TEACHING FACILITIES

All institutions of higher education are welcome to use Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill for diverse, off-campus instructional activities.  Course field trips can take advantage of our lecture rooms and teaching lab space.  Sleeping and dining facilities can serve residential field courses for up to 20 students.  Contact the Director (ksr.info@utoronto.ca) for information on availability, logistics and fees.

RESEARCH FACILITIES

The Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill offers 350 hectares of diverse habitats, suitable for a broad spectrum of biological studies.  Forest and wetland communities can accommodate observational and experimental studies that will not significantly alter community structure.  More manipulative studies can be conducted in oldfield communities.  Four artificial ponds are suitable for aquatic research.

Laboratory for Biodiversity and Global Change Biology:  This full renovated facility supports field study (opened in 2010, full renovation completed in spring 2018).  Common use and “clean” bench space are available, as well as a lab for DNA extraction and amplification.  The coffee/lunch room seats 10.  Wireless Internet connection is available throughout the building.

• The Common Use Lab–equipment includes compound and stereomicroscopes, standard and convection drying ovens, refrigerators, freezers and low-temperature incubators.  Museum cabinets for storage of reference and voucher specimens of plants and insects are also available.  Special freezers are reserved for long-term seed storage.  A mud room is reserved for cleaning and preparation of field materials
• The Clean Lab—equipped with high-end compound and stereomicroscopes outfitted for digital imaging, and both analytical and microbalances with automated data storage.
• The DNA Lab—set up for extraction and amplification of DNA.  Equipment includes tissue grinders, Quiagen Cube, PCR machines, gel rigs, a -80o  freezer, centrifuges and other basic equipment.

Greenhouse: A 300 m² greenhouse, suitable for seasonal use, is available for germination and preparation of materials for out planting.

HOUSING FACILITIES

Summer housing is available for both short term and season-long residency.  Housing is also available during the fall, winter and spring. Shared accommodations are available in Harkaway house, Cottage, Hilltop house and Echo Valley.  Private accommodations for faculty and postdocs are available in Wagon Wheels house. Visitors in these houses must supply their own linens, toiletries and food/pantry items.   There is no dining service, but the residences have fully equipped cooking facilities.

Visit our Staying at KSR webpage for more details.

For more information please email ksr.manager@utoronto.ca.