[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 IN HONOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA'S BIOSPHERE 2 RESEARCH FACILITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PAUL A. GOSAR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 1, 2016

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the faculty and 
students of the University of Arizona for the work they do at Biosphere 
2.
  Biosphere 2 was built in 1991. Its original purpose was to simulate 
different climates and biomes from around Earth and to see if it was 
possible to recreate the natural cycles of the earth inside a contained 
space. Their goal was to see if this type of habitat was sustainable 
and to ultimately use this technology for space colonization.
  Although the original experiments were unsuccessful, the investment 
in infrastructure continues to provide scientific value to this day. 
The University of Arizona has turned this science experiment of the 
1990s into a first-class research facility with a myriad of uses. The 
fact that Biosphere 2 is completely separated from the rest of the 
environment has made it the perfect area to study some of the great 
challenges society faces today as they relate to the environment, 
water, and energy management. The work completed there has advanced 
mankind's understanding of environments, both natural and manmade, 
allowing the next generation of scientists to be better educated and 
trained in this field of study.
  The advancements in horticulture, water usage and environmental 
science as a result of their work are commendable. I urge them to 
continue pursuing their commitment to scientific excellence.

                          ____________________