Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories is one of the oldest continuously operated inland field stations in the United States. The Station is located on the shores of Lake Itasca in Itasca State Park, near the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
The Station opened in 1909, not long after the establishment of Itasca State Park by the State of Minnesota, and thus is an integral part of a well-protected ecosystem. The intersection of the northern coniferous forest, the eastern deciduous forest, and the western prairie make Itasca the perfect place to study many organisms in their natural environments.
Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories is a unit of the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. It is host to a teaching program in the field sciences open to all college and university students in the U.S. and internationally. If you are an undergraduate or graduate student in good standing at any institution of higher learning, you can enroll in our field courses at the Station. The credits are fully transferable to most institutions.
Outside of the field sciences program, the IBSL hosts other units and activities in many disciplines. We have programs in the neurosciences, cell biology, molecular techniques, high school teacher training, and international programs with Brazil and the Czech Republic.
The Station has dining hall facilities and living space for approximately 120 people. Consider it for your special meetings, teaching programs, or retreats.
We also have a number of sponsored scientific research projects each year at the Station. If you are a researcher and wish to use the Itasca Station for your research work, please feel free to contact us to explore the possibilities.
On behalf of the staff and faculty of the Lake Itasca Forestry and Biological Station, I invite you to attend a class or use the facilities for research or your group meetings. If you have any questions, please contact the associate director Dr. Jon Ross, our program administrator Erin Fider, or me via phone or email. We can provide information about availability of the facilities and current fees. We look forward to working with you in planning your event at Itasca.
—Professor David Biesboer, Ph.D., Director, IBSL
