Highlands Biological Station · Research
On-Site Resources
Facilities, equipment, and collections for field and laboratory study in the southern Blue Ridge.
Built for fieldwork
Highlands Biological Station offers robust research facilities that support a diverse array of field and laboratory studies, along with outstanding resources for field biology instruction. Learn more about the rich history of research at HBS, or explore our local field sites.
Four ways we support your work
On-site resources
Academic Facilities
Research facilities supporting field and laboratory studies, with outstanding resources for field biology instruction.
Academic facilitiesLab & Field Equipment
An extensive array of equipment — from tape measures to automated stream water sampling units — for diverse scientific investigations.
Research equipmentE. E. Reinke Library
An on-site reference library of books, reports, and theses on southern Appalachian ecology and conservation. The catalog is searchable online; materials are for in-library use.
Reinke LibraryCollections
Research and teaching collections including the HBS Herbarium (HBSH) and the living collections of the Highlands Botanical Garden, plus regional biological and mineralogical specimens.
CollectionsPlan ahead, then reach out
Review our current inventory of research equipment — if you plan to use any of these resources, please mention it when making your reservation. For availability inquiries, email hbs@wcu.edu. For access to the collections, contact Associate Director Jason Love at jlove@wcu.edu.
Highlands Biological Station · Western Carolina University