At the University of Wisconsin–Stout, the campus greenhouse is much more than a place to grow plants.

“It’s a research space. It’s a teaching space,” says Dr. Keith Gilland, Associate Professor of Biology and Greenhouse Manager. “Students can do independent projects, and we support classes in biology and environmental science.”

In fact, the greenhouse has become a hub of cross-department collaboration. Faculty and students from math and engineering are also involved in ongoing projects.

One of the standout features is a small robot called a FarmBot. It’s a computer-controlled device that helps automate small-scale agriculture.