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Biodiversity Blog

 
Science Under the Stars: the natural history of central Texas

Science Under the Stars: the natural history of central Texas

  Join us for our first Science Under the Stars talk of Fall 2023 featuring Callen Inman, a PhD candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology. He’ll delve into the captivating natural history of central Texas and unveil why it’s an exceptional hotspot for biodiversity.  About the talk: Central Texas lacks the dense rainforest, ver...
Science Under the Stars: Mysteries from the Neotropics

Science Under the Stars: Mysteries from the Neotropics

The last Science Under the Stars talk of the season is Thursday, May 11th! This free event will be held outdoors at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory. Talk title: Mysteries from the Neotropics: Trees, lianas, and others About the talk: the Neotropics are covered in mysteries that fascinate us. Are trees and l...
Fermented Fantasia

Fermented Fantasia

Planet Earth is infested with germs. They coat everything from the surface of our skin to the machines we use, and yes, even the food we eat. Some of these germs can make us sick, some disgust us with their putrid byproducts, while still others poison the very air we breathe. But hiding amidst these tales of illness and foul decomposition is a love...
Diving Deep into Microbes

Diving Deep into Microbes

When you think of microbes, what are the first things that come to mind? Disease, pathogens, the same old boring things, but microbes are so much more than that! They produce the air that we breathe and the food that we eat. They live as high as our upper atmosphere and as low as the depths of the ocean, and everywhere in between. In this talk...
The Power of the Unseen Majority – How Soil Microbes Shape the Nature We See

The Power of the Unseen Majority – How Soil Microbes Shape the Nature We See

 Indeterminate nodules growing on the roots of Medicago italica (Photo: Ningatacoshell) Do you like mushrooms or beans? Have you heard of companion planting or intercropping? The common theme uniting these two seemingly unrelated questions is soil microbes. You have (likely) not seen them, but they are everywhere and play a crucial role in ...
Get involved! Outreach opportunities in biodiversity

Get involved! Outreach opportunities in biodiversity

Undergrad Abby Jones at the Capital Area Junior Master Naturalists October event. Field stations like Brackenridge Field Lab and natural history collections like the Biodiversity Collections fulfill many roles in the service of biodiversity. One such role is to engage in outreach to the general public to raise awareness, and to reach students wh...
"I Like Big BATS and I Cannot Lie!"

"I Like Big BATS and I Cannot Lie!"

This month's Science Under the Stars event is "I Like Big BATS and I Cannot Lie!," presented by Brandi Christiano. Have you ever seen a bat flying around? Probably (especially in Austin)! With more than 1,400 species worldwide, bats live in almost every environment. As the only flying mammal, they can be found in caves, trees, and under bridges. So...

Science Under the Stars is back with new hybrid format

SUS Feb2022The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed our lives. One thing that will probably never go away, for better or for worse, are remote meetings and online classes. But as some events begin to open up, the online formats are offering both in-person and remote experiences, thus opening access to audiences who could not have seen them otherwise. One of ...