The College of Science and Technology maintains numerous specialized or interdisciplinary research facilities. Just a few of these are described below.
Applied Technology in Conservation Genetics Laboratory. The ATCG Lab is a wildlife forensic laboratory specializing in genetic analyses, hair identification, necropsies, and diet analysis. The lab is fully equipped with two automated DNA sequencers, isolated PCR room, and an isolated low copy DNA room with UV decontamination.
Brooks Astronomical Observatory. The observatory houses a 16-inch (40-cm) computer-controlled classical Cassegrain reflector that is equipped for CCD direct imaging, medium-dispersion spectroscopy, 35-mm and plate photography, and UBVRI photometry as well as for visual observing.
Brooks Hall Animal Complex.
The complex houses an assortment of animal species. This diversity provides faculty, staff and students with a myriad of unique research and teaching opportunities. Other services available include in-house breeding of commonly used laboratory rodents and routine veterinary diagnostic procedures.
Central Michigan University Herbarium (CMC). The CMC Herbarium houses over 26,000 dried plant specimens with specialty collections including the Beaver Island Archipelago, Neithercut Woodlot, local flora and aquatic vascular plants of Michigan. Facilities and equipment are available for plant identification, macro- and microscopic viewing of specimens, collecting and processing voucher specimens, and loan exchange with the global herbarium community. CMC’s regional collections are tremendously valuable in characterizing diversity, and provide a vital information link in the available information on statewide distribution of plant species.
CMU Biological Station.CMUBS is located on the sandy eastern shoreline of Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, close to numerous pristine ecosystems. Academic courses are taught at the station during the spring and summer months, and research facilities are available year-round.
DNA Sequencing and Analysis Core Facility (DNA-SACF). This modern facility is equipped for molecular biology-based research. Existing equipment available for student and faculty research includes an automated DNA sequencer, DNA sequencing analysis software, microarray scanner, real-time PCR unit and gel documenting station.
Geographic Information Systems Center. The GIS Center facilitates the use of spatially-referenced data for applied projects, research and teaching. State-of-the-art hardware, software and data sets enable students and faculty to engage in many types of projects.
Michigan Water Research Center. The MWRC facilitates interdisciplinary research in water sciences. Participating laboratories support comprehensive water quality analysis, and provide training and internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
The water chemistry laboratory houses aBran + Luebbe Autoanalyzer and a Beckman DU 640 B spectrophotometer. Students analyze plankton and age fish with a Wild M 5A stereomicroscope and a Nikon phase contrast compound microscope. Field measurements are collected with a state-of-the-art Hydrolab minisonde multiprobe.
Microscopy and Microanalysis Facilities. The College of Science and Technology facility houses a Philips CM 10 Transmission Electron Microscope, a JOEL JSM-840A Scanning Electron Microscope with EDS for elemental analysis, and an Olympus Fluoview 300 Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. Additional equipment supports biological and materials science specimen preparation.
Natural History Collection. The natural history collections are located in Rowe Hall and contain over 24,500 specimens including mammals, birds, fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and some dry specimens including shells. The museum's geology collection consists of fossil plants, fossil animals, minerals, and rocks. The collection contains the 2nd largest collection of birds in the State of Michigan. In addition, it contains examples of contraband species, rare and endangered species, historically important species, and a few type species.
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Through a partnership with Central Michigan University, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, a biological field station in Hastings, Michigan, offers a number of rare qualities and habitats that make it attractive to the student and faculty members in the natural sciences. Undergraduate students attending Central Michigan University qualify to apply for a grant to conduct summer research, with a faculty mentor, in the natural sciences at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. The grant includes a stipend and room and board. Students may participate in a three-week college course held at the Institute in conjunction with other universities and colleges.
Polymeric Materials Science and Technology Institute. The base for an interdisciplinary program in polymer science, the Institute conducts cutting-edge and applied research and fosters cooperation between the university and industry for training and research in polymer science.
