The main purpose of the IU Research and Teaching Preserve field lab is to enhance research and teaching in the environmental sciences on the Indiana University campus. Life science is a major emphasis of Indiana University. And, in consideration of large scale global climate change, pollutants, limitations of food production, and ever-increasing needs for clean water, the field lab helps position IU as a real world problem solver in the 21st century.

Construction of the 6000-square-foot Indiana University Research and Teaching Preserve field lab was completed in April 2009. This innovative building serves as a laboratory classroom in a natural setting (situated near University Lake on the Griffy Woods property) and is the first LEED-certified building at IU Bloomington. The field lab will be a hub for environmental research and teaching--fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among geologists, biologists, geographers, climatologists, and other environmental scientists.

The Willard Pavilion: An observation platform constructed as a memorial to Dan Willard's many contributions to IU overlooks University Lake at Griffy Woods. Read about Dan Willard and the Willard Pavilion.

Read more about the new field lab: Indiana University celebrates Earth Day with the opening of the field laboratory (IU News Room, 04/23/2009) IU preserve research lab dedicated (Bloomington Herald-Times, 04/24/2009) IU opens new "green" field laboratory (WTIU NewsMatters news break, 04/27/2009) IU opens field laboratory (Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, 04/23/2009) New IU field lab combines nature, technology (Indiana Daily Student, 11/11/2008) Indiana University's Field Lab to infuse new life into research and teaching (IU Press Release, 10/20/2008) Earth Lab: IU to build environmental science field station at isolated spot in town, on campus (Bloomington Herald-Times, 10/17/2008)

Commitment to Excellence in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science funds paid for building plans and construction. A National Science Foundation grant covered the cost to connect the new facility to the Internet via fiber optic lines.

The facility houses three labs for "dirty" field work, one for "clean" work (e.g., data entry and research collaboration), and a teaching/prep lab. There is a meeting room/classroom. There will be high-tech monitoring equipment for various disciplines including meteorology, geology, hydrology, biology, ecology, and other earth sciences; and continuous monitors of weather, stream flow, and other data.