College Research Facilities
William C. and Ruth Ann Dewel Microscopy Facility
The William C. and Ruth Ann Dewel Microscopy Facility serves undergraduate, graduate students and faculty at Appalachian State University offering a wide variety of services in light and electron microscopy and image analysis. The CAS Microscopy Facility supports both research and teaching, and provides instruction and assistance on the use of state of the art imaging equipment.
College of Arts & Sciences Vivarium
The College of Arts & Sciences is committed to providing the Appalachian academic community with a safe, clean, humane, and efficient Animal Resource Facility. For information on the scope of activities, please consult the Vivarium Facility User’s Manual (274 KB, PDF).
Computation & Visualization Lab
The Visualization Lab is an interdisciplinary computer lab which provides high-end processing and graphic rendering capabilities in support of education, research and outreach activities. The lab is located on the second floor of Rankin Science West.
Dark Sky Observatory
Appalachian State University's Dark Sky Observatory is the research facility used by faculty and their students to conduct observational research in astrophysics. It is equipped with four telescopes, each used regularly for CCD imaging and photometry, with spectrographic instrumentation also available at the 32-inch.
Rankin Observatory
Rankin Observatory is the instructional facility on the main App State campus and is used for teaching advanced undergraduate astronomy courses in observational techniques. The RSO is next to the rooftop GoTo Lab Facility, used in Introductory Astronomy courses.
I.W. Carpenter, Jr. Herbarium
The Herbarium at App State contains approximately 29,000 specimens. The three main functions of the facility are teaching, maintenance of vouchers and development of a research herbarium with a focus on the flora of the Southern Appalachians.
Greenhouse
The Biology Department maintains the Greenhouse and Conservatory which supports a wide variety of outreach, teaching, basic and applied research efforts and holds more than 800 species across more than 100 families in plant inventory.
Other Research Labs
In addition to the Microscopy Lab and Vivarium, members of the science faculty maintain their own individual labs for research, usually involving both graduate and undergraduate students.
Grants & Research News
CAS students participate in 13th annual Three Minute Thesis competition
BOONE, N.C. — Following a delay caused by Hurricane Helene, Appalachian State University’s Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies held the ...
SAFE Fund supports study by Dr. Ellen Lamont
BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Ellen Lamont, associate professor in Appalachian State University's Department of Sociology, is the co-author of a recent paper pu...
Apply for the Spring 2025 SAFE Fund through February 10
BOONE, N.C. — The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University is accepting applications for the Student and Faculty Excellence (SAF...
Hellbender heroes: App State team continues nearly 20 years of research to help protect NC’s giant salamanders
BOONE, N.C. — Slithering in the rocky streams and rivers of the eastern United States is a rare species of giant salamanders known as hellbenders. D...
Research in the College
The College of Arts and Sciences understands the value of research for our students and faculty. We support, encourage and aid our students and faculty in their research and scholarly pursuits. For more information about research through individual departments, please visit each department website.