SWOSU Biology Students Study Oklahoma Biodiversity at Quartz Mountain State Park

Weatherford, OK – Students from the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Department of Biological and Biological and Biomedical Sciences spent Feb. 7–8 at Quartz Mountain State Park for a field experience tied to their Biology of Plants and Ecology courses. The trip was led by SWOSU faculty Dr. Renan Janke Bosque and Dr. Liedson Carneiro.

During the weekend, students left the classroom and went out on the field. They walked trails, stopped at key sites, and learned to identify organisms in their natural habitats. They practiced observing and recording data, discussed how different habitats influence which species can thrive, and connected classroom concepts to real-world examples. For many, the trip also provided a chance to build confidence in field skills, including careful observation, note-taking, and asking questions that arise only in hands-on settings.

“Quartz Mountain is an excellent place to teach ecology and plant biology because you can see so much variation in a short distance,” said Dr. Bosque. “It’s the kind of experience that helps students connect the dots between concepts and the real world.”

The Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences regularly incorporates field experiences to give students practical training and a better understanding of what biologists and ecologists do outside the lab.

For more information, visit www.swosu.edu/biological-sciences/.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit www.swosu.edu/.