Our Facilities

The Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment has great facilities that can be booked for research or educational purposes. Our tranquil location just of the shores of Loch Lomond gives us access to superb habitats including lakes, streams, woodland, mountain and moor. We have two buildings the Maitland Building is our designated research space and the Slack Building which is home to our teaching facilities and shared group space.

Slack building classroom showing lab facilities, table and chairs

Slack Building- Teaching/group space

Lecture space and dining hall: suitable for around 50 people

Teaching Laboratory: With an interactive whiteboard, microscopes (x24), sampling equipment, and ID guides.

Accommodation: We have 15 ensuite rooms, with between 1-4 beds, 43 in Total. All bedding is provided

WIFI: Free guest WIFI is available throughout the centre.

Kitchen: Fully catered services for all dietary needs available

Library: We have a large well-stocked scientific library.

Car Parking: There is car parking available at the centre.

Common area: We have a common area with comfy sofas and games for entertainment

Hot and Cold Drinks: We have hot and cold drinks making facilities

Outdoor Clothing: We have a selection of wellies and waders

Outdoor Facilities: We have a selection of research vessels (The Orkney) capable of deploying a range of sampling equipment.

The Maitiland common room with bookcases, comfy chairs, refrigerator and table

Maitland Building- Research space

Accommodation

Ensuite double bedrooms x8

Shared kitchen and living space x2 bedrooms

Self-contained flat with two rooms, kitchen, and living room, and bathroom

Workspace

Fully equipped office space, including broadband internet access

Meeting room (can accommodate ~16 people)

Library and social area

Research Facilites

Field Laboratory: with retort stands, microscopes, filtration kit, fume cupboard

Genetics Laboratory: with a PCR machine and gel electrophoresis system.

Aquaria space: We have 4 aquaria/experimental rooms which can be adapted dependant on the research. There is one-way flow system from Loch Lomond, ideal for cold/temperature fish species. Can also accommodate other aquaria set-ups.

Aquaria lab: This can be used for a range of purposes to fit the needs of your research.

Small flume room for an artificial stream

Large flume room for an artificial stream

Constant temperature chambers

Fish holding units: We have a wide range of different sized fish tanks/holding units

Video recording and analysis equipment

A school of salmon swimming in one direction together

Suite of aquatic and terrestrial sampling equipment

Truck (for off-road sites)

Technically qualified staff (boat handling, animal handling etc)

Hydrological Equipment: Oxygen Meter, Van Dorn bottle, Secchi Disk- Bathyscope, PH Meter, Eckman Grab, Flow meter

Fish sampling: Electrofishing equipment, Fish trapping kit

Mammal Sampling: Camera traps, Footprint tunnel, ID guides

Invertebrate sampling: Aquatic - Kick nets, ID guides, sample bottles, sorting trays, plankton nets. Terrestrial - Tree beating tray- Barrel Pooter- Sweep Net- ID guides- Moth Trap

Loch Lomond through trees on an autumn day

Local Habitats

Freshwater lochs and rivers- with Loch Lomond on one side, a large freshwater loch with distinct north and south basins, and the Dubh Loch on the other side, a small eutrophic loch.

Broadleaf and coniferous woodlands- ancient oak woodland is part of the rare temperate rainforest ecosystem with a wealth of biodiversity including lichens, bryophytes, and fungi.

Mountain and moorland

Loch Lomond islands

Agricultural pastureland