February 27th, Leeah Richardson
Buzzworthy Behaviors and the Sting of Anthropogenic Stressors
How do bees learn to navigate the dazzling variety of flowers — and how do plants ensure their pollinators do the job? Join PhD candidate Leeah Richardson on February 27th as we dive into the intricate world of bee foraging. Explore how bees process floral diversity, from colors and scents to shapes, and how their behavior is shaped by farming practices, landscapes, and pesticides. Learn how these tiny pollinators help sustain ecosystems — and how human actions impact their ability to do so.
Lecture Schedule
- 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays
- 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm: Guided tour of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (sturdy shoes and water recommended!)
- 8:00 pm: The talk begins!
- 8:45 pm: Q&A with the speaker
This event is part of the 2025 Texas Science Festival. Check out the other amazing events hosted by College of Natural Sciences at UT Austin!
📍 Location: Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703
💡 No RSVP is required – just show up and enjoy!
🅿️ Free parking is available at BFL for all lecture events!
🌦️ While we aim to host all events outdoors, sometimes weather conditions or volunteer capacity may require that we move the event inside the laboratory building.
Follow us on our Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, or email us to stay updated on event-specific details. We look forward to seeing you at our events! ✨
🎨 Join us at STEM Girl Day at UT Austin on February 22! We’ll have a table featuring our activity: Coloring, Creatures, and Curiosity. Explore fascinating Austin animals, get creative with coloring, and ask UT biologists anything you’re curious about. Don’t forget to register for STEM Girl Day 2025!
February 6th, Juju Dessert
Leafcutter Ants: The Amazing Fungus Farmers
After last month’s delay, our first talk of the Spring 2025 SUTS season is this week on Thursday! Join Juju Dessert, Molecular Biology PhD candidate at UT Austin, on February 6th to explore the fascinating world of leafcutter ants! These ants aren’t eating the leaves they carry—they use plant matter to cultivate a special fungus in their underground chambers. It’s like farming, but instead of growing vegetables, they grow the fungus that serves as their food. Juju’s research delves into the incredible partnership between these ants and their fungus, focusing on the special enzymes they use to break down tough plant material. Discover how this unique collaboration works and why it’s so important to our ecosystems!
Lecture Schedule
- 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays
- 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm: Guided tour of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (sturdy shoes and water recommended!)
- 8:00 pm: The talk begins!
- 8:45 pm: Q&A with the speaker
📍 Location: Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703
💡 No RSVP is required – just show up and enjoy!
🌦️ While we aim to host all events outdoors, sometimes weather conditions or volunteer capacity may require that we move the event inside the laboratory building.
🅿️ Free parking is available at BFL for all lecture events!
Follow us on our Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, or email us to stay updated on event-specific details. We look forward to seeing you at our events! ✨
🎨 Join us at STEM Girl Day at UT Austin on February 22! We’ll have a table featuring our activity: Coloring, Creatures, and Curiosity. Explore fascinating Austin animals, get creative with coloring, and ask UT biologists anything you’re curious about. Don’t forget to register for STEM Girl Day 2025!
Postponed: January 16th, Juju Dessert
📣We’re sorry to announce that tomorrow’s event (Jan 16) featuring Juju Dessert at Brackenridge Field Laboratory has been canceled. Environmental Health and Safety has identified a potential asbestos issue at BFL and will be conducting an investigation tomorrow and through the weekend. For everyone’s safety, the field station will be temporarily closed.
🎤Our January event is postponed but the rescheduled event should happen within a few weeks, ahead of our February event. We’ll keep you updated with the new date soon!
Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled event.
January 16th, Juju Dessert
Leafcutter Ants: The Amazing Fungus Farmers
Join Juju Dessert, Molecular Biology PhD candidate at UT Austin, on January 16th to explore the fascinating world of leafcutter ants! These ants aren’t eating the leaves they carry—they use plant matter to cultivate a special fungus in their underground chambers. It’s like farming, but instead of growing vegetables, they grow the fungus that serves as their food. Juju’s research delves into the incredible partnership between these ants and their fungus, focusing on the special enzymes they use to break down tough plant material. Discover how this unique collaboration works and why it’s so important to our ecosystems!
Lecture Schedule
- 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays
- 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm: Guided tour of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (sturdy shoes and water recommended!)
- 8:00 pm: The talk begins!
- 8:45 pm: Q&A with the speaker
📍 Location: Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703
💡 No RSVP is required – just show up and enjoy!
🌦️ While we aim to host all events outdoors, sometimes weather conditions or volunteer capacity may require that we move the event inside the laboratory building.
🅿️ Free parking is available at BFL for all lecture events!
Follow us on our Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, or email us to stay updated on event-specific details. We look forward to seeing you at our events! ✨
🎨 Join us at STEM Girl Day at UT Austin on February 22! We’ll have a table featuring our activity: Coloring, Creatures, and Curiosity. Explore fascinating Austin animals, get creative with coloring, and ask UT biologists anything you’re curious about. Don’t forget to register for STEM Girl Day 2025!
Spring 2025 Schedule
Happy New Year! We’re excited to announce the Spring 2025 lineup for Science Under The Stars, a free, student-run public outreach lecture series! This spring, we’re diving into topics that showcase the wonders of nature, with a particularly insecty theme in many of our talks. Mark your calendars for these exciting events featuring biologists from UT Austin:
February 6: Juju Dessert – Leafcutter Ants: The Amazing Fungus Farmers
February 27 (Partnering with the Texas Science Festival): Leeah Richardson – Buzzworthy Behaviors and the Sting of Anthropogenic Stressors
March 13: Fiona MacNeill – Picking Your Poison: How Plant Chemical Traits Defend Against Herbivores, Attract Pollinators, and Influence Toxic Butterflies
April 10: Yanan Bai – Illuminating Growth: The Story of Light and Plants
Lecture Schedule
- 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays
- 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm: Guided tour of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (sturdy shoes and water recommended!)
- 8:00 pm: The talk begins!
- 8:45 pm: Q&A with the speaker
📍 Location: Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703
💡 No RSVP is required – just show up and enjoy!
🌦️ While we aim to host all events outdoors, sometimes weather conditions or volunteer capacity may require that we move the event inside the laboratory building.
🅿️ Free parking is available at BFL for all lecture events!
Follow us on our Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, or email us to stay updated on event-specific details. We look forward to seeing you this spring under the stars! ✨
🎨 Join us at STEM Girl Day at UT Austin on February 22! We’ll have a table featuring our activity: Coloring, Creatures, and Curiosity. Explore fascinating Austin animals, get creative with coloring, and ask UT biologists anything you’re curious about. Don’t forget to register for STEM Girl Day 2025!
Science Under The Stars 