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August 24, 2022  

September 8th, Emily Lessig

Recognition abilities across animals

  • Variation in fiddler crab coloration from Detto et al. 2006, Proc. R. Soc. B
  • Visual identity signals across organisms (c) E.A. Tibbetts et al. 2007 Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B.
  • Wasp facial markings (c) E.A. Tibbetts from Tibbetts 2002 Trends Ecol. Evol.
  • Mice sharing odor cues (c) Boris Heifets, Monique Smith

We’ve all used recognition at various times in our lives- to spot your friend at school or find you parents in a store. However, humans aren’t the only animals that use recognition in their everyday lives. Come learn about the unique recognition abilities cross animals and how they can help regulate social interactions.

Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series in Austin, Texas. The talk will be held outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we request that visitors follow CDC and UT Austin-recommended guidelines to ensure the safety of all in attendance:

  • Before attending the event, take the CDC’s online Coronavirus Self-Checker to ensure you are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms, please get tested and stay home.
  • We highly recommend being up to date on vaccines and booster shots, and provides further protection.
  • At this time, we will not be providing food or drinks; please plan accordingly.
  • Maintain a physical distance of at least six feet between yourself and others, seating will be spaced appropriately.
  • Use the provided hand sanitizer and wash your hands (for at least 20 seconds) frequently.

For those who still prefer to attend virtually, we will be streaming the talk live on our YouTube channel. Please tune in at 8pm CDT. We ask for your patience in case of technological difficulties as we try out this new hybrid format. Feel free to post questions for the speaker in the comments and email scienceunderthestars@gmail.com with any issues.

Though we currently plan to have in-person presentations, we may be forced to return to an online zoom format at any time, including for inclement weather. **Please subscribe to our emails, our blog, our YouTube channel, or our Facebook page for the most up-to-day event notifications.**

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

  • 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays of local animals and plants found at Brackenridge Field Laboratory 
  • 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

First time visitor? Please read our pet policy & field station rules here, and find parking info and directions here. Please note that parking permit requirements are not enforced during our events. 

January 11, 2021  

Recording of Animal Brains!

Happy New Year, y’all! Did you miss our awesome December talk about Animal Brains given by Isaac Miller-Crews? Well, fear not! The recorded presentation and Q&A has been posted to our Youtube channel for you to watch at your leisure. Click here or the image above to access the video. Also stay tuned for our Spring schedule of virtual talks, which will be released soon!

December 4, 2020  

Virtual SUTS! Animal Brains!

Welcome to Science Under the Virtual Stars! This month we’ll be learning all about brains! Enjoy the kids (of all ages) activities and a virtual natural history tour of Brackenridge Field Laboratory! The live lecture and Q&A with Isaac Miller-Crews will be held on December 10th at 7:00 pm CT (UTC -6)–the Zoom link is at the end of this post.

Activity 1 (hands-on): Brain Hat (To print or download to your computer, click File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF Document (.pdf))

Activity 2 (hands-on): Brains and Neurons Game (To print or download to your computer, click File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF Document (.pdf))

Activity 3 (hands-on): Brain Coloring Book (To print or download to your computer, click click the 3 vertical dots on the right-hand side of the screen > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF Document (.pdf))

Activity 4 (online): Online Brain games

Tour of Brackenridge Field Laboratory (13 min)

Drawings of brains of human, dog fish, frog, alligator, and ostrich
Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images

Zoom Information for live lecture and Q&A, November 12th at 7:00 pm CT (UTC -6). Note: You must have a (free) Zoom account in order to access this meeting.

Christina Balentine (she/her) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Science Under the Virtual Stars: Animal Brains!
Time: Dec 10, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://utexas.zoom.us/j/92794020828?pwd=dVJ3cWE3aVJ6Q1dnaElvWW1kbUNwUT09

Meeting ID: 927 9402 0828
Passcode: 767673
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November 30, 2020  

December 10th, Isaac Miller-Crews

Animal brains!

Drawings of brains of human, dog fish, frog, alligator, and ostrich
Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images

Please note that for this event, both the lecture and Q&A will be live.

How do animal brains evolve? Come take a dive into neuroscience, looking at how animals (including humans!) use their brains. We will examine what is different and what seems to stay the same across a wide range of species.

Science Under the Stars has gone virtual! This semester all SUTS activities will be online, but we encourage you to participate outdoors under the stars in your backyard! (If wifi allows for it, of course.) December’s schedule is as follows:

  • December 3rd: Links to the kids activities and live online lecture/Q&A will be posted here and as an event on our Facebook page.
  • December 10th, 7:00pm CST: Live online lecture and Q&A with the speaker!

Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series based in Austin, Texas.

February 5, 2020  

Spring Neighborhood Science at Howson Branch Library

Science Under the Stars has expanded to include the Austin Public Library! At Neighborhood Science, previous SUTS speakers will present at different library branches around the city a couple times a month. Below are the dates and descriptions for this fall at the Howson Branch Library, 2500 Exposition Blvd, Austin, TX 78703. All talks begin at 7:30pm. **These talks will be held outdoors, so bring a chair and dress accordingly! Talks will be moved indoors in case of inclement weather.

Portrait of an iguana

Photo credit: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

February 25th at 7:30pm: Francisco Llauger – “Through Claws and Scales: Reptiles, Conservation, and Iguanas of the Caribbean”
Reptiles are often among the most misunderstood animals walking, crawling, and slithering across our planet, but I’ve always seen nothing but fascinating beings that deserve our respect. I’ve led my life trying to study these creatures, and now I invite you to take that journey with me as we look at why these animals need our protection and look at a unique group of lizards nestled across the white sand beaches of the Caribbean-Cyclura, the most endangered lizards in the world!

 

Blue cheese

Photo credit: Hubertl

March 31st at 7:30pm: Tristan Kubik – “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!

 

Snake being held in hand

Photo credit: Anne Chambers

April 28th at 7:30pm: Anne Chambers – “Slithering serpents: biodiversity, natural history, and common misconceptions of snakes”
Do snakes really dislocate their jaws while feeding? How can you tell if a snake is dangerous? Are all snakes deaf? How did snakes evolve and what role do they play in an ecosystem? Get the answers to these questions and more during an evening exploring everything to do with snakes!

Drawings of brains of human, dog fish, frog, alligator, and ostrich

Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images

May 19th at 7:30pm: Isaac Miller-Crews – “Animal brains”
How do animal brains evolve? Come take a dive into neuroscience, looking at how animals (including humans!) use their brains. We will examine what is different and what seems to stay the same across a wide range of species.