As a chemistry professor at The University of Texas at Austin for the past 25 years and Dean of the College of Natural Sciences for the past two, I’ve worked hard to help Texas students not only better understand the world around them — but to become better citizens of that world.
I’ve seen that the best students are often those who are persistently curious. They engage, innovate, and use the knowledge they develop to transform their communities for the better.
That’s true for traditional students in classrooms, studios, and laboratories. It’s just as true for lifelong learners who want to explore ideas beyond the limits of human imagination in fields they may not have even previously known existed.
And it’s not just true on any single college campus – it’s true in every corner of the state.
It’s why I’m excited about sponsoring the Texas Science Festival over the next two weeks.
From now through March 4, the festival will welcome the persistently curious for a hybrid gathering open to science enthusiasts from around the state.
All events are free, but space is limited. To register to attend online, visit sciencefest.utexas.edu.
The festival offers a unique opportunity to interact with industry-leading researchers in a setting where everyday Texans can cultivate their intellectual curiosity and explore science.
Texas is widely known for its festivals dedicated to music, film, and interactive technology – and a State Fair that celebrates all things Texas and all things fried. We hope the Texas Science Festival becomes just as much of a destination, especially for lifelong learners who want to explore complex concepts outside the classroom.
Participants can choose from in-person and virtual formats, including panels, podcasts, storytelling, activities, and social events that tackle everything from medical breakthroughs to energy innovation. They can “glimpse the early universe” by hearing from scientists working with the new James Webb Space Telescope; take a tour of deep sky views with McDonald Observatory experts; and be part of the annual STEM Girl Day that offers dozens of different hands-on activities for all kids in elementary and middle school.
These discussions go beyond classroom education, so everyday Texans can ask complex questions and explore nuanced responses that can help them elevate their communities. We will challenge them not only by asking the obvious “who,” “what,” and “where” but also “why” and “how.”
David Vanden Bout is dean of the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. To learn more about the Texas Science Festival
