Hundreds of live demonstrations and dozens of exploratory lectures, tours, film screenings and panels – including some of the world’s most accomplished scientists – will all be presented at the Austin-sponsored University of Texas at Austin . Texas Science Festival.
Taking place from February 21 to March 6, with live and virtual programming open to the public, the two-week festival connects Texans every day with scientists, science communicators and others focused on the natural world and STEAM ( science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics). From campus adventures to dazzling lectures to “science night” events at locations across Texas, the program has a wide range of offerings for all ages.
“As a public university, our mission extends beyond our work in the classroom and lab – it also means engaging with the community and having big conversations around scientific themes like artificial intelligence, space exploration, health, environment and STEM success for a new generation. ” said David Vanden Bout, dean of the UT College of Natural Sciences. “The Texas Science Festival creates a space for shared exchange and discovery. This helps build bridges between our broader community and experiments of wonder and enthusiasm inherent in science.
Participants of all ages are invited to tackle a variety of current science topics, get their questions answered, and learn how the world works at participating events. The coordinated schedule includes long-running UT events that attract thousands of people – like the annual family event Girls STEM Day on February 22 – towards newer and more targeted offers, such as a astronomy discussion at a local winerytargeting ages 21 and over. This year’s festival theme, “Fusing Curiosity with Discovery,” reflects the extensive program, which begins with two events related to science and food and concludes with three days of special sessions related to AI and robotics.
Sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin, the festival features events coordinated with two dozen partner organizations. New events continue to be added the calendarfeaturing speakers and presenters, including key scientists, authors, innovators, artists and expertssuch as Nobel Prize-winning physicist Donna Strickland, professional mountaineer Ed Viesturs and award-winning director Ian Cheney. The festival’s diverse performances, panels, screenings, and social events explore everything from pathways to science to awe-inspiring phenomena like black holes. Select events provide practical information on areas such as maintaining brain health, exploring the possibilities of new technologies, and understanding the implications for homeowners of climate change in Texas. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear about a wide range of interesting topics: what humans can learn from chimpanzees, how indigenous people’s knowledge of plants can be useful today, and how AI is changing the process of writing and human expression.
New this year at the Texas Science Festival are:
- A series of events on the links between science and art: Musical memories: an evening of music and science; aqueousa dance performance coordinated by Planet Texas 2050 in Waller Creek exploring issues of ecological resilience and conservation; The Science of Preserving Modern and Contemporary Public Art: A Walking Tour showcase Landmarks artwork inspired by nature and science on campus; and several events where winners of UT’s Visualizing Science competition will be exhibited.
- Multiple events billed »Scientific evening”, where, in partnership with local film and arts organizations, pubs, breweries and wineries, science topics will take center stage, creating an exciting evening on the town.
- A coordinated collaboration with Texas Robotics, UT’s Machine Learning Lab and the Amazon Science Hub during the final days of the festival will bring together industry players, academics and community members to learn more about rapid changes happening in AI and robotics.
- Astronomy talks, live and online, where participants will learn about topics such as planetary discoveries And explore Marswith an expert from NASA’s Johnson Space Center and experts from UT’s McDonald Observatory.
The Texas Science Festival launched virtually in 2021 and a hybrid version of the festival took place in 2023. With some exceptions for events requiring tickets, the 2025 festival events are free, even if space is limited. To learn more, explore options, and register to attend, visit sciencefest.utexas.edu.