Stengl Lost Pines Biological Field Station plays a valuable role in the education of many University of Texas students. While it does not have the proximity to campus of UT’s Brackenridge Field Lab, SLP does provide a relatively accessible destination for overnight trips. Many field courses at UT use SLP as a way to allow students to explore the structure and diversity of plant and animal communities that can otherwise only be found in East Texas or near the Gulf Coast. The Lost Pines ecoregion is a living demonstration of how different factors like climate, hydrology, and soil composition interact to sustain rare and unique ecosystems, making it an excellent educational tool for young scientists. Visiting students get a chance to leave the classroom and have a hands-on learning and research experience, both in small groups and independently, with many students choosing to use the field station’s habitats and facilities to conduct their own research project. Undergraduate experiences at SLP promote active discovery and provide a natural history background that helps prepare UT students for graduate programs and careers in their field. Graduate students have the abilities to expand specific research focuses.
Additionally, the Stengl-Wyer Endowment, the largest endowment in the history of the College of Natural Sciences, supports UT Austin’s highly ranked programming in ecology and biological research, with a focus on the study of the diversity of life and interactions between living things and their natural environments. It provides students opportunities for cutting-edge research and support.
See the menu to the left to learn about specific opportunities, or download a student research application.