Each year, on the first Saturday in March, the University hosts Explore UT, when our campus opens up for a free, day-long festival full of activities for Texans.
On March 4, visitors of all ages are invited to come and experience robust research encounters, participate in hands-on demonstrations and experiments, enjoy performances and talks from scientists and scholars, and witness how members of the College of Natural Sciences are transforming possibilities in Texas and beyond.
Our college staff, faculty and students have scheduled a special series of events to help alumni and friends connect with the college, meet our scientists and students, and learn more about the latest discoveries and world-changing innovations out of UT Austin. This is the second consecutive year when CNS Dean Linda Hicke is acting chair for Explore UT, and Natural Sciences has some incredible offerings. Here are three new things our community can do this year:
1) Just this side of the TED stage, catch a UT science talk.
Our experts will discuss the latest in popular science and cutting-edge research. Here are a few examples:
- Neuroscientist Ali Preston dissects how brain development supports the emergence of wisdom.
- Human Development and Family Sciences professor Fatima Varner examines the impact of racial discrimination on African-American families.
- Computer Scientist Peter Stone predicts how Artificial Intelligence will transform society.
- Human Development and Family Sciences professor Stephen Russell discusses the latest research on the health of LGBTQ youth and strategies to provide support.
- Neuroscientist Jon Pierce talks about his novel approach to researching Alzheimer's disease using tiny worms.
Find the full list of talks here. [This post has been updated to reflect that talks by Molecular Bioscientists Dan Leahy and David Taylor were cancelled.]
2) Visit our first-ever Explore UT Alumni Lounge
Join us at the Alumni Lounge in Welch 2.140 and relax with coffee while you reconnect with familiar faces. Bring your future Longhorns by to enjoy a quiet space and some kid-friendly snacks.
3) Experience our Freshman Research Initiative Showcase
Come by Welch 2.110 and 2.104 to tour labs and meet our undergraduate researchers who are solving real-world research problems as freshmen and sophomores. These young scientists are studying native Texas pollinators crucial to agriculture, hacking microbes to perform functions beneficial to society, designing sensors that can detect counterfeit wines, and much more.
You can find the full schedule of events and activities, with 90 activities in CNS alone, here.
Comments