‘A celebration of the pursuit of scientific knowledge’
The University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Science will present Science Week, a series of special events highlighting the expertise and achievements of the college’s faculty, students and alumni, from April 18 to 24.
Events include live podcast recordings, panel discussions, workshops and planetarium shows.
“This year’s Science Week is a celebration of the pursuit of scientific knowledge,” said College of Science Dean Morteza Khaledi. “We invite the UTA community and the public to immerse themselves in fascinating conversations on topics ranging from particle physics to mental health.”
Science enthusiasts can attend a meet-and-greet reception with six of the North Texas-based If/Then Ambassadors, including UTA’s Minerva Cordero, professor of mathematics and associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Science, on April 18. The ambassadors will discuss their careers, obstacles to their success and the people who influenced their professional journeys.
On April 20, comedian Kasha Patel will perform two stand-up sets. Patel, a former science writer for NASA and the deputy weather editor for The Washington Post, centers her comedy on life as an Indian American and her love for science. Her company, DC Science Comedy, produces one of the nation’s only frequently occurring science-themed comedy shows where scientists, writers and comedians grace the stage.
Lori Glaze, an alumna of UTA’s Department of Physics and the director of NASA’s Division of Planetary Science, will present on April 21 as part of the college’s Distinguished Women in Science speaker series. Glaze oversees NASA’s space flight missions and scientific research that addresses fundamental questions of solar system formation and evolution. Her research interests include physical processes in terrestrial and planetary volcanology, atmospheric transport and diffusion processes and geologic mass movements.
Throughout the week, attendees can visit the University Center Art Gallery to view the exhibit A Look Inside, which features photos of specimens from UTA’s Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center. Actual specimens will also be on view, and the UTA Herpetology Club will present periodic live animal demonstrations.
The week’s schedule is available at go.uta.edu/scienceweek. All events are open to the public. Additional highlights include:
- Discussion with Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, dean of the Graduate School and professor in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Wayne State University: Tuesday, April 19, at 2 p.m. in room 198 of the Science & Engineering Innovation & Research building
- Movie Night at the Planetarium (Interstellar): Tuesday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in the UTA Planetarium Theater
- Earth Day Community Cleanup: Saturday, April 23, at 8 a.m. at Randol Mill Park
The campus-wide event series coincides with Discover, a student research symposium that culminates in a virtual award ceremony on April 22. Winning students will present original research and give a behind-the-scenes view of their process of discovery.