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Facilities
The Biology Department
maintains extensive facilities for teaching and research. Eight research
laboratories are used by the faculty, and most projects include student
participation. Two general teaching laboratories support courses in
introductory biology, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. The environmental
laboratory provides both wet lab benches and conventional class seating for
courses in ecology and environmental science. A new laboratory, completed in
summer 2006 serves advanced courses in physiology and cell and molecular
biology. All the laboratories are equipped with modern light microscopes and
mobile laptop computers.
Field sampling equipment is available for
forestry, wetland, and limnology projects Cell and tissue work is supported by
a scanning electron microscope, fluorescence phase microscopes, and equipment
for histological preparations. A DNA sequencer was added in 2005.
Environmental growth chambers are available for culturing microorganisms and
plants. Two greenhouses support classroom work and student-faculty research
projects.
Teaching Laboratories
The main floor of Holtzinger houses two teaching laboratories. The second floor has a newly equipped environmental studies laboratory. A fourth laboratory, for advanced courses
was added in Fall 2005.
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Classroom Technology
Our facility has both IBM and MAC computer carts, which contain 12 laptop computers each and are utilized as teaching tools in the laboratory classrooms. Other resources include Pasco PasPort sensors, used for data collection and analysis in the science labs.
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Research Laboratories
All faculty maintain individual laboratories for their research programs, which typically involve undergraduate researcher.
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Greenhouse
The department maintains a modern greenhouse facility to accommodate the
botanical teaching collection, as well to provide for the research needs of the
faculty and their students. The larger of the two greenhouses is open for
independent student projects.
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Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL)
Take a virtual tour
The facility houses faculty and research space and is intended to serve as a field station on campus. Located behind the Spring Run Stadium Nearby environments for study include a variety of habitats: stream, old field, pond and a 20 acre woodland.
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Field Sites
Recent Project have taken faculty to field stations and study sites in the Great Lakes, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, New York, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominica, and New Zealand.
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Penn State Altoona Natural Study Sites
Penn State Altoona’s 150-acre campus provides our students opportune access
to multiple natural study sites. The diversity of habitats includes undisturbed
fields, two ponds, forested areas, and a stream. Students have opportunities to
use these sites in their laboratory exercises and independent research. In
addition, within a half hour drive of the campus there are extensive areas for
study and research. |
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Nearby Study Sites and Natural Areas
Canoe Creek State Park is a 957 acre park with diversified habitat and a 155 acre lake where faculty are engaged in research as well as education.
Prince Gallitzin State Park has 6,249 acres of mixed habitat including a 1,600 acre lake.
Blue Knob state Park has 5,874 acres of woodlands and the second highest mountain (3,146 ft) in Pennsylvania
Penn State University’s Russell Larson Agricultural Experiment station with its experimental field plots and greenhouse is less than 45 minutes from the Altoona campus.
State Game Lands containing a diverse assemblage of terrestrial and wetland habitats are located within 15 minutes of the campus.
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