ASU's new ISTB 4 to advance research, discovery
In March 2010, construction began on what is now the largest research facility in the history of Arizona State University: Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV (ISTB4). This 293,000-square-foot facility provides flexible laboratories with adjoining workspace for the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE), which is the prime occupant, and also the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
A hallmark of SESE is its unprecedented commitment to formal, informal, and pre-collegiate science; as a result, ISTB4 was designed in an entirely novel way that reflects the school’s dedication to K-12 education and public outreach. The first and second floors of this building are largely devoted to the integration of cutting-edge research in earth and space sciences with public education. Visitors are invited to explore earth and space sciences through digital media and public lectures shared in a high-definition theater, glass-enclosed research laboratories that allow visitors to see scientists at work, interactive displays that encourage hands-on learning.
While the Mars rover Curiosity explores the red planet, those of us here on Earth can see a replica of the vehicle in the lobby of ISTB 4. Curiosity weighs nearly 2,000 pounds including 180 pounds of scientific instruments. It is 9 feet, 6 inches long, nearly 9 feet wide and a little over 7 feet tall. The ASU replica matches the dimensions of the real thing except it weighs 450 pounds.
The Mars Rover is placed in the Greely Panorama, dedicated to the
memory of Professor Ronald Greeley (Aug. 25, 1939-Oct. 27, 2011). The 360˚ panorama shows the spectacular view from Greeley Haven, the 2011-2012 Martian winter resting spot for NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The panorama is constructed from 817 separate images taken by the rover’s Panoramic Camera between Dec. 21, 2011 and May 8, 2012. The site’s informal name, bestowed by the science team for the Mars Exploration Rovers, is a tribute to the late Ronald Greeley, a geologist, science team member, and Regents’ Professor in ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration.
This cast or replica of a Triceratops skull is from the R.S. Dietz Museum collection. The original head is from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana.
A focal point of ISTB4 is the Marston Exploration Theater, a 250-seat theater for high-definition science documentary movies with earth and space science themes and 3D astronomy shows. In addition to regularly scheduled showings of these films, SESE faculty will be providing regular public “chatauquas” on themes such as the origin of the universe, biological evolution, and the measurement of time. Special presentations will include live viewing of NASA spacecraft launchings and landings in full Surround-Sound.
The 3,381-square-foot theater will also serve as a research facility to explore the effective use of high-end media in both formal and informal earth and space science education. This space will be used for scientific visualization research and for public outreach during the week, as well as at nights and on weekends for the general public.
Each of the 250 seats in the theater has a power outlet, a convenient feature for students and audience members wishing to charge an electronic device.
The second floor hosts a variety of learning centers for K-12 students and educators as well as the meteorite display and laboratories. Shown here are some of the engineering labs.
Scientists and engineers will meet within the five-story, naturally-lit atrium (starting at the third floor) on a series of “living rooms in the sky”. The atrium will serve as a bridge between labs and offices, encouraging chance encounters. The unique carpet featuring craters on the Moon, Mars and Earth is the eye-catching focal point of the third floor atrium.
The Center for Meteorite Studies houses the world’s largest university-based meteorite collection, with more than 15,000 specimens representing more than 1,650 individual meteorites. The new building allows greater public accessibility, the Center for Meteorite Studies and features interactive displays and a state-of-the-art vault that will allow visitors for the first time to see the entire collection of meteorites.
Inside the vault there are: 46 geological specimen cabinets with specialty meteorite drawers; 12 full-extension shelf cabinets with heavy-duty shelving that can support 500 pounds; 661 specialty specimen drawers; 54 illuminated display shelves; and 3 spotlit 8-ft diameter display surfaces. The vault is a climate-controlled room secured with advanced security monitoring equipment.
“Tres Castillos,” an iron meteorite from Chihuahua, Mexico, pictured here, is one of the many meteorites housed within the new vault.
ISTB4 was designed to encourage even greater collaboration. Collaboration areas, like this one, exist on floors three through seven. There are also collaboration areas in the northwest corner of floors two through six.
Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell (left) and ASU President Michael Crow (second from left) applaud as the RAVEN robot "cuts" the ceremonial ribbon at the conclusion of the grand opening celebration of ISTB 4, Sept. 19. RAVEN (Robotic Assist Vehicle for Extraterrestrial Navigation) is a three-wheel, 330-pound rover that can traverse 20 degree slopes and is able to travel at speeds up to 3 feet per second. It is a joint project of students from ASU and the University of Maryland.