A key goal of the College of Natural Sciences is to communicate to Texas, the United States and the world the impact of the research and education that happens here. To celebrate this work, each year we honor outstanding public engagement and outreach within the College and hold a "Visualizing Science" contest that increases the visibility of research on campus.
Visualizing Science Awards
Science and mathematics ought to be as visible on campus as art and athletics. The Visualizing Science awards help raise the profile of UT science, with public displays of images that celebrate the extraordinary beauty of science and the scientific process.
Our annual contest seeks out images that help capture the moment where science and art collide. Six top images receive awards and are publicly displayed within our College community and in prominent spots around campus throughout the year. Additional submissions are featured on the college's website and materials.
Outreach Excellence Award
These awards recognize members of the faculty, graduate student or staff community in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) whose invaluable efforts to impact the community go above and beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of their job. Nominate now individuals who are making a broad impact in outreach, including activities ranging from establishing a promising program (recent or longstanding); training K-12 teachers; working with high school students; developing curricula for public education; creating extraordinary events for the public or alumni; or other activities that engage the community.
Nominations are reviewed with an eye to the breadth of the reach of an outreach project; how well it highlights CNS in the external community; whether sustained commitment is demonstrated; evidence of innovation/creativity; direct hands-on involvement with the community; whether outreach helps sustain/support a program; and the nominee's passion about outreach. Additionally, the College of Natural Sciences values the academic and community benefits that result from diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus and provides opportunities in the outreach nomination form for recognition of efforts that advance these values.
Eligibility: All College of Natural Sciences faculty and staff (including graduate students with appointments to work for the university and administrative & professional and classified employees) are eligible. However, staff members whose full-time titles or positions are dedicated to outreach should be nominated instead for outstanding performance in the "Staff Excellence Award," since the outreach award was created to honor efforts by those in CNS whose public engagement efforts are above and beyond the positions for which they were hired. Nominations should be for a single individual rather than for a group or program.
