Diverse Educational Offerings
From undergraduate biology education to research resources for graduate students, the field lab serves hundreds at UT Austin:
- Over 500 undergraduates per year use the field lab in their classes, and many have hands-on research experience that is key for improving science and math competitiveness
- Dozens of graduate students perform year-round experiments on site, and even students whose research is conducted in other parts of the world frequently utilize BFL for comparative study or for additional projects that enhance their careers.
Hands-On Research
A key component to a healthy and broad science education is the ability to gain hands-on research experience. Educational research has demonstrated the value of experiential learning in small groups, and BFL provides an excellent opportunity for students to experience the process of study design and execution first hand. Undergraduates work with faculty and graduate students to develop their own research projects, some of which lead to published papers in peer-reviewed journals. The BFL experience prepares students for graduate school and future careers in academia, private consulting, and the government.
History
BFL’s history of data collection, and its plant and animal collections, are key aspects of the lab’s research and educational value. With a well-documented history, ecologists can learn about changes in the environment—how plant and insect communities have changed over the past century—and make predictions about what might happen in the future. Within a short semester, students make meaningful contributions to research occurring on a much longer time scale. They step into a continuum of research that has gone on for decades before them and will occur years after they have graduated.
Secure and Close to Campus
BFL’s proximity to the university’s main campus contributes to its ability to provide first-class education and support world-changing research. Students easily commute to the field lab as it is a short ride away on a campus bus route, and because the field lab is secure, they can feel comfortable working alone on independent research projects in the lab.
Courses
Many undergraduates have their capstone experience at BFL, where they integrate the various parts of science that they have learned throughout their undergraduate studies. BFL provides opportunities for a variety of courses set in a natural area for observation, experimentation and lecture demonstration. Learn more about undergraduate classes that make use of BFL.