Science Under the Stars

Science Under The Stars

An evening, outdoor lecture series open to all.

All lectures in this series are free, open to the public, and held at 7:30pm outside of Brakenridge Field Laboratory, located
at 2907 Lake Austin Bvd, Austin, Texas 78703. In the case of inclement weather, lectures will be held inside of Brakenridge Field Laboratory.
Contact us by email scienceunderthestars@gmail.com for more info.

Fall 2009 Schedule

	Wednesday, Oct 14, 7:30pm: John Abbott Curator of Entomology, Texas Natural Science Center, Brackenridge Field Laboratory Insect Collection	The Art and Science of High-speed Flash Photography Have you ever wondered what you could see in nature by stopping the motion of a fast moving event? With high-speed flash photography, you can achieve exposures as fast as 1/50,000 sec and see exactly how a wing might be used in flight or a beetle might dive into the water. I will talk about what high-speed flash photography is and the techniques involved in carrying it out along with the implications for scientific inquiry.
	Wednesday, Nov 11th, 7:30pm: Hayley Gillespie Graduate Student, UT Austin	Texas Salamander Extravaganza Hayley is a graduate student studying the ecology and behavior of the endangered Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum) that lives right here in Austin, Texas. Texas is home to many species of salamanders including the giant black & yellow tiger salamanders, two-legged Sirens, waterdogs, spotted newts, slimy salamanders and a diverse group of permanently aquatic salamanders in the genus Eurycea, all very closely related to our Barton Springs Salamander. Come and learn about their incredible biology, how they survive in all kinds of habitats, and what’s being done to conserve and protect these fascinating amphibians! Pictures: Image credit on the salamander drawing is to Adam Espelee Cohen © 2007.
	Wednesday, Dec 9th, 7:30pm: Barrett Klein Graduate Student, UT Austin	SLEEP and the plight of a weary honey bee Sleep is something we can all relate to, but are hard pressed to define. We spend a third of our lives asleep and we have little understanding why. Why do you sleep? Is it for the same reason an insect sleeps? Join me for a foray into the realm of dreams, of different electrophysiological states, and of sleeping insect societies. (some of my work with honey bee and paper wasp sleep: www.pupating.org

Past talks:

Volker Brinkmann	Wednesday, March 11, 7pm: Eric Miller Graduate Student, UT	Seeing it as it happens: Witnessing, controlling, and understanding evolution How do scientists discover how evolution affects a group of organisms? By doing what scientists do best -- experimenting and recording the results! Join us as we talk about how scientists control the environment of bacteria, viruses, and insects to learn more about evolution. We will also talk about how people use evolution to improve computers, crops, pets, and clean up the environment.
	Wednesday March 25, 7pm: Misha Matz Assistant Professor, UT	Deep Sea Exploration People seeking challenges have a tendency to look up into the sky more than below their feet. This is perhaps why the deep ocean largely remains a mystery. I will review the methods currently used for deep-sea research, tell some stories from my personal experience, and tell about our recent discovery at 3000 ft depth that is perhaps the best illustration of the unexpected things that can be found down there.
	Wednesday, April 8: Sahotra Sarkar Professor, UT	The Balcones Canyonlands We will talk about the Hill County and the remarkable animals and plants that make up its biotic community. How well are we preserving this biodiversity? What is its future? What will climate change do to it?
Barrett Klein	Wednesday, April 22: Eben Gering Graduate Student, UT	Sexual conflict and female revolution in damselflies Among the ponds of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory lurks the living evidence of a multi-million year struggle between males and females. Find out how the battle between the sexes contributes to evolution, and why some female damselflies at Brackenridge look suspiciously like males...
Eli Sarnat	Wednesday, May 6: Evan Economo Graduate Student, UT	The Ways of the Ant Ants have evolved ingenious solutions to nature's problems. They are farmers, trappers, builders, herders, gliders, water-walkers, and much more. Perhaps most interesting of all - like humans, they form complex societies that function with no central control. We explore the many oddities of the ant world.

Sponsored by the Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin.