Biosphere has a unique ability to simulate the Earth’s climate and adjust it for experiments. Now UArizona is using the skills and technology there to help tech companies thrive.Biosphere 2 can simulate the environment of valleys, jungles, oceans and deserts.
“Great science goes on here and now bringing in individuals with these companies that are going to take advantage of all the resources that are at Biosphere II to help them innovate and move their companies along so they can discover new knowledge and translate that new knowledge into commercializable products that makes the world a better place.”
Kai Staats’ company called Over the Sun is developing software to simulate the environment of Mars or a human habitat on Mars——and excite kids about science by letting them run their own Mars simulations. “And they can actually monitor the quality of air, the quality that the environmental conditions within the classroom as though they’re inva spaceship and understand how their body and their metabolism that affects the environment inside that space.”This is all a project of UArizona’s Center for Innovation. It has 72 companies involved in innovation incubators throughout Southern Arizona.Craig Smith is a reporter for KGUN 9.