Many students do not realize this, but Brock holds a unique geographical position. Both the university and its surrounding grounds are located within a United Nations biosphere reserve.

Brock holds the distinction of being the only university in the world to sit in such a position.

Many may ask what a biosphere reserve is and why it is an important characteristic for Brock. John Middleton, a professor in Brock’s biology department, has the answer.

Middleton explains that the notion of a biosphere reserve is to design living land areas around the world.

They are defined as areas where housing, industry and nature live in a harmonious mix; a unique combination of protected areas and urban development.

Middleton stresses that these reserves should not be confused with parkland. Biosphere reserves are living areas where people interact with the environment.

Brock’s unique status has many benefits and consequences that must be considered. Of benefit to Brock is that the biosphere reserve adds an impressive element to the university’s identity. No other such institution in the world has this honour, yet to date Brock has not taken full advantage of its position. This, however, is on a course for change.

Duncan Small, BUSU’s incumbent vice president of student affairs, believes students should be aware of their place in the biosphere reserve and that, "this is something Brock students should be proud of."

Middleton agrees and plans to launch a "long term ecological monitoring plot" on campus. This one-hectare plot would be used to study changes in the region’s ecosystem health. It would also become part of a global network monitoring such plots.

In order to raise student and national awareness of the presence of the UN biosphere reserve, the idea of raising a UN flag on campus has been suggested, though no plans are currently underway.

University administrators face special problems created by the biosphere reserve, which directly affect the construction of new buildings on campus.

Although Brock sits on a large area of land, including most of the property between St. David’s Road and Gibson Lake, much of this area is protected. Middleton suggests that there is not as much room to grow as people initially think.

With the growth of Brock, the need to expand student housing and other facilities will have to be addressed in the very near future.

Some of the prime locations would be the current free parking areas. However Small points out, "Free parking is extremely important and beneficial to students." Brock is also the only Ontario university to offer free parking facilities to its students.