To get to the nearest rainforest, from Tucson, that is, head up Oracle Road/Arizona Highway 77 and drive north for 24 miles. Next, at milepost 96.5, turn right onto Biosphere 2 Road.
There you’ll find a rainforest encased in a glass-and-metal enclosure, teeming with 90 species of plants and the occasional animal, or animals, that happen in. You’ll also find an ocean and three enormous sloping landscapes complete with water, soil, plants and microbes.
This is Biosphere 2, a laboratory for controlled scientific studies, an arena for scientific discovery and discussion, and a vehicle for public education, which means you’re welcome to have a look around. And don’t forget to bring the kids.
Visitors of all ages can see science in action, interact with university research and have hands-on experiences with earth-systems science. Families, student groups, the university community and the public can all experience Biosphere 2’s innovative approach to tackling some of our biggest scientific questions.
Various tours are offered, including the Family Tour, a one-hour condensed, interactive tour designed for families with children 12 and under. “The Family Tour helps connect kids to science in ways that can improve their ability to see themselves as the scientists of the future, contributing to the next generation of important innovation and insights,” says Kevin Bonine, Biosphere 2’s director of education and outreach. The Family Tour concludes with an optional hands-on activity enjoyable for all ages.
Other tours include Under the Glass Tour, where you’ll smell the ocean and feel what it’s like to be in a tropical rainforest; and the History Tour, a 45-minute in-depth look into what it was like to be a crew member inside Biosphere 2.
Biosphere 2 is at 32540 S. Biosphere Road in Oracle.
For more information on Biosphere 2’s other tours and hours, visit biosphere2.org or call 520-621-4800.
