What is a Living Lab?

A living lab is a dynamic space that leverages campus for experiential learning through teaching and research beyond the traditional classroom. It also fosters improved mental health and overall well-being for both campus and community members.

Where are the Living Labs?

Living labs are everywhere!  They are any place on campus that can be used for teaching, learning, or research.  Below are a few examples of spaces to explore.

Tree Planting

The Andy Dahl Miyawaki Forest

The Andy Dahl Miyawaki Forest is a half-acre reforestation site located on the hillside northeast of Hillcrest Residence Hall and the largest Miyawaki forest in Iowa. As a living lab, the forest offers a unique, hands-on environment for students to learn about ecological restoration, sustainability, and the importance of campus and community collaboration.
Pharmacy Building and Roots of Medicine

Roots of Medicine

Roots of Medicine is medicinal garden formed as a collaboration between the College of Pharmacy, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, and community members. Historical drawings and prints of the plants, information on the plant’s historical and modern medicinal uses, and a feed of the most current research are all provided through QR codes in the garden.
ashton priaire

Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

Situated on the University of Iowa's Ashton Cross Country Course, the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory (APLL) is an educational and research facility for UI students and researchers and the local community.
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Maps of Living Labs

What do Hawkeyes Say About Living Labs?

"These spaces are vital to the student experience and the success of our classes."

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So Many Researchers on Campus, So Much of Campus to Research

people collecting field data

1 in 3

undergraduates participate in research at the University of Iowa
bioblitz at ashton

31 +

Locations Identified As Potential Living Laboratories
bioblitz microscope

1900 +

Acres of land to explore on campus

Did you know?

Spending time in greenspaces on campus improves cognitive function​, reduces stress, reduces risk of cardiovascular and respiratory mortality​, and reduces social isolation!

Find spaces close to you on campus!

Living Labs Support the University of Iowa Strategic Plan

Events

Public Lecture: Entangled Ecologies: Memory, Place, and the Camellia Forests of Jeju promotional image

Public Lecture: Entangled Ecologies: Memory, Place, and the Camellia Forests of Jeju

Thursday, November 13, 2025 5:00pm to 6:30pm
Virtual
Drawing on ethnographic research with Jeju villagers, conservationists, and environmental activists, Dr. Jeongsu Shin, LB Korean Studies postdoctoral associate in the East Asia Program at Cornell University, will explore how memory, ecology, and place intertwine in Jeju’s Giving Forest.
WATER: The Current of Life - Investigate Midwest Storytelling Event promotional image

WATER: The Current of Life - Investigate Midwest Storytelling Event

Thursday, November 13, 2025 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Trumpet Blossom Cafe

You're invited to join us on the evening of Thursday November 13th, at Trumpet Blossom Cafe in Iowa City. Doors open at 5:30, program starts at 6:20. Investigate Midwest will bring together a diverse group of storytellers to discuss water and its impacts on their lives. Through an evening of storytelling, interactive engagement, and a silent auction benefiting Investigate Midwest's investigative journalism and educational initiatives, WATER: The Current of Life seeks to create a space where...

Owl Prowl promotional image

Owl Prowl

Thursday, November 13, 2025 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Iowa Raptor Project

SOLD OUT!

Your evening will begin indoors with an up-close introduction to our ambassador owls. After this interactive program, we will embark on a night hike adventure in search of owls. Warm up afterwards with a hot beverage. Head lamps will be provided. Space is limited. Participants ages 10+ are invited to register.