Science Laboratories
The division of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computer (NSMC) maintains laboratory facilities adjacent to classrooms in Brownson Hall.
NSMC has laboratories for principles of biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, environmental biology, and senior research. The Electron Microscopy Center has scanning and transmission electron microscopes, ultramicrotomes, and a dark room for the development of photomicrographs. Recent renovations have provided several new laboratory spaces for research and teaching, including: a cold storage room and waste management facility, a “smart classroom” which makes possible technology-enhanced instruction of biology classes, seminars and research presentations, and a state-of-the-art research Tissue Culture Facility. This facility supports the long-term maintenance and experimentation of suspension and adherent cell lines and explant cultures for both classroom and research endeavors. In addition, a recently renovated rooftop greenhouse allows for additional plant biology related coursework and experimentation. There is also a comparative biology laboratory that houses reptiles and amphibians.
NSMC's chemistry laboratory equipment includes an Agilent Technologies 7820A Gas Chromatograph, an Agilent Technologies 5975 series Mass Spectrometer, a Perkin Elmer Spectrum 100 FT-IR spectrometer, a Varian 920 Liquid Chromatograph, a Varian Cary 100 Bio UV-VIS spectrophotometer, two Barnstead / Turner SP-830 spectrophotometers, a PicoSpin-45 NMR spectrometer, and an Anasazi 60 MHz NMR spectrometer. NSMC also has computers available for computational chemistry and molecular modeling.
The newly renovated Physics Studio is outfitted with a 3-D printer for rapid prototyping in physics experiments and physics-based design projects. There is also a Computer Aided Design station along with other tools and equipment to enable physics students to create electronic devices of their own designs.
The University has an Environmental Studies Classroom that is situated within an environmental research park on the campus. This sustainable classroom is associated with an Eco Machine that filters water from the nearby Holladay stream that runs through the campus. Combined with the environmental park, this area provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate research in stream ecology, forestry, and ecosystem studies.
Safety in the laboratories is a serious concern. NSMC has procedures in place for their respective labs. All students are required to abide by these rules, as they ensure a safe and supportive learning environmental for all. Students should consult the Director of Laboratory Management and Safety or the appropriate department for these procedures.