Arizona: Biosphere 2

More information coming Winter 2026

Follow this link to receive notifications about future program offerings.

For inquiries, please email:

- precollege@ucsd.edu

Environmental Science: Exploring Biomes at Biosphere 2

Dates: June 21- June 27, 2026
Units: 7.00 Pre-College units, 90000 level
Open to: 9th-12th grade students. Recent graduates welcome!
Application: Opening January 2026!
Application Deadline: Closed
Payment Deadline: Closed
Course Delivery: In Person
Tuition: Coming soon! Tuition includes course materials, room and board, all meals, ground transportation, and activities. It does not include airfare.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Instructors: Coming Soon!

Biosphere 2 invites UC San Diego students to participate in an immersive, weeklong research experience
exploring the living laboratory’s unique biomes and experimental systems. Each project combines
hands-on fieldwork, data collection, and creative scientific inquiry guided by Biosphere 2 scientists and
mentors. This year, students will be able to explore one of the following research opportunities: Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO): Carbon Flux and Planetary Terraforming, Coastal Fog Desert: Plant Physiology and Soil Dynamics, Ocean Biome: Coral Resilience and Water Chemistry, Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM): Mars Geology and Reduced Gravity Simulator, or Rainforest Biome: Tree Physiology in Tropical Ecosystems.

Note: This program involves frequent outdoor, hands-on fieldwork in both terrestrial and marine environments. Students should be prepared for physical activity, exposure to the elements, and getting wet or muddy on most days.

Research Offerings

In the application, UC San Diego precollege students will rank their interest in the available research offerings and, upon acceptance, will be assigned to one research group. This group will be their primary project for the duration of the program.

Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO): Carbon Flux and Planetary Terraforming

Led by Aaron Bugaj, this project brings students into the world’s largest controlled
landscape experiment to study how soil and atmosphere interact over time. Using flux chambers and
Licor Gas Analyzers, participants measure carbon dioxide and methane emissions from soils at different
stages of landscape development. This work deepens our understanding of how carbon cycles through
evolving ecosystems and offers insights into the science of planetary terraformation—how landscapes
might one day be engineered to support life on other worlds.

About LEO:

The Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) at Biosphere 2 is the world’s largest controlled
experiment designed to study how landscapes change over time. Made up of three massive hillslopes
packed with thousands of sensors, LEO allows scientists to track how water moves through soil, how
plants grow, and how microbes and minerals interact under changing climate conditions. By bridging the
gap between small lab experiments and uncontrolled field studies, LEO helps researchers better
understand how Earth’s landscapes respond to drought, rainfall, and other environmental changes. This
research not only advances climate science on Earth but also informs terraformation science—offering
insights into how we might one day engineer self-sustaining ecosystems on other planets.

Coastal Fog Desert: Plant Physiology and Soil Dynamics

Led by Jason De Leeuw, this project immerses students in the Coastal Fog Desert
biome to study how desert plants and soils respond to changing moisture and temperature conditions.
Students measure soil respiration across different soil types and assess photosynthesis rates using the
LI-COR 850 gas analyzer. Through inside and outside measurements, they explore how rain events—both
simulated and natural—affect soil microbial activity and plant responses. Students also study
phenology, tracking how desert organisms adapt to cycles of drought, fog, and rainfall.

About the Coastal Fog Desert:

The Biosphere 2 Coastal Fog Desert was created to model a dry, coastal
scrub ecosystem shaped by limited rainfall and seasonal fog. Its soils and plant communities mimic arid
environments ranging from dune sands to salty playas, allowing researchers to study how desert
ecosystems adapt to changing water availability. Today, the biome is managed to support drought
tolerant species while discouraging invasive grasses. Many of the species represented here are inspired
by the unique flora of Baja California’s coastal deserts, where fog provides essential moisture and has
given rise to a high number of endemic plants found nowhere else on Earth.

Ocean Biome: Coral Resilience and Water Chemistry

Led by Lia Crocker, this summer experience allows students to explore coral health
and resilience inside the Biosphere 2 Ocean biome. Participants contribute to a summer heat stress
experiment, conducting coloration analyses of bleaching corals and tracking changes in water
chemistry. Working with coral raceways and sensor arrays, students monitor temperature, salinity, and
pH to better understand how environmental stress affects coral physiology—and what strategies may
help preserve these fragile ecosystems.

About the Ocean:

The Biosphere 2 Ocean is a 700,000-gallon marine system originally designed to
model a Caribbean coral reef. As the world’s largest enclosed ocean research facility, it allows scientists
to study how coral reefs respond to changing conditions like temperature, chemistry, and rising CO₂
levels. Early experiments revealed how ocean acidification can slow coral growth, and today the system
is being revitalized to rebuild a living reef ecosystem. This new phase of research focuses on testing
innovative ways to restore and protect coral reefs around the world.

Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM): Mars Geology and Reduced Gravity Simulator

Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM): Mars Geology and Reduced Gravity
Simulator

Led by Kai Staats and Luna Powell, this program offers a glimpse into the science of
living and working beyond Earth. In the Mars Yard, students take a crash course in mars geology and
stratigraphy, identifying rock layers and magnetic anomalies that reveal a planet’s geologic history.
Participants are given the opportunity to try a gravity offset rig, using motion capture to study human
movement in a simulated reduced-gravity environment. This research connects planetary geology with
human factors engineering—preparing the next generation of explorers for off-world discovery.

