UH joins UWIN
Through the efforts of UH biology professor Ann Cheek, nearly 200 students, and multiple Houston-area organizations, the University of Houston officially became a partner city in the Urban Wildlife Information Network on June 17. The achievement, which took roughly 18 months to complete due to UWIN's specific survey requirements, opens up new research opportunities for UH students and connects Houston to a continent-wide network of urban wildlife data.
The work is centered around the "Hidden Life of Houston" project, which has already engaged students from three undergraduate courses in setting up cameras, identifying animals, and studying how factors like road size, urbanization level, and human activity affect wildlife diversity. Partners in the effort included Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Arboretum, Houston Parks and Recreation, Harris County, and several cemeteries and golf courses across the city.
Cheek's goal goes beyond data collection. She sees the project as a way to build real scientific skills in a diverse group of students, from experimental design to teamwork, while connecting them to career opportunities in conservation. Students can now request access to data from other UWIN cities for broader regional or continent-wide research.
