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The Meyer Science Center
The Meyer Science Center is a state-of-the-art facility with 128,000 square feet of offices, laboratories, research facilities, and classrooms. Completed in 2010, the building was certified in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold standard. Meyer Science Center uses 25% less energy than the typical standard in its class which was achieved by installing an energy-recovery unit in the attic and implementing techniques such as sun shades on the south façade. 70% of the building’s energy is provided by green-e-certified renewable energy providers. Water use has also been reduced by 41% over the baseline case by installing water-efficient fixtures and using drought-tolerant, native plants in landscaping. The Earth and Environmental Science Department includes an exploratory center, research labs, recently renovated computer labs, and an impressive array of environmental equipment.
Analytical Instrumentation
- Frantz electromagnetic separator
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Student and research petrographic microscopes
- Rigaku Miniflex 600 X-ray diffractometer
- Rigaku NEX energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF)
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Cathodoluminoscope
- Raman spectrometer
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Multi-channel exploration seismograph
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Earthquake seismology base station
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Elementary resistivity unit
Other Facilities and Equipment
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Rock preparation lab with saws and polishing equipment
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Water, air, and sedimentation sampling devices
- Stream flow meters
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Rock/mineral/fossil reference collection and public exhibits
- The Perry Mastodon exhibit
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Student research and study space
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Geographic Information System (GIS) computer lab
- Tabletop hydrodynamic flume
- Emriver Em2 stream table
- Ro-Tap sediment sieve shaker
- LS-100 mud rotary drill rig
Nearby Resources
The greater Chicago area is rich in opportunities for earth and environmental service and study. Within an hour of Wheaton's campus are such world-class resources as
- Lincoln Park and Brookfield Zoos,
- the Shedd Aquarium,
- the Morton Arboretum, and
- the extensive Cook and DuPage County Forest Preserve system
Chicago's extensive urban environments also provide opportunities to study the sociological dimensions of environmental issues in urban settings. These facilities and settings provide our students with close, firsthand opportunities for study, research, and service.
Wheaton College Science Station
The Wheaton College Science Station, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, provides the geology program with an excellent facility to further enhance instruction and research. Learn more about the Science Station