AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Texas at Austin will host its sixth annual “Explore UT: The Biggest Open House in Texas!” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. More than 30,000 visitors are expected to participate in a day of free hands-on activities, performances, demonstrations and lectures.
At Explore UT, guests will have the opportunity to explore every corner of the UT campus. With more than 300 programs offered for visitors of all ages, there is something of interest for everyone.
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Participants can serve as a witness or juror in a mock trial of Gold E. Locks, with Judge Edward Prado of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals presiding; attend workshops taught by performers of one of the most prestigious mariachi ensembles in the world, “Mariachi Vargas”; be entranced by adventurous tales of Texas history as told by historian and Professor H. W. Brands; or take a sneak preview of the new Blanton Museum of Art.
Explore UT participants can also make movies without a camera, learn about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (in Spanish), scale a climbing wall, explore university residence halls, trek through Austin Science Fun Day, study the basics of stock trading, or march with the Longhorn Band.
Several programs will provide visitors with various perspectives of the recent Sumatra-Andaman Islands earthquake and tsunami, including a view of the massive waves from space using satellite images and first-hand accounts of the natural disaster from amateur video recordings. An expert in infectious diseases will also discuss the health challenges that continue to face the region following the disaster.
Those attending Explore UT will have the unique opportunity to delve into the intrigue of the Watergate scandal of the 1970s through a first-hand examination of the Woodward-Bernstein papers on display at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center. Scholars Steven Isenberg and David Oshinsky and Ransom Center archivist Steve Mielke will discuss how the papers are invaluable to understanding the role of the press in the events of Watergate and its aftermath.
“Explore UT allows visitors to experience what makes this university a special place,” said Larry R. Faulkner, president of The University of Texas at Austin. “The event provides an excellent opportunity for adventurers of all ages to witness the wonders that are a part of daily life on our campus.”
Programs are free and open to the public. Please visit the Explore UT Web site for a complete schedule of program listings. Programs can be searched by keyword or unique areas of interest.
The University Co-op, cooperatively owned by the faculty, students and staff of The University of Texas at Austin, is the major sponsor of Explore UT.
For more information contact: Laura Castro, 512-232-1229, or Jodi Bart, 512-471-7330.
