2011-2012 schedule!
We’re excited to announce our 2011-2012 season of speakers! All lectures in this series are free, open to the public, and held at 7:30pm outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703 (map). In the case of inclement weather, lectures will be held indoors. Arrive early for complimentary refreshments and fun activities for kids of all ages!
- October 13 | Patricia Salerno
“Truths and myths behind the Lost World of South America.” - November 10 | Nikhil Advani
“The biological impacts of climate change: Insights from butterflies!” - December 8 | Emily McTavish
“Journey to a New World: The Global History of Texas Longhorn Cattle”
- February 2012 | Jacob Soule
- March 2012 | Genevieve Smith
- April 2012 | Jeanine Abrams
Nichole Bennett
Sex, Bugs & Rock ‘N Roll
Humans have long been attracted to the beauty and mystique of insects. The sway and lunge of the praying mantis inspired kung fu in China, and ancient Egyptians decorated with images of scarab beetles. Likewise, people have both appreciated and integrated insect songs into their own cultures, from the cover art of rock ‘n’ roll albums to the insect choruses of the Dong people. We will embark on a multi-modal experience at the interface of insect songsters and human curiosity.
Click here to download the poster from Nichole’s SUTS Event!
Emily Royall
Biomimicry
Nature has produced forms most beautiful and, in turn, humans have managed to mimic these forms. In the emerging field of biomimetics, human engineers find inspiration within natural structures, such as the wings of a bird or the complex surface of a cell.
Click here to download the poster from Emily’s SUTS Event!
Jesse Lasky
Biodiversity, Oddities, and Conservation of Southeast Asian Tropical Forests
Chad Smith
Race To Egg: How Sperm Competition Drives the Evolution of the Sexes.
Why do males produce so many sperm? While Charles Darwin is famous for explaining how male competition for females could lead to the evolution of male ornaments and weapons, he did not foresee that competition could continue after mating is over. In this talk we’ll explore how competition between sperm from more than one male for the fertilization of the eggs can have widespread effects on male behavior, anatomy, and of course the characteristics of the sperm itself. In addition, we now recognize females can play an important role in determining the outcome of sperm competition, and as a consequence we’ll talk about female role in this process.
Click here to download the poster from Chad’s SUTS Event!
Science Under The Stars 