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Iowa Lakeside Laboratory

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is a field station run cooperatively by the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Consortium, whose members include The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and Drake University. Iowa Lakeside Laboratory courses can be taken for credit through all consortium member schools. Students should check with their advisors to determine whether Iowa Lakeside Laboratory courses can be used to satisfy requirements of their academic majors or minors, or college or university general education requirements.

The laboratory was established in 1909 for the conservation and study of the rich flora and fauna of northwest Iowa, especially the numerous lakes, wetlands, and prairies of the Iowa Great Lakes region. The campus is located on approximately 140 acres of restored prairie, wetland, and gallery forest along the west shore of West Okoboji Lake. Lakeside's mission is to provide undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity for hands-on experience in a variety of natural and human environments through its field-oriented summer courses, and to provide research facilities and support for graduate students and faculty members working on research projects in northwestern Iowa.

Each summer Iowa Lakeside Laboratory offers students a unique educational experience--small, full-immersion, field-oriented courses in the natural sciences (archaeology, ecology, environmental science, evolution, geology, hydrology, soils, taxonomy). All courses meet all day Monday through Friday. The majority of courses last four weeks. Enrollment in most courses is limited to eight to ten students. Courses are taught at the undergraduate level (sophomore and junior) and the senior/graduate level. Students earn 1 s.h. for each week (40 hours) in class. One- and two-week courses also are available, including courses designed especially for teachers.

Weather permitting, students normally spend at least part of each day doing fieldwork, either as part of their class work or for individual or group projects. Because some courses are offered alternate summers, the current listing of Iowa Lakeside Laboratory courses are at http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/lakesidelab/ustudents/courses.html or the University of Iowa's summer course offerings on ISIS (Iowa Student Information Services) should be consulted for the courses being offered in a particular summer session. The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Bulletin also contains additional information about the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and about each course being offered.

Research projects by undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members can be completed either on the campus or at many nearby natural areas. Undergraduate and graduate students are strongly encouraged to do independent projects at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, and graduate students are welcome to use Lakeside as a base for their thesis and dissertation research. Laboratory space and other facilities are available for long-term or short-term research projects.

Teaching and research facilities include eight laboratory buildings, a library, and a lecture hall. Living accommodations include cottages, motel-style units, and a large mess hall. All students are encouraged to stay at Lakeside while they are taking courses to derive full advantage of its educational, professional, and social life.

Registration

Early registration is advisable. Because enrollment in Lakeside courses is limited, students should register before May 1 for the following summer session. Housing is limited at Lakeside. When students register for courses, they must either apply for housing or state that they plan to live off campus.

Financial Support

The University of Iowa provides Thomas H. Macbride Scholarships in Natural Science for qualified graduate students attending Lakeside. The scholarships cover Iowa Lakeside Laboratory tuition costs. Application deadline is April 1.

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