Dana Science Center (new wing)                                                                      Dana Science Center (old wing)

The Department of Biology is located in the Dana Science Center. Much of the department is located on the third floor of this building. Here, there are eight teaching laboratories with associated preparation laboratories, numerous research laboratories and several specialty laboratories. During the 1995-1996 academic year, a major NSF-sponsored renovation modernized more than 80% of our research laboratories. In 1996, the college finished a major expansion of the Dana Science Center which increased space for Biology by more than a third.

In Dana, laboratories and equipment are availible for research and teaching in such areas as cell biology, develomental biology, molecular biology, plant and animal tissue culture, light and electron microscopy, anatomy, physiology, plant biology, genetics and ecology. The department has modern equipment including light microscopes equipped with fluorescence and DIC optics, electron microscopes, video imaging systems, centrifuges, an ultracentrifuge, cryofixation and preservation apparati, growth chambers, gas chromatograph and specialized molecular biology devices for DNA analysis, including an automated DNA sequencer. Several new laboratories have been constructed to hold the specialized equipment of the department (see below).

Outdoor Laboratory

Skidmore's North Woods, adjacent to our campus, is a 23 hectare natural laboratory for faculty and students. Habitats include northeastern deciduous forest, wetlands, and old field succession at disturbed sites.

Dedicated Laboratories

The department has recently constructed or remodeled several dedicated laboratories. In 1996, the Lintilhac Light Microscopy Laboratory opened (sponsored by a generous donation of the Crea Lintilhac '74 and Philip Lintilhac Foundation of Burlington, Vermont). This laboratory contains an Olympus BX 60 light microscope and Optronics DEI-470 video imaging system for teaching and research.

The Biology Department maintains two Electron Microscopy Laboratories. The Gessell-Castle Electron Microscopy Laboratory (sponsored by a generous donation of the Gessell-Castle '87 family) is located on the third floor of the new Dana Science Center. In the basement of Dana, the department maintains the Robert P. Mahoney Electron Microscopy Laboratory with modern SEM and TEM facilities.

Skidmore College maintains a confocal laser scanning microscope workstation in Dana 382. The station consists of an Olympus Fluoview 300 system (FV300) purchased in 2002 with generous support from the Alden Trust Foundation.

To learn more about microscopy at Skidmore, visit the Skidmore Microscopy Imaging Center website.

Greenhouse

The Greenhouse is located on the third floor of the Dana Science Center. This modern plant growth facility contains a main display area, two specialty rooms, a fully equipped potting room, and two attached laboratories. One floor above the greenhouse is the wet wall room containg an "Adirondack" waterfall loaded with liverworts and mosses.

If you need specific information concerning specific laboratories or offices, please call (518) 580-5070.