Facilities

 

AT&T Science Center

The University of the Incarnate Word’s Math, Science, and Engineering complex includes the AT&T Science Center which is designed for and utilized by both the Department of Biology and the Department of Chemistry. The building contains two floors of biology labs, two floors of chemistry labs, and another floor dedicated to research, all provided with state-of-the-art lab equipment. Faculty offices and student study areas are also located throughout the building.

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Launch AT&T Science Center

The University of the Incarnate Word’s NMR Facility is located at the AT&T Science Center, and it is available to students, staff and faculty. It includes two NMR spectrometers: A Bruker 300 MHz and an Anasazi Eft-90. Accessing the NMR facility requires prior training. All researchers using the NMRs should pay a fee to use the NMR instruments. The money is used to cover all costs of operation, including cryogens (liquid helium and nitrogen) and maintenance of the instruments. Reservations of the NMR Facility are done online here.

The Super Magnet Lab, located inside the AT&T Building, began with the Department of Defense Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Equipment/Instrumentation grant proposal submitted in 2015 and awarded in 2016.

Within the lab is a +/- 9 Tesla cryogen free, superconducting NMR magnet with a variable temperature sample space (room temperature down to 1.7 K), a one of a kind equipment that was installed in January 2018. The lab also includes a Tecmag Redstone NMR spectrometer capable of measuring any NMR active element located in the lab.

Currently, the crogen-free superconducting magnet is utilized by Dr. Rosa Elia Cárdenas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics, and several undergraduate science students.

 

Bonilla Science Hall

Renovated and reopened in 2006 with state-of-the-art equipment, the Bonilla Science Hall (BSH) houses the departments of Engineering, Mathematics, Nutrition, Atmospheric Science (Meteorology) and Physics at the Broadway campus. The BSH contains classrooms and modern labs for fluid mechanics, materials engineering, electronics, meteorology (broadcast and operational), nutrition health, mechanics, and elementary school education. A math tutoring center is located on the third floor with a tutor on standby for students in need of math or statistic course assistance or requiring computer access. Also located on the second floor (BSH 216) is an 18-station computer lab that offers updated software for classes and private research.

Faculty have offices near their classrooms to allow for easy and open interaction between professors and students. Students are encouraged to utilize the study tables, writing boards, and mini textbook libraries in the faculty office area of the BSH. Multi-purpose meeting rooms equipped with A/V technology are available to faculty, staff and students on the second floor.

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Launch Experience

The Broadcast Meteorology Lab, located in Room 327 of the Bonilla Science Hall, is used as a teaching and research space utilized by Broadcast Meteorology students. The lab has three studio cameras with teleprompter and through-the-lens live display, five production sets that span a range of TV stations in which students can work, and a large format green screen wall. It also has several large-format TV monitors used for short clips, breaking weather news and in-depth weather stories.

The real-time weather data and numerical weather prediction model results are provided by a 24/7 Baron weathercasting system data feed with Lynx software and highly trained staff. The Broadcast Meteorology lab also contains offline workstations to allow students to develop stories and weather graphics used during class. The lab is linked into KUIW TV for live broadcasting across the campus.

The Climate and Data Lab, located in Room 333 of the Bonilla Science Hall, is utilized for instructing students who are studying Operational Meteorology. This lab consists of a nine-panel display for weather map, model and radar ad satellite display, as well as a Panasonic Panaboard for video display and instruction. Several remote weather stations, which are used to gather data for weather modeling, are placed on the McCombs Center, Solar House, Bonilla Science Hall and the Headwaters—all which are remotely accessible. There are eight workstations for students to use during in-class assignments.

This lab allows students to process data collected from extensive fieldwork in and around campus using state-of-the-art forecasting equipment. Special project equipment includes a stand-alone Orion Weather station, two tipping bucket precipitation gauges, handheld Kestrel weather and wind speed meters, Labquest II data acquisition systems with high temporal resolution temperature and pressure sensors, sling psychrometers, a heat flux sensor and IR thermometers. Students can also access lab samples that include multiple tree cross-sections (tree ring analysis) and one ocean floor core sample. The University also operates and maintains a weather observation system for the National Weather Service.

The Nutrition Kitchen Labs, located on the third floor of Bonilla Science Hall, offers UIW students the opportunity to get hands-on cooking experience. The lab is equipped with seven lab stations, with one lab station built in accordance with the American Disability Act (ADA) standards, and a demonstration station. Each lab station accommodates three students and is equipped with a four gas-burner cooking range, a retractable downdraft ventilation system, a baking oven, a microwave oven and a two-compartment stainless steel sink. Additionally, there is a dining room and a cold storage room equipped with a commercial stainless-steel refrigerator, freezer, ice machine and metro-shelving.

The Nutrition Kitchen Labs are occupied five days a week for various classes including elective courses as International Cuisine, World Cuisine, and is utilized for undergraduate and graduate research projects. Since 2015, the miniGEMS program has brought future women scientists from middle schools in the San Antonio Independent School District to UIW for summer camps. The summer camp utilizes the Kitchen Lab for producing nutritious meals for attendees.

 

Solar House

The University of the Incarnate Word’s Solar House is designed and used by the UIW Department of Engineering. The solar array in the house provides electricity for it year-round. The house counts with energy efficient features, such as its Sun Power PV Panels. It also has recycled features like its ECO recycled glass countertops and its Trex decking (made from recycled milk bottles). Among other sustainable features, the house has cork flooring and Parawood (rubber tree) cabinets. It has water efficiency with its low flow plumbing fixtures and a dual flush toilet. In addition, it has indoor air quality thanks to its green glass fiberglass faced interior board (temple-inland), which is mold and mildew resistant. It produces more clean energy than is needed to operate the building.

The Solar House is ADA compliant, and it has Platinum LEED certification by USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Senior design students utilize this space for research and planning. It serves as a visitor’s center, outreach facility, and as an inspiration for technical innovation to students and the community.

Sustainable Solar House