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Integrative Biology - UT Austin

@texas-ib.bsky.social
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Department of Integrative Biology at The University of Texas at Austin

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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Microbes are all around us...and they may be doing far more than we realize. At #UTMSI, researchers (Prasad & Lever) are uncovering how tiny microbes interact with detrital particles by isolating living microbial cells — allowing them to watch these interactions in real time.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
This 100+ year-old X-ray machine isn't just a piece of history—it changed science. Used by geneticist, UT prof & Nobel laureate Hermann J. Muller in the 1920s, it played a key role in research that earned him the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. See it in the PAT lobby on campus.
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Texas Science @texasscience.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Meet Chip Breier, a marine scientist developing cutting-edge robotics & other tools to explore some of the most extreme environments on Earth. 🌊🔬 Read our Q&A: www.texasscientist.cns.utexas.edu/articles/joh... @utmsi.bsky.social @whoi.edu
A man stands with arms folded next to a short wall, looking out at the ocean. Photo credit: Tico MendozaA man stands on the deck of a research vessel, working on a robotic submersible that looks like a large yellow box about the size of a small car. Photo credit: Chip BreierA man leans against a railing on the deck of a research vessel. Behind him, a crane is lowering a robotic submersible that looks like a large yellow box about the size of a small car into the water. Photo credit: Chip Breier.
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Caroline Farrior @cfarrior.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
University of Texas at Austin Biodiversity Center: hiring a communications coordinator. tinyurl.com/apply-bccc
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The Nature Conservancy @nature.org · 23/04/2026
What's bigger than Rhode Island and three times the size of San Antonio? The 1 million acres The Nature Conservancy has helped protect in Texas! Explore a new series on PBS with The Daytripper's Chet Garner and to see why grasslands and freshwater matter: nature.ly/4vJNA2k
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow Daryl Barth! She studies the gut microbiomes of plastic-eating superworms to uncover novel enzymes capable of breaking down persistent plastics like polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon. biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature...
biodiversity.utexas.edu
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow: Daryl Barth
This article is about 2025 Stengl-Wyer graduate fellow Daryl Barth.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Coral reefs support over 25% of marine life, but Caribbean reefs are collapsing as key coral species fail to reproduce. Professor Misha Matz has proposed introducing resilient non-native corals to help save these ecosystems before it’s too late. cns.utexas.edu/news/feature... #coralreefs
cns.utexas.edu
Can This Scientist’s Proposal Save Coral Reefs in Our Hemisphere?
Evolutionary expert Misha Matz makes a splash with a controversial proposal that could save Caribbean coral reefs.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Check out our new “Raining Fish” display about 2 recent Texas fish falls! The Ichthyology Collection acquired specimens from these rare events—making it one of the few natural history collections in the world with fish fall specimens. See it at north entrance of PAT on campus!
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The Nature Conservancy @nature.org · 11/05/2026
The trick is not just planting enough trees, but planting the right kind. 🌳
grist.org
The solution to urban heat is much, much simpler than you think
Scientists have discovered technology with a remarkable ability to prevent extreme heat in cities. It's called a tree.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow Rebecca Clemons! Her research focuses on how amphibian immune systems respond to a deadly fungal pathogen. Read more about her here in our latest blog post...
biodiversity.utexas.edu
Meet Stengl-Wyer Fellow: Rebecca Clemons
This article is about Steng-Wyer Fellow Rebecca Clemons
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
#UTMSI is researching how microplastics affect human health — the Liu Lab recently attended the UT MD Anderson–UT Austin Collaborative Research Summit, where they connected across campuses to tackle complex environmental and health challenges. 🧪🌊 🤘
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Congrats to Dr. Amy Wolf, recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentoring Award! This award honors outstanding faculty support in their mentees’ academic & career development. shorturl.at/tuLsY
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Texas Longhorns - The University of Texas at Austin @utlonghorns.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
what we imagine earth looks like from Artemis II... Happy Earth Day, Longhorns! 🤘 #HookEm
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Congrats to Dr. Hans Hofmann, recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Mentoring Award for his exceptional mentorship of Stengl-Wyer Postdoctoral Scholars. This award honors outstanding faculty support in mentees’ academic and career development. More: shorturl.at/sBOjj
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Calling all science enthusiasts! Come to the 2026 BioBlitz @ Brackenridge Field Lab, Sat 4/25. Family friendly & open to the public. Drop in anytime between 10 am to 10 pm. Details & registration here: www.eventbrite.com/e/bioblitz-2...
