The University of Texas at Austin will host its 11th annual “Explore UT, The Biggest Open House in Texas!” from 11 a.m. 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 6.
More than 50,000 visitors are expected to participate in a day of free activities, performances, demonstrations and lectures.
At Explore UT, guests have the opportunity to explore every corner of the university’s campus. With more than 400 programs offered for visitors of all ages, there is something of interest for everyone. This year’s Explore UT offers the largest number of programs in its history.
“Explore UT is a chance for children of any age, and their families, to explore the excitement of UT and the promise of higher education,” said College of Fine Arts Dean Douglas Dempster, chair of Explore UT. “It’s the biggest open house in Texas.”
Participants can contribute to a community art project by helping paint a giant mural at the Blanton museum, engineer a balloon rocket, build a Lego skyscraper, extract DNA from a banana, make greeting cards with traditional Middle Eastern geometric art or find out what it’s like to live in a Central Asian yurt. They can also view a living, exotic algae collection, then find out how edible algae tastes.
Others can watch art being made by an industrial-sized steamroller, listen to the university’s newest chamber music ensemble, the Aeolus Quartet, perform Haydn and Brahms or get a “behind the scenes” look at how costumes are made for theatre and dance productions.
Current events-minded visitors can learn how design and engineering can protect people and property from earthquakes, find answers to their copyright issues in the digital age or explore the impact of cultural beliefs and attitudes about medicine-taking behavior.
Explore UT is free and open to the public. No registration is required. The event will take place rain or shine. A list of activities, programs and lectures can be found online.
For more information contact the Office of Relationship Management and University Events at (512) 471-7753.
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.