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

The Waller Creek Monster

Discover the Creek Monster Habitat. This 16-foot-wide by 10-foot-tall nest structure serves as a metaphor for habitat, sheltering the creek's benevolent spirit guardian, "The Creek Monster." This project highlights UT researchers and their work with the local environment and creates a space for the community to connect with Waller Creek on campus while focusing on multiple aspects of sustainability.

College of Natural Sciences Longhorn Life
Anytime

The Human Heart

We know that the human heart is an incredible pumping machine. Join Rachel Wallace Ph.D., Jessica Ibarra Ph.D., Brian Miller Ph.D. as they take you on an exploration of the human heart. Did you know that every time the heart beats, blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs and to the entire body? A heart in a human being who is 80 years old will have beaten approximately 3 billion times. A single heart can be described as containing two different pumps – one side pumps blood to the lungs where it can absorb oxygen, the other side pumps the oxygenated blood to the entire body.  In this presentation, we will demonstrate certain major elements of the anatomy of the human heart, including the four major heart valves, and explain how these valves function and generate the distinct sounds heard during each heartbeat.

Dell Medical School Science
Anytime

Protecting the Texas Coast from Plastic Pollution

Learn about nurdles, tiny plastic pellets that frequently turn up along the Texas coast and endanger wildlife, from whales to sea turtles. Jace Tunnell, Director of the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, will also tell you how you can help by doing a nurdle survey and reporting your findings.

College of Natural Sciences Science
Anytime

Choose Your Own Nature Tour

This virtual nature tour of the UT campus and around Austin utilizes the format of a choose-your-own-adventure game. Players can choose where to go, what to see, and with which systems they want to interact. Along the way, adventurers can discover the variety of ecosystems that exist and the organisms that inhabit them.

College of Natural Sciences Science
Anytime

Urban Safari

This video tour, an Urban Safari of the UT Austin campus, explores the natural world of our urban spaces and includes common – and not so common – organisms that can be found on campus.  It highlights challenges facing urban nature and spotlights areas where there has been success in encouraging plants, animals and microbes to flourish.

College of Natural Sciences Science
Anytime

¿Qué se está cocinando?

Toma el cuestionario "¿Qué trabajo de nutrición se adapta mejor a tu personalidad?" y descubre profesiones nutricionales que te interesan. Después, ve el video que corresponde con el resultado del cuestionario para ver entrevistas con futuras Nutricionist.

College of Natural Sciences Science
Anytime

What’s Cooking?

Take the "Which Nutrition Job Best Fits Your Personality?" quiz and then discover more about nutrition professions by navigating through fun interviews with future Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

College of Natural Sciences Science
March 5, 2021, 11 a.m. to noon

Look (Safely) at the Sun

Feast your eyes on the sun as you’ve never seen it before: live, through specially filtered telescopes and cameras. Learn about sunspots, prominences, solar flares, and more. As a bonus, learn how, when, and where to safely view the upcoming total solar eclipse, a once in a life time event, on April 8, 2024. The host and moderators will answer your questions live.

College of Natural Sciences Science
March 5, 2021, 2 to 3 p.m.

Explosive Chemistry with Kate the Chemist

Join Kate the Chemist, author of “The Big Book of Experiments” for this explosive event. Dr. Kate Biberdorf will show off chemistry experiments such as the Thunder Cloud and viewers can participate along with her from school or home during the Dry Ice Bubbles and Bubble Snake experiments.  There will be a live Q&A and you won't want to miss the Kate the Chemist Texas Educators Prize Give-away including a visit and performance for one lucky school. Enter and learn more details here.

College of Natural Sciences Science
March 6, 2021, 10 to 11 p.m.

Live Deep Sky Tour

Take part in a special night time Explore UT program, starting at 10 p.m., to go where no human has gone before: thousands of light years from Earth. Join the McDonald Observatory for a live tour of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and more through a research-grade telescope in West Texas. An astronomer will discuss the unique features and scientific observations of each target and moderators will answer your questions live.

College of Natural Sciences Science