Biology Department

Westfield State College's location is ideal for field studies in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial environments including woodlands, streams, and ponds. We are located within walking distance of Stanley Park and the Little River. Numerous biology classes conduct field labs in the Nature Preserve at Stanley Park and along the Little River. Field trips to more distant rivers, woodlands, natural areas, and the coast are standard faire in many courses.

The Biology Department has twelve laboratories available for use by students at all levels of study. The department stresses the use of living material for laboratory work whenever possible; therefore many of the materials used in the courses listed below are obtained from the Specialized Facilities on campus. Computers for data collection, data analysis, simulations, and Internet connections are available in many laboratories.

Laboratories

GENERAL BIOLOGY LAB: Three courses which are available to all students are taught in this lab.

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY LAB: The study of the relationships of plants and animals to their environments, and human interactions with the environment is undertaken here.

BOTANY LAB: Used in conjunction with the greenhouse and field trips, this lab also uses two growth chambers to study propagation and light intensity.

GENETICS/DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY LAB: Students study genetic crosses and the mechanisms of inheritance. A special incubator is available for the study of embryological growth in birds and the adjoining tank room is used to study the development of Japanese medaka fish.

CELL BIOLOGY/MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LAB: Students study cell and molecular biology through use of bright-field and phase contrast microscopy; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE); and nucleic acid analysis using horizontal slab gel agarose electrophoresis, cloning, and polymerase chain reaction techniques.

HISTOLOGY LAB: Students prepare and examine tissues from many types of organisms.

HUMAN ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY LAB: This lab is equipped with skeletons, human models, and other apparatus for studying humans.

VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY/ANATOMY LAB: Students study the structure and function of the vertebrate body through use of computer simulations and computer interface physiological recording equipment.

MICROBIOLOGY LAB: Three growth chambers, at different temperatures, are used to incubate microbes for study. A media preparation room and freeze-dry unit are also available.

AQUATIC BIOLOGY LAB: With its adjoining tank room, this lab is used for the study of pond, stream,bog, and marine organisms, and for keeping live specimens from these environments.

Specialized Facilities

MACINTOSH COMPUTER LABS: The Biology Department maintains a Macintosh computer lab, and a portable cart with 24 Macintosh MacBook Pros. Room W214 has 12 iMacs and is available from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday except when classes are scheduled. The portable lab is also available to be scheduled by any faculty member on campus. Please see the portable Mac lab schedule to determine when it is available. Faculty/staff may also sign out a MacBook Pro for temporary use. If you wish to take the laptop off campus you must also complete the Property Control Form.

PORTABLE PC LAPTOP LAB: The Biology Department maintains a portable cart with 25 PC laptops that are available to be scheduled by any faculty member on campus. These laptops have Arc GIS 9.2 installed in addition to the standard software. Please see the portable PC lab schedule to determine when it is available. Faculty/staff may also sign out a PC laptop for temporary use. If you wish to take the laptop off campus you must also complete the Property Control Form.

GREENHOUSE: This functions as a living museum, a teaching room, and a research lab. It also supplies plants for external and internal landscaping on the campus.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPE: Housed in a special suite of rooms on the first floor of Wilson Science Building, the microscope, which is one of only two in the state college system, is capable of magnifying cell tissue structure well beyond the range of the light microscope.

STERILIZATION ROOM: Two regular size autoclaves, and one large one, enable the sterilization of items as large as animal cages. Two large washer/dryers handle the cleaning of glassware from the labs.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBERS: The Biology Department operates nine growth chambers, all of which can be maintained at constant temperature, and several of which offer controlled humidity. These chambers are used for studying the effects of temperature and humidity on living organisms and for maintaining cultureing conditions.

LIVING STREAM: Located in the tank room of the aquatic biology lab, this facility duplicates local stream conditions for studying stream organisms, including fish that are usually difficult to keep.

HERB GARDEN:Located adjacent to the greenhouses, this garden contains many varieties of herbs both common and rare.

MUSEUM AND HERBARIUM: The Museum room houses greater than 3010 study skins and mounts of birds and mammals. Displays in the exhibit area are changed periodically. In the Herbarium are greater than 14,010 plant specimens.