Department of Geosciences Facilities

The Department of Geosciences is located on the 2nd floor in the Physical Science Building (building #3) on lower campus of Idaho State University. The entire building was remodeled in 2001 with 4 new teaching laboratories added and 2 computer labs for geoscience majors. The faculty have large individual offices to accomodate research and collaboration, with laboratories and classrooms nearby. Graduate students share offices (usually 2 students per office), undergraduates have a large shared office space area, and there is a kitchen/lounge area open to geology majors, grad students and faculty.

There are various laboratories available to students and faculty in the department, ranging from teaching labs to individual research labs, computer labs and instrument labs. Most of the labs are supervised by individual faculty members, and used primarily by them and their students. Most of the needs of the department are met with these in house labs, but their are other labs on campus and at other institutions frequently used for collaborative research and teaching. Below are descriptions and

	Laboratory for Environmental Geochemistry (LEG) The ISU Department of Geosciences Laboratory for Environmental Geoscience (LEG) comprises a major addition to the department and represents an extension of current endeavors in research, as well as public service and continuing education. The Geosciences-LEG is capable of performing comprehensive studies of most geologic and inorganic geochemical aspects in a wide range of environmental systems.
	Digital Mapping and Research Laboratory The Digital Mapping and Research Laboratory, is primarily devoted to the success of graduate students using state of the art research facilities. The lab is equipped with PC's and MAC's with software such as ArcMap, ENVI, Photoshop, Microsoft Office Suite, and others as needed. There are scanners, digital cameras, portable LCD projectors, laptops, and GPS units. Several printers are available as well as a 36"-wide HP Plotter for printing large maps, posters, etc.
	Student/Teaching Computer Laboratory The student lab is set up to be used as a teaching facility with 14 PC computers in classroom style rows, dry erase board, built in LCD projector and roll down projector screen. The lab is used for some classes, but is open to all geology majors as a computer lab the rest of the time. Software includes - Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Freehand 10, ArcMAP 9.x, Arcview 3.x, ENVI, and a variety of other software specific to geology applications.
	BCAL/Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory "BCAL" - Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory - is a new research and educational remote sensing laboratory funded by NOAA and based in the Idaho Water Center in Boise, Idaho. It is a branch of the Department of Geosciences at Idaho State University Boise Center. BCAL offers fundamental and applied research in remote sensing, and educational opportunities for students in the Geosciences department and the community in southwest Idaho.
	GIS Training and Research Center Facilities The GIS Training and Research Center is a university-wide facility administered by the Office of Research serving all colleges and departments at Idaho State University and the GIS community of southeast Idaho. Classes and workshops are offered to undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff and anyone in the community interested in GIS. Visit the GIS Training and Research Center to view some of the completed research conducted with this facility.
	Petrography laboratory with petrographic and ore microscopes for the study of rock thin sections, mineral grains, and ore samples, including automated photo-micrographic equipment.
			Map room with topographic maps of all sizes plus aerial photos, and various geologic maps.

Paleontology laboratories with teaching and research collections plus sample preparation equipment.

Sedimentary processes laboratory with a 40-foot, high-discharge, variable gradient flume and a 12-foot stream table.

Soils and sediment analysis laboratory with an HIAC system particle size analyzer, Franz magnetic separator, sieves, settling tubes, heavy liquids, large centrifuge, and other items needed for these studies. Laboratory permeameters and field hydrologic test equipment are also available.

Other Facilities and Equipment available at ISU

• Geophysical equipment includes a Worden Gravimeter, a proton magnetometer, shallow seismic and shallow resistivity equipment.
• Surveying equipment includes: transits, plane tables and alidades.
• The College of Engineering has modern surveying equipment, a machine shop, a scanning electron microscope, and a small nuclear reactor.
• The Department of Physics has a machine shop, electronics shop, several accelerators.
• The Idaho Geological Survey has modern hydrologic field test equipment, including data loggers and pressure transducers, portable submersible pump and generator, water quality analysis equipment, and soil sampling equipment.

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