1. Raquel Martinez:
I am an observational astronomer interested in finding and characterizing planets that orbit outside of our solar system. I’m studying to become a professional astronomer and college professor.
How Do Astronomers Find Exoplanets?
I will discuss 3 main methods astronomers use to discover planets around other stars.
2. Adrienne Darhower:
I am an Emergency Room Doctor and the mom of a THES Kindergartener. I take care of kids every day who are sick or who have been injured. Come to my YSD session and we’ll learn about germs, how to take care of broken bones and cuts and what our brains, lungs, and hearts look like!
3. Jeffrey Dick:
I am a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at UT Austin.
Life as an Academic Scientist
Academic settings are where much of our knowledge is created and expanded through inventions and discoveries. Not only can you pursue your wildest, most crazy thoughts, it’s okay to fail as long as you learn something. Come do some fun chemistry with me.
4. Carter Coberly:
I have worked as an electrical engineer and software developer for almost 40 years. My skills include designing electronic circuitry, developing software, and managing design projects from an idea to a completed product.
Why might you want to become an electrical engineer?
I’ll discuss a brief history of electricity, when it was first used by mankind and how it has evolved over time. I’ll also talk about the variety of work areas that a student might pursue as an electrical engineer and what skills a student will need.
5. Kim O’Driscoll:
I am a licensed psychologist who educates my clients on the science of our minds and bodies and teach them how to identify emotional feelings, track sensations, notice thoughts that pop into our heads that aren’t helpful, and learn new ways to cope with daily life and challenges.
The Mysterious Science of Sleep
In this presentation, Thunderbirds will learn about something we all do every day…sleep! What happens to the body during sleep? What are the effects of sleep deprivation? What helps us fall asleep with ease? We will also explore one of the coolest things about sleep, our dreams!
6. Dennis Baldwin:
I’ve enjoyed tinkering with radio controlled robots since I was a kid. I studied electrical engineering in college and fell in love with software after school. Since then, I’ve been using software to control robots in the air, known as “drones”.
Drones for Fun
In this talk, I will cover some fun and interesting things that can be done with drones. I’ll demonstrate the process of shooting a 360 degree aerial panorama and viewing it in virtual reality with goggles. I’ll also give the students an interactive challenge to solve using a drone.
7. Ian Wright:
I am an entomologist and herpetologist, working with arthropods and reptiles at UT Austin.
What are arthropods?
In this presentation, you’ll get to meet some of the live insects and spiders I work with every day.
8. Zwcky Obregon:
I am a Product Design Engineer. I have a background in drone design, electronics, manufacturing, and prototyping.
3-D print your ideas
My presentation will be about 3D CAD modeling, 3D printing and how useful of a tool it is during the prototyping phase of product design.
9. Alejandro Silveyra:
I graduated as an electrical engineer from UT Austin, and throughout the years I worked in the UT Solar Racing Team.
Solar Car
Come check out a racing solar car and hear more cool things you can do with solar energy!
10. Jennifer Martin:
I have been a veterinarian for 21 years. I work on small animals only- dogs, cats, and pocket pets. My favorite part of the job is doing Oral surgery. Pets need dental care, too!
Diagnosing Your Pet Using the Microscope
By looking at samples under the microscope, veterinarians figure out what is wrong with your pet. We will look at parasites, infections and abnormal cells.
11. David Brown:
I earned degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology before beginning a career working as a scientist in biotechnology companies. The projects that I’ve worked on have results in technologies that have been used to learn about biology, to diagnose patients and to treat people with cancer.
A Revolution in Cancer Therapy
Students will learn about cancer and how recent scientific advances are revolutionizing how patients with cancer are being treated. We will use a microscope to view cancer samples and learn how to distinguish normal tissue from tumors.
12. Toni Wakefield:
I am a Pediatrician at Dell Children’s Health.
How Does that Air Get in There? How your Lungs Work
Learn about the way your lungs work, and what happens to them when they get sick. We will use hands on models to see how air flows into your body, and talk about ways you can keep healthy.
13. Dermot O’Driscoll:
My company, ARM designs the brains (CPU) of almost every electronic toy you buy. iphones, ipads, games, machines, Fitbits, TVs. I am lucky enough to get to work on the technology at the heart of those toys!
A visual and Interactive Tour of How Computers Work and How they Came to Be
Ever wonder what goes behind the screen of your favorite toy? This presentation will explain how the first computers came to be, how HUGE they were, and how engineers made changes through the years to change them from something as big as a building to make them so small they can fit into the palm of your hand!
14. John Swan:
I am the owner of Wicked Bee Apiary, where I manage 40 honeybee hives, provide training and consultations for other Beekeepers, and offer hive removal. This year the Apiary produced nearly one thousand pounds of honey.
Meet the Honey Bee
Students will learn about the three types of honey bee, and the wonderful world of honey bee hives. Come see what all the buzz is about!
15. Scott Fisher:
You probably call him “The Weatherman”, but he’s the chief meteorologist from FOX 7 right here in Austin. He forecasts the weather on TV, and also at all the UT Football and Basketball games.
Weather and Story Telling
Students will learn about the radar and how it works to forecast the weather. I’ll also show you some things I do at work.
16. Ashley McLain:
I am an environmental consultant, specializing in regulatory compliance for infrastructure projects, keeping our environment safe.
What Do Environmental Consultants Do?
Students will learn about how Environmental consultants work with other specialists, and will have a chance to see environmental constraints maps, field equipment, and materials collected during project investigations such as mussel shells, stone tools, and plant species.
17. Beth Gerlach & Catherine Cubbin:
We both work in the School of Social Work at UT Austin, doing research on social differences in populations and how to make life better for all.
Social Justice and Health: How to think Like a Social Scientist
How can we help all Americans have healthier lives? We know taking care of ourselves is important, but, or health is also determined by other factors like where we live, the cleanliness of the water, food and air and the quality of our relationships. Students will use social science research to explore health inequality and develop ideas to create a community where all people have an equal opportunity to have a healthy life.
18. Brant Gracia:
I am a born and raised Texan pursuing my PhD in Biochemistry at UT Austin.
Folding Biomolecules, a Paper Airplane Experiment
Learn about tiny molecules inside your body called Biomolecules. Biomolecules have to fold inside of the body, just like a paper airplane. The shape of the airplane tells you how the airplane flies, and shapes of biomolecules also tells you something about how they work inside the body.
19. Greg Clark:
I am a plant scientist at UT Austin. I have been studying how plants respond to signals for over 30 years. My lab does experiments in space on how plants respond to gravity as well as experiments in the greenhouse on how plants can grow better and faster in challenging conditions. I love the thrill of discovery and also love to share stories of discovery with students.
How Plants Move, Shake, and Talk
Plants have wondrous and unexpected abilities to sense stimuli and ‘talk” with each other and with animals. My presentation will discuss these abilities and show time-lapse photography of plant growth. Come discover how plants sense and respond to their environment and what kind of language plants use to communicate. See what happens when plants “talk” to animals.