UH Moment: "Small Things/Big Impact"
September 1, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
The big picture, for one UH professor, is clearly seen in small things. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
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University of Houston biology professor
Steven Pennings is interested in small things—spiders, insects, plant stems and other members of plant communities in
salt marshes. Pennings and
his research team will examine wetlands and marshes along the gulf coast to assess environmental impact following the oil spill.
"The oil spill is a national disaster, but at the same time it provides an opportunity to learn new things about how natural systems work," he said. "We can study the coastal waters of the gulf and the coastal wetlands and see how they change in response to the presence of oil and learn new things about how those systems functions."
With a grant from the
National Science Foundation, Pennings and his team will spend the fall collecting insects and plant material in twenty-two coastal sites. These sites already were being examined for other environmental studies, but now will be used to see how the food web has changed since the oil spill. They'll compare those areas where oil has penetrated to those areas that received no oil.
One of Pennings's research team wielding the D-VAC in the field
"Once we get to these sites, we run a machine called a D-VAC, which is a giant vacuum cleaner powered by a lawn mower engine that one of the students wears on her back like a backpack," Pennings said. "There's a hose that's about a foot in diameter. We move it through the grasses to collect all the insects, spiders and plant material in a mesh bag."
Pennings anticipates spending a year on the project. He says oil, energy and technology are necessary, but should be considered with care.
"A lot of work we do is focused on technology—new energy sources, how to make energy more efficient or more available, but of course all the technologies have environmental implications. It's good to be thinking broadly about energy, but we also should be thinking about the environmental implications, policy approaches, not just about technology."
Steve Pennings is part of what's happening at the University of Houston. I'm Marisa Ramirez.
Telling the stories of the University of Houston, this UH Moment is brought to you by KUHF, listener supported radio from the University of Houston.
UH Moment: "Faculty-in-Residence"
August 25, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
More than 1,100 first-time freshman will fill the new state-of-the-art Cougar Village dormitory at the University of Houston. They will be joined by four other new residents. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
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Home is where the heart is and in the case of
Raul Ramos, association professor of history, home is also where the freshmen are. He is the first
Faculty-in-Residence of the newly opened
Cougar Village freshman dormitories. He and his wife and two small children.
"We're essentially right there with the rest of the students. We get up to our apartment on the same elevator. We eat at the same dining halls. We walk along the same sidewalk to the building," Ramos said.
While living in the same building as more than 1,100 first-time freshman may not sound appealing to many, Ramos considered the arrangement an opportunity to gain perspective on student life, lend perspective on college life and build
student success.
"One of the things I've seen as a professor in the history department is that first-year students often make a mistake—drop out of a class without dropping the class or they stop coming," he said. "Working with students closely this first year will keep them on track. If they're on track after their first year I think the chances of them finishing on time and finishing at all are much, much higher.
Ramos hopes the experience builds connections between faculty and students and establishes long-term working relationships that lead to graduate school and beyond.
"By having faculty-in-residence, we're serving as liaisons to the students, to student life, in order to develop these plans in a way that can lead to academic success for the students," he said.
Our faculty-in-residence are part of what's happening at the University of Houston. I'm Marisa Ramirez.
Telling the stories of the University of Houston, this UH Moment is brought to you by KUHF, listener supported radio from the University of Houston.
UH Moment is a weekly feature heard Wednesdays at 7:49 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Each week, you'll hear students, faculty and administrators telling stories of the innovative research, programs and successes that make up the story of the University of Houston.
UH Moment is written by the staff of University Communication and voiced by
Marisa Ramirez, a UH alum. The program is produced by Paul Franklin, audio specialist for KUHF.
The music that introduces the segment is the original work of
Brad Sayles, composer and KUHF Senior Recording Engineer. Brad is the 2003 and 2007 first laureate of the Louisa Stude Sarofim Composition Competition for his chamber suite
New England Journey and his dramatic voice and chamber ensemble piece
The Lily. He's also a UH alum.
UH Moment: "Language and Culture Center"
August 18, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
Talented international students who come to the UH in hopes of pursuing degrees in engineering, law, business, hospitality or other areas usually make room 116 of the Roy Cullen building their first stop on the road to success. They enroll in intensive English proficiency classes at the UH Language and Culture Center (LCC).
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UH Moment: "Creative Works Minor"
August 11, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
A real understanding of art, in any of its forms, requires more than thoughtful observation. It requires context; an investigation of its connection to the world around it. It requires a study such as the University of Houston Creative Work Minor. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
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UH Moment: "Texas Diesel Testing & Renewable Center"
August 4, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
Dangerous emissions-belching vehicles have met their match in one University of Houston center. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
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UH Moment: "Theater Arts Master's"
July 28, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
Graduation comes this summer is for the inaugural group of middle and high school theater teachers who are graduate students in the University of Houston Summer Theater Arts Master's. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
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UH Moment: "25th Anniversary of Lonesome Dove"
July 21, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Lonesome Dove. The University of Houston is home to the Larry McMurtry Papers, author of the novel. Find out more in this UH Moment.
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UH Moment: "Skype"
July 14, 2010
by: Marisa Ramirez
Math class may not have been everyone's favorite class, but one University of Houston group has good feelings about their special delivery of equations and graphs. Listen to this week's UH Moment.
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