The doors are officially open to the new Emporia State University Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center.
ESU held a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new facility Saturday morning. Construction on the facility began back in 2018 and despite a few minor setbacks was completed earlier this year.
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dr. Brent Thomas says Saturday’s ribbon-cutting was the culmination of a “series of moments.”
Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism Secretary Brad Loveless attended the ceremony and tells KVOE News the research that will be facilitated through the center is critical to the state of Kansas as a whole.
The center’s namesake, Dr. Carl Prophet was also in attendance Saturday and says it is an extreme honor to have the new facility named after him. He went on to say how grateful he was to have such a long and enjoyable career as a professor in ESU’s biology department.
The center’s construction was privately funded and includes three different research labs — a wet lab, dry lab and aquatic tank lab — as well as a large outreach classroom to accommodate a variety of activities and curriculum including the college’s annual summer biology camp.
A second ribbon-cutting also took place Saturday for the new bridge on the Dale Greiner Nature Trail.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
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