About SAM:

The Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM) at Biosphere 2 is a high-fidelity, pressurized
habitat that simulates living and working on another planet. Built around the original 1987 Biosphere 2
Test Module, SAM includes living quarters, a workshop, kitchen, airlock, and advanced environmental
controls that regulate oxygen, carbon dioxide, humidity, and pressure. Researchers from around the
world come to SAM to study life-support systems, food cultivation, robotics, psychology, and habitat
design in a sealed environment. By blending space science and Earth systems research, SAM offers an
unparalleled opportunity to experience what it might be like to live on Mars—without ever leaving Earth.

Rainforest Biome: Tree Physiology in Tropical Ecosystems

Led by Joost van Haren, this project immerses students in the Biosphere 2
Rainforest biome to study how tropical ecosystems exchange water, and carbon with the atmosphere.
Participants could measure tree size, leaf transpiration, canopy humidity, soil moisture, and leaf
photosynthesis, gaining firsthand experience with instrumentation and environmental data collection
and analysis. Through guided experiments, students learn how rainforests regulate the global carbon
and water cycles—and how scientists monitor these systems to predict their response to future climate
conditions.

About the Rainforest:

The Biosphere 2 Rainforest is a 20,000-square-foot living laboratory modeled after
the Amazon Basin, home to about 100 plant species and a variety of insects. Originally planted with over
400 species from across the tropics, it now serves as a controlled environment for studying how
rainforest ecosystems respond to changing conditions like drought and rising CO₂ levels. The biome
includes distinct habitats—such as lowland forest, bamboo belts, and cloud forest—to mimic the
diversity of tropical landscapes. Research here helps scientists better understand how rainforests
influence and are affected by global climate change.

Other Program Information

Application

Application: Closed
Application Deadline: Closed

FAQs

Is financial aid available?
Are applications accepted on a rolling basis?
Where are students staying?
Are flights included in tuition?
Is transportation from the airport included?
Will students have a roommate?
Is the Swim Test required to submit the application?
Are there international student requirements? (Visa information)
What are the application requirements?
What are 90000 level pre-college units?
How do I request a transcript?

Is financial aid available?

Arizona: Biosphere 2 is a self-supported program and does not receive state or federal funding. As such, we are unable to provide financial aid or institutional grants. We encourage students to explore external scholarship opportunities through their school counselors, local organizations, and community resources.

Are applications accepted on a rolling basis?

No. Once the application period closes, a review committee will evaluate all submitted applications. Students will be notified of their admission status by mid-May.

Where are students staying?

Students will be staying on Biosphere 2 located in Phoenix, Arizona. Lodging details will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

Are flights included in tuition?

No. Tuition includes course materials, room and board, all meals, ground transportation, and activities. Airfare is not included.

Is transportation from the airport included?

This section will be updated soon.

Will students have a roommate?

Yes. Students will be housed by gender. Roommate assignments are primarily based on the Personal History form, which is available through the application. We encourage students to take their time and answer honestly when completing this form.

Are there international student requirements? (Visa information)

International students are welcome to apply to the Arizona: Biosphere 2 program; however, all participants are responsible for their own airfare. The program does not qualify for an F-1 student visa, and most international students enter the U.S. on a tourist visa. There are no English language test requirements.

What are the application requirements?

Pay the nonrefundable online application fee.
Complete the online application, including uploading all required documents as directed.

What are 90000 level pre-college units?

Courses numbered 90000-99999 are non-credit-bearing, pre-college-level courses designed to provide an opportunity for students to explore academic interests or prepare for college admission. Research Scholars pre-college units may be transferable for secondary school credit at the discretion of the receiving institution. Students should discuss the transferability of individual courses with the registrar of their secondary school prior to enrolling.

How do I request a transcript?

For instructions on how to order a transcript, please click here. If you’ve never ordered transcripts through Parchment before, you will need to register for a Parchment account. Details can be found from the link above. All transcripts will be printed and delivered by one of the methods listed here. Transcript requests are processed by Student Services. Should you have any questions, please contact them at unex-reg@ucsd.edu.

You can also view/download your grade report by logging in your MyExtension here.

Student Experience

Coming Soon!

Acceptance

Students will be notified of their status by mid-May.

Cancellation/Refund Policies

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY

Cancellation or withdrawal for any reason two months prior to the start of the program will receive a tuition refund. The application fee is non-refundable.

Tuition is not refunded for students who are dismissed from the program.

You may file a petition for an exception to the refund policy if you are unable to continue enrollment for one of the following reasons:

Sudden serious personal illness, injury or hospitalization
The sudden serious illness, injury, hospitalization or death of a close member of your family
Compulsory military service
A documented administrative error that affected your enrollment
Extreme and unusual circumstances which were beyond your control

Refunds will take approximately 4-6 weeks to process. Refunds are issued in the same method of payment (check or charge) of payment to UC San Diego Research Scholars. Service fees are non-refundable.

To request a refund, contact our Precollege team at precollege@ucsd.edu.