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
April's Science Under the Stars event "An Evening with Biodiversity Researchers" was a great success! Stengl-Wyer Scholars and Fellows presented their research and had tabling events as well. #biodiversity #outreach #scienceoutreach #ecology #biology
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Texas Science @texasscience.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Iceland was the only Arctic country w/o mosquitoes. Now, thanks to human activities, they’ve made the leap. In a new editorial in Science, UT Austin biologist Amanda Koltz warns of more changes to come and calls for more Arctic research. doi.org/10.1126/scie... @texas-ib.bsky.social
The Arctic sky is thick with flying mosquitoes. Photo credit: Jesse Krause.A mosquito rests on the fabric of a scientist's shirt. Photo credit: Jeff Kerby.Mosquitoes land on the face of a stoic-looking bird. Photo credit: Jeff Kerby.The pant leg of a scientist is covered in mosquitoes. Photo credit: Jesse Krause.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Animals can adapt to environmental change by shifting behavior. These changes affect how species evolve, but predicting this has been difficult. A new model by IB assoc prof Carlos Botero helps account for this, improving assessments of species’ vulnerability to climate change. shorturl.at/05jpD
shorturl.at
New Model Shows How Behavioral Flexibility Affects Animal Evolution
Animals able to change behaviors but slow to evolve might fare better than previously thought amid climate change.
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Construction is underway on our new, state‑of‑the‑art research vessel for UT Marine Science Institute—built to power discovery across the Texas coast and the Gulf. 👉
utmsi.utexas.edu
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Peregrine falcons are often seen on the UT campus. Before most of Austin is even awake, one woman travels to campus almost daily to try to spot peregrines near the Main Tower. Read an interview with her about her dedication to these fascinating birds: news.utexas.edu/2026/03/26/f...
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
New research from UTMSI shows that sunlight causes ocean plastics to release dissolved chemical compounds—not just smaller plastic particles—reshaping how we understand plastic pollution. 🔬 #UTMSI #TexasScience #Plastic #Ocean #Microplastics #nurdle #MarineDebris
utmsi.utexas.edu
New Study Clarifies What Plastics Become as They Weather in the Ocean - Marine Science Institute. The University of Texas at Austin.
As many people in South Texas are aware, plastic, like the cushions on outdoor furniture, can dramatically break down when exposed to the sun. The same process is happening to […]
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
We're excited to announce the 2026 BioBlitz at Brackenridge Field Lab! Drop in anytime Sat Apr 25 - 10 AM–10 PM. Try iNaturalist, enjoy hands-on activities, and join a nighttime insect survey. Special all-ages programming from 10 AM–12 PM. Learn more and register: www.eventbrite.com/e/bioblitz-2...
eventbrite.com
Bioblitz 2026 UT's Brackenridge Field Laboratory
Celebrate Earth Day weekend by becoming a citizen scientist at UT's Brackenridge Field Lab. Registration Required.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Some insects we may not typically think as pollinators actually are! Take a look at some great examples all around us here in Central Texas. #entomology #pollinators #nativeinsects biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature...
biodiversity.utexas.edu
Beyond Bees: Our Wide World of Pollinators
This article is about the various other pollinators around us other than honey bees.
