A gift from the Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation is delivering much-needed space and equipment for hands-on student learning at Washington State University’s Wine Science Center in north Richland.

Named for the late Washington farmer and entrepreneur Paul Lauzier, the foundation, which supports a range of causes including community development, education, health, and agriculture, chose to support the new Life Sciences Teaching Laboratory, under development at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center on the WSU Tri-Cities campus.

The foundation’s $100,330 gift helps build out the lab and provides money to buy scientific instruments and fixtures.

The center lacks a dedicated laboratory teaching space, which means undergraduate labs must be taught in research spaces, limiting class sizes, new lab courses and hands-on student projects.

The teaching lab expands capacity, adding space and technology for future graduates to practice analytical techniques in chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and plant physiology.

“The Life Sciences Teaching Lab is one of the most important places at the Wine Science Center,” said Thomas Henick-Kling, professor and director of WSU’s Viticulture and Enology Program. “It’s a future home for discovery for our undergraduates that will also increase efficiency and reduce our expenses, by allowing laboratory teaching to happen in its own specially designed space.”

Fundraising is still underway to complete the lab.

The Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million for learning and discovery at WSU.

To get involved, contact Carolyn Wika, development officer with WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Science, at [email protected] or 509-335-0505.