Plots
• Equilibrium
• Studies
• Kinetic
• Studies
• Extractions

• Enhanced
• Visual
• Analysis
• 1. SEM
• 2. TEM
• 3. AFM

• Visual/
• Intuitive
• Insight
• Field Plots

• XRD
• TGA
• FTIR
• DRS

• XRF
• XPS
• XAS
• Requires
• synchrotron
• radiation.

Adaptation of Bertsch and Hunter, 1996.
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Impact Of Critical Zone Processes

• Human Health and Quality of Life
• Air, Soil and Water Quality
• Health of Oceans
• Global Climate Change
• Biodiversity
• Economic Viability and Development

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Rationale

• Delawares Fragile and Model Ecosystem
• National and State Research Priority
• Environmental Research is a Key Priority of
  Delawares Science and Technology Council and of
  NSF and Other Funding Agencies
• Economic Development Opportunities
• Strengths at UD and Established Partnerships with
  National Laboratories, and State and Federal
  Agency and Industrial Partners
• Existing EPSCoR RII Research Project on Complex
  Environmental Systems
• Interdisciplinary Center Model at DBI Provides a
  Framework to Maximize the Effectiveness of
  Research Efforts and Couple Leading-Edge Science
  to Economic Development and Public Policy

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Mission and Goals of THE CENTER FOR CRITICAL
ZONE RESEARCH (CCZR)

• Mission
• To develop a world class, leading edge research
  capability focused on the Earths
  life-sustaining, near surface environment
  (complex interactions of rock, soil, water, air
  and living organisms that regulate and populate
  the natural habitat)
• Goals
• Tackle scientific questions of great societal and
  global significance by uniting a
  multi-disciplinary and diverse community of
  scientists/engineers and students
• Forge partnerships with government agencies,
  industry and the public to provide solutions to
  environmental challenges and to stimulate
  economic growth
• Integrate science, ethics and public policy

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CCZR Development

• Catalyzed by
• EPSCoR RII Research Theme
• NSF Critical Zone Initiative and Workshop
• Strong UD Interest
• Planning process involved
• Academic Leaders across five Colleges
• Significant Faculty Input
• Defining Strengths and Gaps
• Program initiated through Seed Grants

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CCZR Evolution Over Time
Interfacial Chemistry
Environmental Genomics
Plant Soil Sciences
Interfacial Chemistry
Environmental Genomics
Marine Studies
CCZR
Bio-Nano Technology
Bio-Nano Technology
Engineering
Critical Zone Science
2004
2006
CCZR Future
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Center for Critical Zone Research