At first glance, the concept seems obvious — Bemidji State University biology students taking advantage of the university’s unique lakeside setting, conducting experiments on the frozen surface of Lake Bemidji from the comfort of an ice house.

This winter, the Department of Biology made use of an ice-borne classroom and lab thanks to a partnership with BSU’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and BSU Alumni and Foundation. Using the portable fish house that typically serves as the ticket booth during Beaver Football home games at Chet Anderson Stadium, the department was able to bring about 200 Introduction to Biology students out onto the ice.

The Hardwater Ice Lab allowed students to get their hands on a variety of different experiments in a real-world setting — collecting zooplankton from open water under the ice, using a Secchi disk to measure water clarity and collecting sediment samples from the lake’s bottom using an Ekman dredge.

“You can’t use those in the lab,” said Ali Chalberg, a sophomore studying aquatic biology and environmental studies. “They can demonstrate and they can use videos, but actually being able to go out on the lake and use them was interesting. We actually got to use them and do the experiments ourselves.”

Dr. Andrew Hafs, associate professor of biology, says that hands-on experience is precisely why the department will continue its efforts to secure a permanent ice house after the successful run with its temporary, borrowed home.

“Students really like getting out of the classroom,” he said. “We can give the students a little bit of diversity there instead of sitting in the lab all the time and doing indoor stuff, we can actually get them out onto the ice.”

Cameron Cohen, a freshman from Hudson, Wis., said the Hardwater Ice Lab allowed him to gain new experiences in an atmosphere that, given Bemidji’s lakeside setting, would be difficult for other universities to replicate.

“It was hands-on experience with stuff I have never done before, and I thought that was pretty cool,” he said. “I think it’s something unique to Bemidji.”

Mike Mulry, director of engagement marketing for the BSU Alumni & Foundation, said the outcome more than met his expectations when he first suggested the idea of using the ticket booth for aquatic research on the ice.

He is talking with several companies and firms about how their support could enable creation of a larger lab and classroom in the future.

“I see this winter’s experiment as a first step toward an exciting project full of possibilities,” Mulry said.