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*Cancelled* Science Under the Stars: Fermented Fantasia
Thursday, March 12, 2020, 08:00pm - 09:00pm

We are canceling this month's Science Under the Stars lecture which was scheduled for this Thursday, March 12th.


Thanks very much for your understanding.

Best,
Science Under the Stars organizers

Credit: Hubertl
Credit: Hubertl
Credit: vivodibenessere.it. Nearly all of the major food groups are comprised primarily of fermented foods, from meats to cheeses to bread and beer all the way to vegetables and pickles.
Nearly all of the major food groups are comprised primarily of fermented foods, from meats to cheeses to bread and beer all the way to vegetables and pickles. Credit: vivodibenessere.it.
Credit: bestfoodfactors.org. By adding salt and acid to vegetables, only good bacteria can survive in them. Such practices extend the life of harvests long into winter months and help feed billions of people every year!
By adding salt and acid to vegetables, only good bacteria can survive in them. Such practices extend the life of harvests long into winter months and help feed billions of people every year! Credit: bestfoodfactors.org.

Tristan Kubik (Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Graduate Program)

"Fermented fantasia: a leavenly evening sure to spoil you rotten!"

Planet Earth is infested with germs. They coat everything from the surface of our skin to the machines we use, and yes, even the food we eat. Some of these germs can make us sick, some disgust us with their putrid byproducts, while still others poison the very air we breathe. But hiding amidst these tales of illness and foul decomposition is a love story of epic proportions. Amidst the fray of villainous viruses, bad bacteria, and insidious fungi are a few unsung heroes and gifted culinary artisans. What happens when animals break bread with these good microorganisms? What possibilities are unlocked when two unlikely allies team up and turn terrible into terribly wonderful? Together we’ll embark on an unexpectedly delicious adventure. Join me for a leavenly evening as I relate one of the world’s lesser-known love stories, a tale of deliberate food spoilage we affectionately refer to as fermentation!

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.
Location: Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703