Plants On Fire!
Fire is a natural part of Texas plant and animal communities. Too little fire has altered our savannas and woodlands and put them at risk for catastrophic wildfires. This talk will explore how prescribed fire can be used to restore endangered species, manage invasive species, and reduce extreme wildfire risk.
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!
Adventures in Science at the Bottom of the World
Imagine a place where the sun doesn’t set, the ice doesn’t melt and the landscape is so inhospitable that it is an ideal location to simulate life on the moon. Conducting research in Antarctica can be challenging, but this icy continent is home to many fascinating science investigations. Middle school science teacher Michelle Brown will discuss her adventures working with two science research teams across Antarctica as part of the PolarTREC team.
PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is a program in which K-12 teachers spend 2-6 weeks participating in hands-on field research experiences in the polar regions. The goal of PolarTREC is to invigorate polar science education and understanding by bringing K-12 educators and polar researchers together. Click here to read Michelle’s PolarTREC journal!
Michelle received her Masters in Science Education at the University of Texas at Austin and currently teaches at O’Henry Middle School in Austin, Texas.
Congrats to previous SUTS speaker Patricia Salerno, who gave a fantastic talk last fall on the biology of the Tepuis of S. America, on her upcoming publication in the journal Evolution as well as today’s article by science writer Carl Zimmer in The New York Times.
Truths and Myths Behind the Lost World of South America
From Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World tothe Disney movie “Up”, there are many myths that surround the tepuis (flattop mountains) of South America. Rising up to 3000m, these colossal mountains offer exciting opportunities for evolutionary studies.
Join me as I walk you through the majestic beauty of tepuis. We’ll meet the flora and fauna that call these mountains home, and explore odd myths, and stranger truths, of a lost world.