AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Texas at Austin will host its seventh annual “Explore UT: The Biggest Open House in Texas!” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. More than 30,000 visitors are expected to participate in a day of free hands-on activities, performances, demonstrations and lectures.
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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.
“There is a reason why Explore UT has been called the ‘biggest open house in Texas,’” said School of Social Work Dean Barbara White, who is the 2006 chair of Explore UT. “The university belongs to the people of Texas and we invite everyone in the state to join us on campus to experience it all—research, libraries, art exhibits and much more.
“The University of Texas at Austin is a place of enchantment where there are new worlds to discover and enjoy,” said White. “At Explore UT, the expedition of learning is available to all who are willing to embark on the educational adventure of a lifetime. It is a journey that begins with an open and inquisitive mind.”
Visitors will discover a variety of treasures and unique experiences as they travel around the campus. Explore UT participants can:
- Make cyanotypes, blue photographic prints employing light sensitive iron salts at the Harry Ransom Center.
- Serve as a juror in the School of Law at a mock trial in which the defendant, Gold E. Locks, will be tried for trespassing and other crimes. The Honorable Judge Edward Prado of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, a Texas Ex (B.A. 1969, J.D. 1972), will preside over the trial.
- Discover the fun of preparing pharmaceutical compounds in the College of Pharmacy.
- View the future of furniture design in an exhibit of student designs in the School of Architecture.
- Participate in an interactive play intervention session offered by the School of Social Work.
- Visit an intelligent robotics laboratory in the College of Natural Sciences where robots learn how to learn.
- Experience the feeling of sitting behind the wheel of the Solar Steer, a car built by students in the College of Engineering that runs on solar power.
- Create a news story in the College of Communication and then serve as news anchor by reading it into the camera with the use of a teleprompter.
- Learn about symbols and storytelling in Indian dance as part of the numerous activities offered by the College of Liberal Arts.
- Make a Texas-size work of art in the College of Fine Arts using a steamroller.
- Tour the campus, visit a residence hall, take a trip to the top of the Tower or march with the Longhorn Band.
Several new activities have been added this year. Among these is a session in the School of Social Work with Longhorn athletes offering Austin youths guidance and insight on strategies kids need to cope with growing up in today’s society. The Center for American History is offering a new activity on how to mitigate damage to precious family documents when a disaster strikes, and there is a new session on “Is Your Family Ready for an Emergency?” in the School of Nursing. A researcher in the Department of Kinesiology will discuss his seven-year study on Lance Armstrong’s ability to increase his cycling efficiency, and a historian will explore “The Da Vinci Code.” There also are sessions focusing on the Hurricane Katrina effect.
These are only a few of the adventures that will be available at Explore UT.
Programs are free and open to the public. The event will take place rain or shine. Please visit the Explore UT Web site for a complete schedule of program listings or call 512-471-7753. 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 a major sponsor of Explore UT.
For more information contact: Nancy Neff, 512-471-6504.
