New research from UH reveals certain types of fun, particularly those with outdoor adventure components, may offer greater social and emotional benefits for youth. Bradley H. Smith, professor of School Psychology, explores this idea in a study published in August in the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. “I don’t think people take fun seriously enough,” Smith said. “It's a basic human need, and we're better off doing it.”

UH researchers are at the forefront of developing a strong, sustainable teacher workforce — backed by a $1 million grant from the Houston Endowment. The funding supports the work of UH’s Center for Research, Evaluation, and Advancement of Teacher Education, which will study how school districts are using different teacher certification pathways to improve student outcomes and teacher recruitment and retention.

New research from Assistant Professor Allison Master found that students don’t view all STEM subjects alike. Boys and girls generally believe that engineering and computer science are professions for males, while the tide has changed some for math and science — with girls slightly favored or equal.