We aspire to amplify the unmatched potential of Austin and Texas.
We join the university in embracing the growth and spirit of Austin. We will do this by:
3. Building symbiotic partnerships across our rapidly-growing, tech-driven capital city
3.1 Technology Collaborations through Texas Robotics
- This science and engineering partnership collaborates with area tech industry groups and Army Futures Command to advance robotics education and research in numerous areas including medicine, rehabilitation, transportation, drilling, manufacturing, energy, national security and space exploration.
3.2 Fighting a Virus with the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium
- CNS scientists and students, in partnership with medical leaders, social scientists, engineers and researchers in the Texas Advanced Computing Center, are developing innovative models that advance the surveillance, forecasting and mitigation of pandemics like COVID-19. The consortium provides decision-support analyses for local, state and national leaders striving to protect the health and well-being of our society and have helped ensure Austin has the lowest fatality rate from COVID-19 of any major metro area.
3.3 New Pathways to High-Demand Careers
- In partnership with Austin Community College, the College and its units are building new co-enrollment opportunities in biotechnology training and STEM teaching certification.
Key Updates and Priorities for 2022-2023
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Local external research collaborations advance, as the NSF awarded a pilot grant to university researchers collaborating with health leaders in the City of Austin and other external partners to establish a new Center for Pandemic Decision Science. Meanwhile, a university-wide Business for Innovation and Opportunity task force is being led by Natural Sciences Dean David Vanden Bout and Cockrell School Dean Roger Bonnecaze.
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Co-enrollment opportunities with Austin Community College have launched. The College welcomed its first class of UTeach Access students who will help to build the STEM teacher workforce and pursue teaching certifications while studying science.
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With engineering, a new Robotics offering for undergraduates is in the works to help meet industry’s demands as well as students’ interest in robotics skill-building. The academic offering will be available to students entering the university next year.
3.1-3.2 build upon work underway in the college, while 3.3 represents a newer priority.
We join the university in embracing the growth and spirit of Texas—including our Fort Davis, Port Aransas, Smithville and other sites around Texas where College of Natural Sciences community members live, work and help to advance discovery. Our initiatives in this area focus on:
4. Serving Texans across the state with science that enhances life, work, health and learning
4.1 Expanding our Texas Field Station Network
- Field stations are portals for better understanding and protecting our world. With sites around the state, researchers will be able to create knowledge that leads to healthier lives through more sustainable and resilient sources of food, water and energy and world-changing scientific breakthroughs that promote the vibrancy of Texas and our planet.
4.2 Hosting a regular Texas Science Festival
Open to science enthusiasts everywhere, the Texas Science Festival offers opportunities for the community to learn about scientific discovery and explore topics relevant for our changing world.
4.3 Strategic Efforts in Public Engagement
- CNS serves the people of Texas through many outreach units and programs. These programs are fundamental to UT’s aspiration of becoming the highest-impact public research university in the world. CNS is actively working to maximize its public engagement impact through improved college-wide strategy, coordination, and communication across such efforts as:
Marine Science Institute and the Patton Marine Science Education Center
McDonald Observatory and its Visitor Offerings
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4.4 Building a Gateway to Campus for all K-12 STEM Opportunities
- In partnership with colleges and colleagues across campus, CNS has helped launch a new resource to help families, educators and youth connect to the university's offerings in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The new website, called STEM Starts, helps users navigate different opportunities including STEM camps, workshops, tutoring, teacher professional development and more.
Key Updates and Priorities for 2022-2023
- The 2023 Texas Science Festival has been set. It will take place Feb. 21-March 4 and be free to the public, with online and in-person offerings that allow for an extended reach.
- Revitalizing and reopening spaces to welcome the science-interested public. The Patton Marine Science Education Center reopened to the public at the UT Marine Science Institute in October with new exhibits and offerings. Meanwhile, in Austin new investments have helped the Texas Memorial Museum prepare to reopen in fall 2023.
- The Texas Field Station Network is continuing to expand, as MSI and the White Family Outdoor Learning Center in 2022 joined Stengl Lost Pines, Brackenridge and the Wildflower Center as officially designated UT field stations.
4.1-4.2 build upon work underway in the college, while 4.3-4.4 represent newer priorities.
