Lab Tours

What do scientists do all day?

Lab Tours provide students and teachers with real-world insights of what practicing scientists, engineers, and mathematicians do. Lab Tours occur when a teacher brings his/her students to campus to give students real experiences in cutting-edge research in STEM fields.  Additionally, bringing students to campus allows students to experience the excitement and energy of a research university.  Lab Tours generally involve students touring Graduate Fellows working labs, followed by a hands-on activity related to their research. (This activity may take place in the lab or in a near-by classroom depending on the size of the lab.)  Additionally, students may get to see other highlights of the University of Wyoming campus, such as the Geology Museum, Shell 3D Visualization Center (CAVE), Planetarium, and more!

We are excited to show students and teachers the research labs at the University and to provide hands-on experiences to give them a taste of what scientists, engineers and mathematicians do.

• Lab tours are offered to middle and high school students.
• Each lab tour lasts from 45 minutes to an hour.
• Each lab tour has a maximum of 15 students, and we can accommodate a maximum of 75 students total.
• We can accommodate larger classes by running several lab tours concurrently, but we can only accommodate a maximum of 75 students total.
• Before you arrive for your lab tour, we require that you send us a roster listing the students by group and naming the chaperone for each group.
• Please have each of your students wear a nametag.
• To protect the integrity of the research being done in these working labs, no audiovisual recording will be allowed without the express prior consent of the Science Posse and the University of Wyoming. (This is for safety and insurance purposes.)

Other Places of Interest on Campus: The School of Energy Resources, The Geological Museum, and The Berry Biodiversity Center also provide tours of their facilities. Depending on the size of the group, we may request their help to provide additional sessions. If, after exploring their offerings, you decide you would like a tour of those facilities as part of your visit, the request form gives you that option. We will then coordinate do our best to work out the details to incorporate that into your time on campus. (To avoid confusion, please do not contact them directly AND fill out a request; do one or the other.)

Shell 3-D Visualization Laboratory "The CAVE" The Shell 3-D Visualization research laboratory enables scientists and engineers to combine high-resolution stereoscopic projections and 3-D computer graphics to create a virtual environment. The Shell 3-D Visualization research laboratory is an amazing tool for discovery.

The Geological Museum The UW Geological Museum features a variety of displays to illustrate Wyoming's past environments, highlighted by a 75-foot Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus) and "Big Al," the most complete Allosaurus fossil ever found.

The Berry Biodiversity Center The Berry Center is a great place for families, classes and the UW community to visit, interact and learn! Highlights include the Museum of Vertebrates and the  "Berry Prairie" Green Roof Join us, and see science in action!

 

How to schedule a lab tour:   If you are interested in a lab tour for the 2015-2016 school year, please fill out the survey found HERE.  You should get a response within 2 weekdays of filling out the survey.  If you do not get a response, please contact MegDiane@uwyo.edu directly.