We are pleased to announce the funding of the first seed grant proposal which was awarded to Dr. Lixin Jin, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso.  The proposal entitled "Using carbon isotopes to determine the sources and mass balance of CO₂ during shale weathering at Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory" will build upon previous research completed by REU students at Penn State.  The project  proposes to quantitatively determine C mass balance in the SSHO watershed using stable carbon isotopes, by identifying major carbon reservoirs and quantifying turnover rates of different carbon pathways.  The award amount was $9,886.  During the period of preformance, two undergraduate students at UTEP will learn and complete laboratory techniques and analyses.