The Biodiversity Center is home to one of the largest and most diverse specimen collections in the country, and has several world-class field stations in the Texas Field Station Network. Additionally, there are binoculars, first aid kits and a satellite GPS messenger available for check out that can assist field work. Details are below.
Texas Field Station Network
Field stations at UT are centers for interdisciplinary, transformative science focused on the environment and the natural world. The Texas Field Station Network provides opportunities for graduate students to conduct small plot studies or large scale manipulations of habitats coupled with laboratory and greenhouse space. Field stations regularly offer paid assistantships to participate in longterm studies.
Learn more about field stations
The Biodiversity Collections
The Biodiversity Center's Collections include fish, plants, amphibians, reptiles, insects, cave arthropods, and birds and mammals from around the world. Also included are specimens in the genetic resources collection which houses samples and extracted DNA from specimens elsewhere in the Collections.
Learn more about the Collections
Tools for Field Work
Binoculars
Vortex Diamondback 8x42 HD binoculars are available for check out free of charge for members of the UT College of Natural Sciences community (students, faculty, staff.) These are durable, water-proof, shock-proof and fog-proof binoculars with excellent focus and resolution.
To check out a set, please send an email to biodiversity-center@utexas.edu.
First Aid Kits
There are two small first aid kits and one large one. They contain the following items:
Small first aid kit
- medication (pain killer, allergy medicine, antidiarrheal)
- materials for wound care (gauze, tape, cotton-tipped applicators, band-aids, antiseptic, antibiotic ointment, alcohol pads, benzoin tincture)
- instruments (tweezers, syringe, scissors)
Large first aid kit
- All of the above and:
- materials for wound care (cold packs, burn cream, eye wash, alcohol, sting relief pads, iodine pads, eye badge, rubber gloves)
- instruments (CPR resuscitator mask, stethoscope, tourniquet, airways, splinter pull, mylar rescue blanket, seat belt cutter, pupil gauge)
To check out a kit, email biodiversity-center@utexas.edu.
Satellite GPS Messenger
The SPOT Gen4 satellite GPS messenger is available for check out free of charge for members of the UT College of Natural Sciences community (students, faculty, staff.) This device gives you a critical, life-saving line of communication when you travel beyond the boundaries of reliable cellular service.
To check out a set, please send an email to biodiversity-center@utexas.edu.
Core Facilities, Bioinformatics, and Computing
The University hosts additional core facilities and resources that support biological research.
The Center for Biomedical Research Support (CBRS) offers access to core facilities (such as sequencing, microscopy, cytometry) and short courses during the year to learn about data-intensive technologies.
Learn more about core facilities available in the College of Natural Sciences.