Scientists are usually in the front seat of the action, in the field right where their subjects of studies are. What better place to study the desert ecology than in the desert itself, as shown by the aptly named Desert Laboratory in Arizona.

Located at 1675 West Anklam Road in Tucson, Arizona, this laboratory was founded in 1903 by the Carnegie Institution. Its aim was to observe and study how plants adapt and survive to arid desert environments, such as the Arizona desert. In the 860-acre area around the Tumamoc Hill, several ecological experiments were conducted through the years. The lab and its staff and facilities became major role players in the science of ecology. It was also a key contributor to the creation of Ecological Society of America in 1915. For its historic role and scientific significance, the lab was declared a Natinal Historical Landmark in 1965.