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Texas Science @texasscience.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
You probably like the same sounds as frogs, birds and even bugs! 🐸 @utaustin.bsky.social researchers recently discovered that humans prefer the same mating calls as other animals. Read more here: cns.utexas.edu/news/researc...
cns.utexas.edu
Which Mating Call to Choose? People Are in Accord with Bugs, Bats and Frogs
Music to the ears of amorous amphibians and other creatures sounds best to humans, too, a new study finds.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Bright butterfly wings, floral scents, and birdsong evolved to attract mates—but humans like them too. A new study shows people and animals share preferences for certain mating calls, suggesting our brains are wired similarly to find these signals appealing. cns.utexas.edu/news/researc...
cns.utexas.edu
Which Mating Call to Choose? People Are in Accord with Bugs, Bats and Frogs
Music to the ears of amorous amphibians and other creatures sounds best to humans, too, a new study finds.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Spring migration is here which means its #LightsOut time! Help protect millions of migrating birds by turning off all non-essential lighting from 11:00pm to 6:00am daily during migration (March 1 - June 15). www.audubon.org/texas/projec... #birds #conservation
audubon.org
Lights Out, Texas!
Protecting migratory and resident birds from collision fatalities by reducing light pollution and promoting bird-safe glass.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Plants can’t move, so they’ve evolved specialized adaptations to survive. This Science Under the Stars talk, "Rare Plants Around the World" explores unusual plant strategies & why understanding them is key to conservation. 3/12 @ 8 pm, Brackenridge Field Lab scienceunderthestars.org
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The Nature Conservancy @nature.org · 05/03/2026
Protecting & restoring nature is one of America's smartest investments. 🌱 A TNC-commissioned report reveals that conservation funding delivers a $4 return for every federal dollar spent, fueling economies, our health & public safety. That’s a win for people and nature. nature.ly/4aSUutV
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Providing hands-on education and experience is what we do every day. #TexasScience #UTMSI
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
"Underland" is a documentary exploring the worlds beneath Earth’s surface. Enjoy interactive activities with the Texas Field Station Network and the lab of Dr. Melissa Kemp (Integrative Biology). After, Dr. Kemp shares insights from her subterranean research. Mar 4-5:30 pm - Long Center
sciencefest.utexas.edu
Reel Science: Underland
Get “deep” questions answered, and explore mysteries on screen, as Reel Science pairs a film’s voyage to discovery with a local scientist’s own.
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
How do you study ocean environments that are nearly impossible for humans to reach? By building the technology to go there. 🌊⚙️ In this Q&A, UT alum Chip Breier shares how he's designing autonomous tools that collect critical data. 🔗 Read the full interview:
cns.utexas.edu
Building Better Tech for Marine Science: A Q&A with Chip Breier
Chip Breier (Ph,.D. '06) is a marine biogeochemist and engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
The Jean Andrews Seminar is Sunday, 3/1 at 2pm at the Wildflower Center. Dr. Frank Kanawha Lake presents “Indigenous Fire Stewardship, Pollinators, & Eco-Cultural Restoration,” exploring fire ecology, tribal agroforestry & climate resilience. Free + all ages! sciencefest.utexas.edu/events/demos...
sciencefest.utexas.edu
Science Activity Fair and Plant Biology Talk at the Wildflower Center
Explore how Indigenous knowledge and ecological science come together at the annual Jean Andrews Seminar at the Wildflower Center and the hands-on science fair.
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Texas Science @texasscience.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Follow your curiosity to the Texas Science Festival for two full weeks of science-inspired offerings! #TexasScience #TexasScienceFestival news.utexas.edu/2026/02/11/t...
news.utexas.edu
Texas Science Festival Invites Community to Partake in the Joys of Discovery
From a talk-show themed night featuring science comedy to a campus-wide day for hands-on STEM exploration to special events spotlighting the latest scientific discoveries, the 2026 Texas Science Festi...
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Texas Science @texasscience.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Some of our earliest microbial ancestors, the Asgard archaea, were able to use oxygen, says new study in @nature.com. It may solve a mystery about how complex life first arose. #AsgardArchaea #MicrobialEcology #Eukaryogenesis #TexasScience @utmsi.bsky.social @archaeal.bsky.social
cns.utexas.edu
A Break in a Longstanding Mystery about Origin of Complex Life
Breathe easy. It appears our microbial ancestors used oxygen, too.
