Joyce Tester cutting the ribbon to officially open Tester’s Hub. College of Biological Sciences Dean Saara DeWalt, IBSL Director Jonathan Schilling, and Associate Director Emily Schilling with members of the Tester family.
Thousands of students, staff, and faculty make their way to Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories each year, and over a half million visitors travel to Itasca State Park. For some visitors at the Park, the modest entrance to the station piques their curiosity. For others working or studying at the station, curiosity arises to learn more about who else is on campus. The new John R. Tester Science Hub (aka Tester’s Hub) gives a well-situated meeting point at the natural overlap between science and community.
Named after longtime station biologist and renowned scientist Dr. John Tester, the ‘Hub’ is a physical extension of IBSL’s longstanding commitment to engaging local community. Once the old front office, the newly remodeled interior now has a conference room, kitchenette, accessible bathroom, and communal office space. IBSL Director Jonathan Schilling describes it as “a space that is intentionally warm, inviting, and engaging. We want people to connect to something deep.”
“We called it a hub because it is in the middle of campus, capturing activity from faculty row, student bunkhouses, and our entrance road,” says Schilling. “John helped create the conditions here for a thriving scientific community. Students and faculty would spend extended time at the station over the summers focused on nature and conservation. Tester’s Hub will echo that sense of purpose to a new, more diverse group of users.” –Stephanie Xenos