December 8th, Pete Golightly
Deep Diving into Microbes
When you think of microbes, what are the first things that come to mind? Disease, pathogens, the same old boring things, but microbes are so much more than that! They produce the air that we breathe and the food that we eat. They live as high as our upper atmosphere and as low as the depths of the ocean, and everywhere in between. In this talk, we will take a deep dive into the incredible diversity and ecological importance that microbes have to offer, with an emphasis on the ocean!
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***ANNOUNCEMENTS***
We are moving the talk to 7 pm because of the daylight savings time change! Kid’s table and natural history table will start at 6 pm. Looking forward to seeing y’all this Thursday, 12/8!
Science Under the Stars is now on Instagram and Twitter! Please give us a follow for information on upcoming events and event photos!
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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 7pm 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.**
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.
November 10th, Xinyi Yan
The Power of the Unseen Majority – How Soil Microbes Shape the Nature We See
Xinyi extracting soil microbial DNA. By Elena Leander. 
Indeterminate nodules growing on the roots of Medicago italica. By Ninjatacoshell 
The roots of up to 90 per cent of the trees in a forest can be colonized by many fungal species, the mycelia of which form ectomycorrhizal networks. By Sir David Read, FRS 
Plasmodial slime mold threads on rotting wood. By C. Vecchio 
Spinifex grass rings. By Ken Griffiths, Getty 
Wood Ear. By Curtis E. Young, OSU, Bugwood.org
Do you like mushrooms or beans? Have you heard of companion planting or intercropping?
The common theme uniting these two seemingly unrelated questions is soil microbes. You have (likely) not seen them, but they are everywhere and play a crucial role in shaping nature and everyone’s life. We probably have learned to think of microbes as pathogens, but that is a totally incomplete picture! Come and learn about the multiple ways soil microbes influence growth of individual plants, assembly of plant communities, and our daily life.
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***ANNOUNCEMENTS***
We are moving the talk to 7 pm because of the daylight savings time change! Kid’s table and natural history table will start at 6 pm. Looking forward to seeing y’all on Thursday!
Science Under the Stars is now on Instagram and Twitter! Please give us a follow for information on upcoming events and event photos!
————————————————
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 7pm 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:
- 6:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays of local animals and plants found at Brackenridge Field Laboratory
- 6:15 pm-6:45 pm: Guided tour of the field lab (wear sturdy shoes and bring water)!
- 7:00 pm: Settle in, because the talk begins now!
- 7:45 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.
October 13th, Brandi Christiano
I like big BATS and I cannot lie!
Have you ever seen a bat flying around? Probably (especially in Austin)! With more than 1,400 species worldwide, bats live in almost every environment. As the only flying mammal, they can be found in caves, trees, and under bridges. Some live in groups with millions of individuals while others live by themselves. This diverse group of animals play an important role in the ecosystem and without bats, we wouldn’t have tequila. Come learn more about what bats eat, how they communicate, and what you can do to help them!
————————————————
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
Science Under the Stars is now on Instagram and Twitter! Please give us a follow for information on upcoming events and event photos!
————————————————
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.
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.
Fall 2022 Schedule
Welcome back! After a warm summer, we hope you’re ready for some cool talks! Please mark your calendars for our four splendid speakers scheduled for the semester of talks, on the second Thursday of every month:
- September 8: Emily Lessig, Recognition abilities across animals
- October 13: Brandi Christiano, I like big BATS and I cannot lie!
- November 10: Xinyi Yan, The power of the unseen majority-how soil microbes shape the nature we see
- December 8: Pete Golightly, Through the microscope: a look at microbial life
Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series in Austin, Texas. Events are held outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. Due to the pandemic we may change to a virtual venue to keep our attendees and organizers safe, depending on advice from our epidemiologist colleagues. Please keep an eye on the specific event announcements to determine if they will be held in person or on zoom!
Note: We will post the precise schedules and links for each event in a separate, event-specific post. Subscribe to this blog, our Instagram, Twitter, YouTube channel, Facebook page, or send us emails to get event notifications.
Science Under The Stars 