Columbia University's Biosphere 2 Makes Announcement.

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1999--

Columbia University's Biosphere 2

                             OCTOBER 1999

Research

--   Packard Grant -- In June 1999, Columbia University received
     nearly one million dollars from the Packard Foundation to conduct
     interdisciplinary research on the effects of varying levels of
     temperature and CO2 on coral reefs, cottonwood trees and a rain
     forest at Biosphere 2. This is the largest single research grant
     received by Biosphere 2. The research team is led by Dr. Wallace
     Broecker of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth
     Observatory and includes prominent researchers from earth and
     environmental sciences, plant biology, and marine biology.

--   National Science Foundation Grant -- In May 1999, faculty member
     Dr. Debra Colodner received a $75,000 grant from the National
     Science Foundation to initiate trace gas research. The grant will
     establish and calibrate devices for monitoring trace gases within
     the Biosphere 2 facility.

--   NASA Grant -- For the past three years, a grant from NASA's
     Mission to Planet Earth program supported 10 undergraduate
     interns each summer. In addition to hands-on laboratory and field
     research, interns participated in weekly seminars presented by
     resident and visiting scientists.

--   Re-engineering of Biosphere 2 Facility -- Since 1996, Columbia
     University has converted the Biosphere 2 facility to a controlled
     laboratory where a variety of research projects can be conducted.
     Necessary modifications in system controls, temperature and
     carbon dioxide were completed and problems with heat layering
     have been eliminated. These changes enable researchers to measure
     and control variables. This capability and the laboratory itself
     allow scientists to conduct research on a scale never before
     accomplished.

Education

--   Earth Semester -- The undergraduate program has grown from 15
     students in 1996 to 80 students this current semester. This
     interdisciplinary course in earth systems study forms the heart
     of our undergraduate education program and provides hands-on
     learning, fieldwork, and undergraduate research experiences. The
     course presents real world challenges related to the health of
     the earth.

--   Universe Semester -- This new program debuted this fall with 21
     students from Columbia University, Barnard College, and 15 other
     institutions. It is an intense semester program that combines
     physics, astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology, and nighttime
     observations. The new 24-inch Biosphere 2 telescope is an
     integral part of the course.

--   Other Academic Programs -- Biosphere 2 also hosts intensive
     summer field courses in earth systems science and a course in
     biodiversity. Plans call for the addition of a technology
     semester and an engineering semester. In addition, the chemistry
     department from Columbia University has begun a series of
     inter-semester visits and workshops for graduate and post
     doctoral students to conduct short-term experiments in the
     Biosphere 2 facility.

--   Expanding Enrollment -- Approximately 650 students from 208
     colleges and universities nationwide have attended semester and
     summer programs on the Biosphere 2 campus since Columbia launched
     its first courses in Summer 1996.

--   Academic Partnerships -- The Biosphere 2 campus has 25 academic
     partners and plans to expand to 50 over the next three to five
     years. Students from partner institutions attend earth and
     universe semester courses each semester and partner institution
     faculty have the opportunity to gather research data in the
     Biosphere 2 Laboratory. Current partners include: Arizona State
     University, Barnard College, California Polytechnic University,
     College of William and Mary, Columbia University, Drury College,
     Furman University, Lawrence University, Morehouse College, Mount
     Holyoke College, National Central University (Taiwan), New School
     University, Occidental College, Pomona College, Rice University,
     Rollins College, Smith College, Spelman College, St. Olaf
     College, Texas Christian University, University of Colorado at
     Boulder, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware,
     University of Maryland, and the University of Notre Dame.

--   Semester scholarships -- The Volvo Corporation of Goteborg,
     Sweden, the Bert W. Martin Foundation of Ocoee, Florida, and the
     Margaret T Morris and J. W. Kieckhefer Foundations of Phoenix,
     Arizona, currently sponsor scholarships.

--   Student Activity Center -- With funding support from the Bert W.
     Martin Foundation, Biosphere 2 completed construction of a new
     4500 square foot Student Center this fall. The center includes a
     student union, a computer center, workout facility, and health
     services.

--   Future Plans -- More than 650 students have attended classes at
     Biosphere 2 since the summer of 1996, and 100 students are
     currently enrolled in fall semester classes. Plans are to expand
     the number of resident undergraduates to 300 by 2003. Existing
     programs will be expanded and new programs will be added.

Public Outreach

--   Passport to Learning(TM) -- Passport to Learning is Biosphere 2's
     new environmental education program. The program uses Biosphere 2
     as a learning tool and model to teach students in grades 4
     through 8 about important earth systems concepts. This year the
     program will be extended to address kindergarten through 12th
     grade classes. Passport to Learning is expected to serve
     approximately 8,000 students during the 1999-2000 school year
     from across Arizona and other areas. The Bert W. Martin
     Foundation and Bank One Corporation have provided underwriting to
     support the program in general and particularly for Pinal County,
     Arizona students. Passport to Learning and other Biosphere 2
     programs for kindergarten through 12th grade are expected to
     serve a total of 20,000 students each year.

--   Biosphere 2 Observatory -- The new Biosphere 2 Observatory,
     completed in October of 1999, features a 24-inch, research-grade,
     reflecting telescope with the same optical design as the Hubble
     Space Telescope. The observatory was built to provide students
     with a world-class opportunity to study astronomy and to provide
     the local community with a tremendous new resource.

--   The Conference Center -- The campus is increasingly recognized as
     a conference center and public policy forum where academic
     groups, public and industry officials gather to focus on earth
     systems policy and management.

--   Industry Partnerships -- In addition to supporting 10 earth
     semester scholarships each semester, the Volvo Corporation,
     Biosphere 2's first industrial partner, has built and installed
     an exhibit called "The Volvo Transportation and the Environment
     Exhibit" located in the Biosphere 2 habitat section.

--   Exhibits -- We are home of a multimillion dollar climate change
     exhibit originally designed for the American Museum of Natural
     History. We also have interactive demonstration labs for
     visitors. We have added 1,500 fish from Hawaii to our ocean.

--   Visitors -- The campus is visited by almost 200,000 visitors
each year.