Xiphophorus nigrensis (the Northern El Abra Swordtail). Photo: Phil Queller

Xiphophorus nigrensis (the Northern El Abra Swordtail). Photo: Phil Queller

Xiphophorus nigrensis (the Northern El Abra Swordtail). Photo: Phil Queller

Kelly Wallace (Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Graduate Program)

"Fish are smarter than we think!"

Have you ever heard that fish only have a three-second memory? Well that might not be giving fish enough credit. Fish are smarter than we think! They can learn from other fish, solve mazes, and even learn to hit a moving target despite never practicing! Join the first Science Under the Stars of the fall semester on September 13 with EEB candidate Kelly Wallace who will talk on some of the cool studies that scientists have conducted to show that fish have some pretty awesome cognitive abilities, as well as go over some of her own PhD work at UT looking at how fish solve problems.

Science Under the Stars is a free, monthly public outreach lecture series founded and organized by graduate students in the Department of Integrative Biology at The University of Texas at Austin. Events are held outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. In the case of inclement weather, lectures are held indoors.

Here’s the schedule for this month’s event:

• 7:00 pm: Snacks, kids activities, and displays of local animals and plants found at Brackenridge Field Laboratory will be available.
• 7:15 pm-7:45 pm: Guided tour of the field lab (wear sturdy shoes and bring water)!
• 8:00 pm: Settle in, because the talk begins now!
• 8:45 pm: Q&A with the speaker.