The Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory is an extension of the Aiken Center and Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources at The University of Vermont (UVM) located at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain on the Burlington waterfront. The laboratory houses state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities for the Aquatic Ecology and Watershed Science program, including laboratories for the study of water and sediment quality, contaminants, and aquatic biota including fish, invertebrates and algae. The laboratory provides researchers with the tools necessary to investigate and understand the ecosystem processes that determine ecological health and influence the quality of life for the human community in the Lake Champlain basin. The UVM research vessel Melosira is docked adjacent to the facility, providing access for research and teaching on Lake Champlain.