Stable Isotope Facility

The Stable Isotope Facility is a science lab which combines chemistry, mathematics and ecology to understand biological processes in plants, animals and humans.  By taking tissue from any formerly or currently living species, one can analysis its isotopic ratios to determine where a plant acquires its water, what a species of bear ate 100 years ago compared to today, the distance a butterfly travels, and more.  Stable isotope ecology is a cutting-edge science, and the SIF is one of the finest facilities of its kind in the world.

Examples of SIF-classroom interaction:

1. Conduct a two-day experiment, first retrieving plant tissues and extracting the water; then analyzing the isotopic ratios in the SIF (for local groups of classes able to travel).
2. Collect plant tissues (or another type of non-invasive tissue extract, such as a stray feather) and mail it to the SIF.  SIF staff will process the material for you and return the data for your class to analyze.
3. Work on a Science Fair project, directly in collaboration with SIF staff.  Science Fair projects can surround topics like
   
   1. plants' use of water (deep water v. precipitation)
   2. human metabolic rates,
   3. global climate change (CO²),
   4. food adulteration (substituting some amount of corn syrup to boost honey volume, for example),
   5. geo-location (tracking where a person has been through hair samples)

Outcomes include:

• Enhanced study of a scientific question - students delve deeper by conducting research and using cutting edge lab equipment.

• Increased higher-order thinking by considering compounding factors and making connections between causes and effects.

• Engagement with the scientific community - students feel a heightened sense of investment in the topic because it creates a platform for interacting with real scientists.

Get Started:

Contact the Biodiversity Institute at 307-766-6240 or biodiversity@uwyo.edu to discuss with Dorothy Tuthill, Associate Director, what your class can do this school year!

Need more context?  Here is a poster outlining the program and offering suggestions, and a handy postcard summarizing the idea.  Contact Dr. Dorothy with any questions or to get your class involved.

>>Provide feedback on this and other programs the Biodiversity Institute offers.