NSF Home IMAGE LIBRARY HOME Contact NSF Image Library How to Use the NSF Image Library
Image Search


IMAGE SEARCH
ALL IMAGES
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
NEWS IMAGES
NSF SENIOR STAFF
OTHER PHOTO SOURCES
Image: Amy Barnes, an NSF fellow and graduate student in materials science, makes phosphate glass to use with her doctoral research. Glass surfaces can substitute for mineral surfaces in experimental procedures. Barnes is a participant in Penn State University’s Biogeochemical Research Initiative for Education (BRIE) Program, which began in 1998 under a matching grant from the National Science Foundation and Penn State.<BR> <BR> <U><B>More about this Image</B></U><BR> Amy Barnes, a third year graduate student in materials science, is a participant in Penn State University’s BRIE Program. She arrived at Penn State on a National Science Foundation fellowship in materials science and engineering to work with world-renowned glass expert Carlo Pantano. Most of the glass making that she does is part of an undergraduate laboratory class that she helps Pantano teach. But she also makes phosphate glass to use with her doctoral research. Phosphate glass is different from the glass that’s in windows, which is built around sand or silica.<BR> <BR> Barnes graduate work involves studying the interaction between microbes and minerals. She is particularly interested in how microbes obtain phosphorous from their surroundings, which they require to survive even though it is not readily available. Barnes is trying to find out how microbes bind to (or attack) minerals to get the nutrients they need.<BR> <BR> Barnes research model is a simplified version of the mineral-microbe interaction. She substitutes phosphate glass for minerals found in nature. Barnes says using minerals from nature in her research is difficult because there’s so much variability in their composition and you have no control over how they’re made. This makes it hard to understand fundamental interactions at the surface. If you make glass in the lab, you can control what goes into it.<BR> <BR> As a veteran BRIE student, Banes continues her own research as well as assists with other BRIE classes, sharing what’s she learned through the program to help other students succeed.<BR> Thumbnail

Name:

E-mail Address:

Where will the image be used:
NSF requests users to complete an electronic information form documenting the requestor's planned use of the image. This form provides us with valuable tracking information that will help to shape the contents of the image library in the future. We do not retain any personal information (name, email address other than domain name - “.edu,” “.org,” “.com,” “.gov,” etc.) in our files. If you would prefer not to provide your name and email address, type any letter in those boxes. For information about NSF’s Privacy Policy, please see http://www.nsf.gov/home/pubinfo/privacy.htm.


Image Library HomeNSF HomeOffice of Legislative and Public Affairs Home

The National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22230, USA
Tel: 703-292-5111
FIRS: 800-877-8339 ~ TDD: 703-292-5090

Last Modified: Jan 31, 2001