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University of Houston Department of Biology and Biochemistry |
The University of Houston is an urban campus in the fourth largest city in the United States. You can read about the University and the Department on their respective pages, however, a few more personal points merit mentioning. First, the student body at UH is ethnically and culturally diverse; UH boasts the greatest diversity of all major research universities in the US. This, combined with the cultural attractions of a major city make UH and Houston an interesting and vibrant place to live. Second, the Department of Biology and Biochemistry enjoys close intellectual ties with Rice University and Baylor Medical School, both also located in Houston. Several faculty are adjunct at the other institutions, and the proximity of institutions allows people to move among them to attend seminars, to get together for lunch, etc. Such strong movement among institutions is uncommon in my experience, and makes for intellectual environment richer than can be offered by any single department. | ||
| Living in Houston |
I am new to Houston and so am still finding my way through the city. A really good guide to the fun side of the city can be found here, and some current photos from the city are posted above. However, there are a few points about life here I can share: - The cultural scene in town is great. The music in Houston is diverse and there are some really good venues in which to see bands. We have some great bars, weird festivals (like the art car festival), a large number of galleries, a few alternative press newspapers, appealing coffeehouses, etc. - There is fantastic, affordable, unpretentious food to eaten all over town. - For about one half of the year, it is very hot and humid. Some might even say brutally hot and humid. The remainder of the year is quite nice. - There is an active, accessible, and affordable cultural life to be had in Houston. The performing arts in the city is very strong, including an exceptional opera company and symphony. Apparently there are major sports teams here as well. - George Bush Intercontinental Airport is a major hub, making for cheap (and often direct) flights from Houston to a great many destinations. - Despite the stereotype of Houston, it is a lush, green city with large parks and many quiet neighborhoods. - The public transportation is lacking, but they are working on that. Traffic flows, most of the time, surprisingly well; most of the time, it only takes about 20 minutes or less to cross the city center by car. |
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