Biosphere 2

Located in Southern Arizona, at the base of the beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains, Biosphere 2 serves as an important educational and research center for the biological sciences. This one-of-a-kind facility is surrounded by natural desert preserve and allows visitors to experience real-time research on the future of our planet as it unfolds in the specially designed mini-world, as well as several educational exhibits.

The University of Arizona assumed management of Biosphere 2 in June 2007, with a three-year lease of the 3.14 acre facility. A $30 million gift from the Philecology Foundation, founded by Edward P. Bass, funds Bisophere 2 operations and some research projects. Other grants and awards, primarily from the National Science Foundation, also support research activities.

As a laboratory for large-scale projects, the university’s stewardship of Biosphere 2 will allow the University of Arizona to perform key experiments aimed at quantifying some of the consequences of global climate change.

For more information, including hours of operation, visit the official Biosphere 2 website.