Cooper-Robertson’s proposals for the Brackenridge tract would downsize or relocate the Brackenridge Field Laboratory. Either option would be a serious blow to the University of Texas’ biology program. We are currently ranked among the nation’s 10 best integrative biology departments, and our urban field laboratory comprises a vital educational and
scientific resource.
The laboratory’s location on Lake Austin Boulevard allows undergraduates, graduate students and faculty to commute from UT’s overcrowded main campus for classes and research activities. This accessibility has facilitated a long history of teaching, research and outreach that makes the University of Texas stand out at the national level.
Relocating the laboratory would diminish our ability to incorporate field research into biology curriculum. Additionally, long-term studies and ongoing programs will have to be abandoned if the laboratory is downsized or removed from its current proximity to campus.
The donor of the Brackenridge Tract specified that his land be used to support the University’s educational mission; scrapping an irreplaceable facility that currently serves diverse and important functions for one of UT’s top programs is inconsistent with this request. Educators, administrators and students have insisted that the University’s educational mission is best served by preserving the laboratory in its present location, at its present size.
Whatever revenues can be extracted from the field laboratory cannot replace the unique opportunities it currently provides. By preserving the field laboratory, regents would put education ahead of developers’ interests, thereby ensuring our continuing ability to attract and retain top-notch faculty and students. Maintaining the laboratory will also send a message to prospective donors that the University of Texas can be counted upon to honor the spirit of their gifts.
