Latest news with #TexasScienceFestival
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Black holes suck public into ‘amazing discoveries' at Texas Science Festival
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Exploring black holes and diving into the power of memory are just a couple of highlights from the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Science Festival. The weeklong event hopes to bring the 'amazing discoveries' happening at UT to people across the state. 'It's so critical that we convey both the importance of the work to the general public, but also bring them in to the kind of awe and wonder that is that discovery,' said Dean of the College of Natural Sciences David Vanden Bout. The festival runs from Feb. 21 to March 1. Events are held across the state, from McDonald Observatory in west Texas to UT's campus along the coast. 'Scientists make amazing discoveries all the time and are invested in understanding our natural world, and sometimes we aren't great at bringing that news to the public,' Vanden Bout said. One of the events is an exploration of black holes hosted by UT's Department of Astronomy chair Karl Gebhardt. Laser lab stashed beneath the University of Texas could power future space travel Gebhardt will discuss what he calls 'the most important image ever taken in the history of astronomy.' That picture is the only photo ever taken of a black hole. 'It's kind of crazy how they took telescopes around the whole earth, and they came together to make this crazy image,' Gebhardt said. The image contains the outline of a black hole. No line is emitted from a black hole, so scientists had to take a photo of the light behind it, cutting the phenom into a silhouette. McDonald Observatory relocates to Austin — at 7% the size According to Gebhardt, black holes are so important because they contain 'the actual physics of where we live, of trying to integrate space and time, and it's the physical entity that which all of our models are based on.' His event, 'Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know,' is already sold out. However, there are many other events, both virtual and in-person that people can attend. A few highlights include: 'Mars Livestream' – Feb. 26 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. 'Memory Matters: Learning Throughout the Lifespan' – Feb. 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 'No Shortcuts to the Top: Nutrition and Science on the World's Highest Mountains' – Feb. 27 from 7 to 8 p.m. 'The Science of Modern and Contemporary Public Art Preservation: A Walking Tour' – Feb. 28 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. 'Guardians of Our Water' – March 3 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. For Vanden Bout, the variety of events and options to attend are essential to the festival. 'It's a really great chance to bring people into the university and let them see what's going on, but also a chance for us to get out into the community and bring our science directly to people.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
UT to host Texas Science Festival to inspire STEAM learning, enthusiasts
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Beginning Friday, the University of Texas at Austin will host science enthusiasts at the Texas Science Festival. The festival is two weeks packed with scientists, science communicators and other science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) fields. The festival ends March 6. 'From on-campus adventures to dazzling talks to 'science night out' events at locations around Texas, the program has a wide range of offerings for all ages,' organizers said. Jaimie Davis, a UT professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and interim director of the School of Human Ecology, spoke with KXAN about the event. Davis said the festival kicks off with a seminar on how school gardens and community gardens can improve health and academics. 'It teaches kids how to grow their own food,' Davis said. 'Growing your own foods in school and communities can increase preference and willingness to try those foods.' She said the seminar talks about setting kids up to make lifestyle changes that last into adulthood and encouraging them to eat healthy, whole foods instead of processed foods. Davis said it would also help people learn where their foods come from and learn about eating healthy, which she said has long-term health impacts. 'I think if a child can plant a seed and grow it, they're much more likely to want to try it,' Davis said. 'So, that's the first step to kind of setting these long-term life habits.' Davis said it's important to teach people about science and how it can improve their health and technology. 'A lot of what we teach kids is not only where their food comes from and how to eat it, but environmental stewards concepts — like how to grow their own food using systems like hydroponics,' Davis said. On Saturday, Feb. 22, UT will also host a STEM Girl Day, which gives students a chance to explore STEM through hands-on activities hosted by scientists, engineers, astronomers, mathematicians and other STEM enthusiasts. 'It's really encouraging being a female scientist to encourage young girls to be curious,' Davis said. 'The theme of the festival is 'Fusing Curiosity With Discovery,' and I think that's a really important thing to get girls interested in asking the questions on why and challenging it because we don't want everybody thinking the same. We want new ideas to improve health and technology.' Most festival events are free and open to the public; however, some events require tickets and two events are for audiences over 21. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
