Emma Dietrich
Spider Silk: An Extraordinary Biomaterial
Known for its incredible strength and elasticity, possible human uses for spider silk currently range from the manufacturing of bulletproof vests, to the suturing of wounds, to the fabricating of elegant ball gowns, and on. But, how and why do spiders create and use this fascinating material in the natural world? And how can we possibly harvest tons of silk from spiders to use in the mass production of goods? To gain insight into these topics, come on out to the next Science under the Stars! (Caution: For those who are not arachnid-inclined, this talk will contain many images and video clips of spiders. Given that, we encourage anyone who is afraid of spiders to come learn more about these awesome creatures; perhaps we can convince you that they are, in fact, not so scary, and sometimes even adorable!).
Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series in Austin, Texas. Events start at 7:00pm outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. Arrive early for refreshments and fun activities for kids of all ages! Guided tours of the field lab are available (wear sturdy shoes and bring water)!
Spring 2016 Lineup!
We hope everyone had an excellent holiday! Please save the date to come and hear these awesome speakers.
- February 11 at 7pm: Emma Dietrich (spider silk)
- March 10 at 7pm: Groves Dixon (DNA)
- April 14 at 8pm: Becca Tarvin (poisons)
- May 12 at 8pm: Erin Giglio (epigenetics)
Alex Wild
Why Ants are Everywhere
Our planet hosts 20,000 species of ants. UT’s Curator of Entomology Alex Wild will lead a discussion about where ants come from, how they live, and why they are so abundant.
Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series in Austin, Texas. Events start at 7:00pm outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. Arrive early for refreshments and fun activities for kids of all ages! Guided tours of the field lab are available (wear sturdy shoes and bring water)!
Emlyn Resetarits
Hidden in Plain Sight: Camouflage, Chameleons, and Nature’s Invisibility Cloaks
Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series in Austin, Texas. Events start at 7:30pm outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. Arrive early for refreshments and fun activities for kids of all ages! Guided tours of the field lab are available (wear sturdy shoes and bring water)!
Emily Beth Rees
Plant Defenses: Attack From All Sides
Plants are vital to our existence on earth. They are the backbone of any habitat – providing, food, shelter, medicines, and the air we breathe. It’s easy to forget that they are living organisms that struggle against many of the same pressures as us, such battling viruses and avoiding predators. Lacking an immune system and the ability to walk away from trouble, plants have adapted a variety of mechanisms to overcome these obstacles. In this talk, we will explore the diverse ways that plants cope with pathogens and predators–and how some of them are important to humans for agriculture and medicine.
Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series in Austin, Texas. Events start at 8:00pm outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. Arrive early for refreshments and fun activities for kids of all ages! Guided tours of the field lab are available (wear sturdy shoes and bring water)!
Science Under The Stars 