Spring Semester Schedule
Mark your calendars! We have four amazing speakers scheduled for this semester:
- February 8: Spencer Fox – tracking disease outbreaks
- March 8: Colin Averill – mycorrhizal fungi in forests
- April 12: Gautam Surya – bird conservation in Northeast India
- May 10: Robby Deans – adaptations of aquatic insects
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. Arrive early for refreshments and fun activities for kids of all ages!
Note: We will post the precise schedules for each event in a separate, event-specific post. Follow this blog or our Facebook page to get event notifications.
First time visitor? Please read our pet policy & field station rules here, and find parking info and directions here.
December 14, Andrius Dagilis
Ligers and Tigons and Pizzly Bears, Oh My!
Hybrids between different species are more common than you may believe. Blending two species can create some really amazing animals and plants, but it also has consequences to their evolutionary fitness. Come out to Science Under the Stars this December to learn more about why hybrids are important to both biology and society!
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. Here’s the schedule for this month’s event:
- 6:00 pm: Food and displays of local animals and plants found at Brackenridge Field Laboratory will be available.
- 6:30 pm: Kid’s activities start! Meet with our children’s division for fun activities designed for all ages.
- 7:00 pm: Settle in, because the talk begins now!
November 9, Serena Zhao
A fungus among us: mushrooms and beyond
What does baker’s yeast have in common with the world’s largest organism? What feeds plants through their roots, while related species can survive on bare rock? Fungi!!! Fungi are more closely related to humans than they are to plants, and play a variety of different roles within ecosystems. For instance, fungi can be plant mutualists, animal pathogens, or decomposers. At Science Under the Stars this November, we will explore this amazing Kingdom – the shocking lifestyles, outlandish physiology, and the ways that fungi touch our lives every day.
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. Here’s the schedule for this month’s event:
- 6:00 pm: Food and displays of local animals and plants found at Brackenridge Field Laboratory will be available.
- 6:30 pm: Kid’s activities start! Meet with our children’s division for fun activities designed for all ages.
- 7:00 pm: Settle in, because the talk begins now!
October 12, Chi-Chun Andy Fang
A closer look at embryos in the animal kingdom.
For all animals, life begins as a tiny embryo in a small, enclosed space. However, embryonic development and reproductive patterns vary a lot across the animal kingdom; for example, some animals lay eggs, while others reproduce through live birth. Come to Science Under the Stars this October to learn more about animal development and reproduction, as well as the role of gene regulation in these two processes.
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. Here’s the schedule for this month’s event:
- 7:00 pm: Food 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)!
- 7:30 pm: Kid’s activities start! Meet with our children’s division for fun activities designed for all ages.
- 8:00 pm: Settle in, because the talk begins now!
September 14, Caitlin Friesen
What it means to be a scientist.
Science informs the way we live. The food we eat, the medication we need, and the electricity we use everyday are all products of scientific discoveries. However, the process of science remains a mystery to many. This talk explores a number of ways that science can be misunderstood, and will answer the questions: What does it really mean to be a scientist? Why are there so many conflicting reports about science? and Should we trust scientists? Come to Science Under the Stars this September to learn how you can change the way you think about science!
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. Here’s the schedule for this month’s event:
- 7:00 pm: Food 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)!
- 7:30 pm: Kid’s activities start! Meet with our children’s division for fun activities designed for all ages.
- 8:00 pm: Settle in, because the talk begins now!
Science Under The Stars 