Activities

Explore UT is open to the general public with online programming that is accessible to all. Activities specifically designed for K-12 students include an indication of a suggested grade level, denoting the difficulty of the concept or activity presented. Some programs will require participants to join virtual platforms (Zoom, Brazen, etc.). Children who are participating in these programs must be monitored by an adult chaperone (parent, guardian or a teacher) in order to join the virtual platform. Some may require verification that a chaperone will be present in order to register for participation.
 
Anytime

Be a Backyard Geologist

Join us to learn about the the geological formations and rocks that can be found in any "backyard." During this session you'll learn about types of rocks you might find in your backyard or local parks and creeks. You'll discover how to identify them, how they formed and how to create a rock collection.  We hope this will help you gain a stronger understanding of the natural processes that create the landscape we inhabit.  We hope you will be inspired to explore becoming a hobby, or full time, geologist.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

What Can the Fossil Record Tell Us?

Fossils are evidence of past life. But how much information do different kinds of fossils reveal? In this lesson, two paleontologists will discuss how the rock record preserves a wealth of clues on how extinct organisms interacted with their environments.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

EarthDate

EarthDate is a public service radio program and accompanying website with a mission to engage listeners in Earth science and connect them to the wonders of their world. Each EarthDate radio episode tells a captivating two-minute story that reminds listeners how science can enlighten, educate, and entertain. Every topic is accompanied by an article, educational PDFs for classroom or home use, and links to further reading on the EarthDate website. EarthDate was conceived of and is hosted by Dr. Scott W. Tinker, Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin. Each episode is written and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Harry Lynch and researched by Juli Hennings, a career geoscientist.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

Clean Energy for a Cleaner Tomorrow

Sustainable energy storage and conversion technologies are needed to tackle the emerging challenges caused by using fossil fuels and by global climate change. Join Professor Arumugam Manthiram to discusses battery and fuel cell technologies from a chemical and materials science perspective. The presentation will include demonstrations of the construction and performance of a metal-air fuel cell and a lithium-ion battery.

Cockrell School of Engineering Engineering
Anytime

Switch Energy Lab

Dr. Scott Tinker demystifies the complex world of energy and gets to the core of concepts through unexpected experiments and fieldwork. For viewers of all ages and experience levels.

Jackson School of Geosciences Science
Anytime

Light and Crystal: Floating Zone Single Crystal Growth of Materials

Material scientists have a lot of techniques in synthesizing novel materials, and floating zone single crystal growth is one of the most versatile and effective method of single crystal growth. In this demonstration, we will show you what is it like to grow single crystals in using the floating zone method.

Cockrell School of Engineering Engineering
March 5, 2021, 10 to 11 a.m.

Exploring Nanophotonics

Join members of the Zheng Nanophotonics Research Group to discover how light can be used as a tool to control objects on a small scale for both fundamental sciences and daily-life applications. See how the team invents light-based tools to accelerate innovation in quantum technology and nanotechnology. 

Cockrell School of Engineering Engineering
March 6, 2021, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Design a Gumdrop Dome or Marshmallow Tower

Design and create a dome or tower (or any shape) using only toothpicks and gumdrops or marshmallows! How tall can you make your tower? How strong of a structure can you make? If you shake the table like an earthquake, does it stay standing? If you put a book on top of it, will it withstand the weight? If you press on it from the side, does it hold up or does it topple over? Stop by to build with members of Chi Epsilon and talk about engineering! To older students, drop by to chat about UT, honors organizations, and anything else you want to know about civil engineering, etc.

Cockrell School of Engineering Engineering
March 6, 2021, 10 a.m. to noon

Virtually Operate a Robot

Join graduate students in the Radionavigation Lab in teleoperating a real robot around an obstacle course on the roof of the UT Speedway Garage. Learn more about how robots are controlled and how robotics are used in engineering applications. All skill levels encouraged to participate.

Cockrell School of Engineering Engineering
March 6, 2021, 10 to 10:30 a.m.

Missing Person Search with the Human Centered Robotics Lab

See how legged and mobile robots team up to perform tasks in a real world apartment setting like searching for a missing person. Explore how these robots work and move around with unknown obstacles.

Cockrell School of Engineering Engineering
March 6, 2021, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Soft Bioelectronics Lab Open House

Tour Dr. Nanshu Lu's lab to explore tattoo-sticker-like wearable devices she and her students are developing using stretchable electronics. See wearable e-tattoos measuring cardiovascular health as well as brain and muscle activities.

Cockrell School of Engineering Engineering