Science Center Facilities
The Mary Brown Bullock Science Center, opened in 2003, houses the departments of biology, chemistry, psychology and physics. Astronomy classes and research facilities are located nearby in the renovated Bradley Observatory and Delafield Planetarium. State-of-the-art instrumentation in the Science Center includes:
- X-ray spectrometer, which allows quantum mechanics experiments of many sorts using X-rays as the probe
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for investigation of molecular structure and dynamics
- Scanning tunneling microscope and atomic force microscope, used to study topography, conductivity, reactivity and hardness of surfaces or of molecules attached to surfaces at the atomic and molecular level
- Walk-in cold and warm rooms and environmental plant growth chambers, which provide controlled conditions for experimentation
- Confocal laser fluorescent microscope for three-dimensional digital cell imaging; scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope for ultrafine resolution of cells and organisms
- Eight computer-controlled Skinner boxes used to examine learning in animals
- Eye-tracking system that monitors and maps eye position in relation to computer imaging
- Two dedicated faculty/student research labs adjacent to related teaching labs
- Teaching laboratory for ecology, field botany and environmental science
- Student project laboratory that supports long-term projects in plant biology, ecology and environmental science
- Neuroscience laboratory suite for interdisciplinary studies in psychology and biology
- Greenhouse with a controlled environment for plants and small aquatic organisms
- NMR laboratory facility
- Microscopy suite containing microscopes, a darkroom and a specimen preparation area to support studies of cells, tissues and organisms
- Two psychology data analysis computer labs with workstations for faculty and students
- Laboratory space for faculty-student research in physics and psychology
- Teaching laboratories for introductory physics, quantum physics and electronics
- Windows-based computer laboratory with 15 workstations for learning computer methods used in the sciences
- Six faculty/student biology research laboratories
- Specialized teaching laboratories for of the major branches of biology
- Student project laboratory with dedicated lab space for student experimentation in biology
- Biology student support suite including a collaborative learning center and an office for teaching assistants who provide daily learning support
- Two chemistry computer laboratories for data collection and analysis
- Five faculty/student chemistry research laboratories
- Dedicated teaching laboratories for introductory, organic, analytical, physical, and inorganic chemistry as well as biochemistry
- Multi-purpose chemistry instrumentation laboratory used in almost every chemistry course
- Chemistry student support suite including a student collaborative learning center and an office for teaching assistants who provide daily learning support