(April 5, 2018) -- The San Antonio Zoo’s three elephants will soon get their trunks on some cool new tools. Freshmen in the UTSA Honors College proposed more than a dozen enrichment devices to the zoo in Fall 2017, and the zoo selected three of those designs to be developed and installed this semester.
UTSA students enrolled in the Honors College’s product launch course taught by Gold Hood, assistant research professor working with the UTSA Honors College and College of Engineering, participated in the project. To approach the challenge, they researched how elephants behave, interact, learn and stay active.
>> Engage in experiential learning opportunities at UTSA.
The students’ first interactive enrichment device is called the BABE. The concrete tree is designed to shower the elephants as they hit the device with their trunks. They designed the tree, which will also spray zoo visitors with water, to look similar to those found in an elephant’s natural habitat.
“Elephants are extremely intelligent so we had to design hidden compartments and secret buttons to aid in the enrichment process,” said Hood.
The second device, called a Foobil, is a modular, spinning mobile. The elephants will hit the modules to access hidden food.
Elephants will use their trunks to pull tires up and down the third enrichment device, called the Tire Tower. Designed like the classic children’s ring tower, it will allow the elephants to access food hidden inside the tires.
“It feels great to be able to design something that hopefully helps these animals learn and live great lives,” said Katherine Wofford, a freshman Honors College student. “I’m very excited to see how the elephants interact with the enrichment devices we created.”
Once the enrichment devices are installed in the zoo’s elephant habitat, the UTSA students will study the impact of the devices and how the elephants interact with them. They will also collect data to measure how effective the exhibit additions are and how they affect zoo visitors.
Experiential learning opportunities allow students to work on real-world projects to supplement their classroom learning. UTSA Honors College Dean Sean Kelly says the UTSA undergraduates who participated in the zoo project enjoyed seeing their blueprints come to life and helping with the construction and installation of the three enrichment devices.
“We want to provide experiential learning opportunities to our students, like this collaborative project with the San Antonio Zoo, so they learn the importance of showcasing their talents to solve challenges in our community,” said Kelly.
The UTSA Honors College enriches the lives of talented students through a rigorous academic curriculum and opportunities to participate in research and service-based learning. It also provides students with the chance to learn from and network with leaders in San Antonio’s culturally rich and innovative environment.
UTSA is ranked among the top four universities in the nation under 50 years old, according to Times Higher Education.
Learn more about UTSA Honors College.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This academically rigorous mathematics-based summer enrichment program prepares middle and high school students for advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Participants learn about problem-solving systems, develop greater awareness of STEM careers and strengthen their research skills.
UTSA Main CampusArchaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThe camp exposes rising high school juniors, rising seniors and incoming college freshman to the many facets of the criminal justice system. Students will have opportunities to learn the functions of police in society and apply scientific theories to criminal investigations by examining a mock crime scene.
UTSA Main CampusThe Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center invites you to join us for the Summer Bridging Institute. This institute will focus on being lifelong growers and continually seeking to increase our skills as educators.
UTSA Downtown CampusArchaeology 201 will briefly go over the foundations of archaeology and related skills, followed by a different topic over the course of this week (like skeletal analysis, global cultures, and more).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusCraft a comic to create your own narrative and find your voice through storytelling. Participants will learn to create characters that are self-reflective and through a community lens.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusCome enjoy a discussion on art as a self expression in the age of moving technology and telling your story with a community.
REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.