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
You know what we DON’T love this Valentine’s Day? 💔 Microplastics on the beach. 🏖️ Fortunately, our colleagues on the main campus, Carlos Baiz and team are working on a solution 💘 Read the story: cns.utexas.edu/news/feature... #UTMSI #Microplastics #TexasScience #Robotics
cns.utexas.edu
Microplastics in the Sand: Beach Combing Goes High Tech
A UT chemist says it is now time to develop tests for microplastics, similar to tests for other toxic threats.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Feb 20 is Hot Science Cool Talks: “The Biology of Love” 💕 What can prairie voles teach us about human love? 🐭❤️ Dr. Steven Phelps explores the biology & evolution behind bonding & commitment. Activities 5:30 pm talk 7 pm WEL 2.224. Register: lovebiology.eventbrite.com
lovebiology.eventbrite.com
The Biology of Love
Hot Science - Cool Talks event with Dr. Steven Phelps
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
We have a winner for our 2026 Spring Bee Competition! The winner is UT student Arya Vyas. biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature... #entomology #nativebees
biodiversity.utexas.edu
2026 UT Spring Bee Competition: We have a winner!
This article announces the annual spring bee competition.
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Even though the temperature feels like summer, our UTMSI Winter 2025 Newsletter is here! ❄️ Check out our 36th issue. 👉 indd.adobe.com/view/c80f982...
indd.adobe.com
Publish Online
A newsletter from The University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Texas, Issue 26.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Next week, join UT & the Austin community for the largest science and STEM outreach event of the year. Running Feb 18-Mar 5, the Texas Science Festival—presented by the College of Natural Sciences—features science-themed films, talks, tours, demonstrations & more. Details: sciencefest.utexas.edu
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
From swimming whales to microscopic bacteria, evolution shapes all life. But how does it work? Join grad student Matt Ming at Science Under the Stars as he explores how our understanding of evolution has changed. Feb 19th @ 8pm. Free & family friendly! scienceunderthestars.org
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The University of Texas Marine Science Institute @utmsi.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Texas scientists are teaming up to protect our changing Texas coast by synthesizing decades of TPWD data on storms, drought, freezes, and fisheries. UTMSI’s Dr. Zhanfei Liu co‑leads this NOAA‑funded effort 👉
restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov
From Santa Barbara to the Gulf: Scientists synthesize decades of data to protect a changing Texas coast - NOAA RESTORE Science Program
Trapped inside on a cool, sunny day in Santa Barbara, California, a group of scientists are deep in discussion. It’s November 2023, and the group is at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and…
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
We'd like to honor the recent passing of entomologist & UT alumnus Bill Cade. He researched the Texas field cricket, but also made remarkable discoveries on the parasitic fly Ormia ochracea. biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature...
biodiversity.utexas.edu
In Memorium of Bill Cade
This article is an obituary about Bill Cade, an entomologist and UT alumnun
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Congratulations to Jenna Wadman (class of 2020) on her paper, co-authored with Melissa Kemp (Assoc Prof, IB), exploring how humans have reshaped #biodiversity in the Caribbean for 7,000 years. Read the paper: shorturl.at/YXvfQ #paleobiology
shorturl.at
7000 years of turnover: historical contingency and human niche construction shape the Caribbean's Anthropocene biota
Abstract. The human-mediated movement of species across biogeographic boundaries—whether intentional or accidental—is dramatically reshaping the modern wor
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Look what is in Austin! Here one can find limestone canyons, tree-lined hills and native songbirds at the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve: nature.ly/4qAkb7d #conservation #sustainability #ecology #environment #nativeplants
nature.ly
Barton Creek Habitat Preserve
Barton Creek Habitat Preserve is a scenic and pristine landscape in Austin that protects the habitat of endangered songbirds and preserves the quality of water in the Barton Creek watershed.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
One of UT Austin's Biodiversity Center's field stations, the McDonald Observatory, has applications open for their paid 2026 summer internships @mcdonaldobs.bsky.social Students assist w/ programs, tours, workshops & outreach. Applications Due: 2/15 @mcdonaldobs.bsky.social ow.ly/3RSg50Y0YW5
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Meet 2025 Stengl-Wyer Scholar Julia Schap! Julia is a conservation #paleobiologist who studies the impact of changing climate on small mammal communities. Read the interview with her here: biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature... #conservation #climatechange #biology
biodiversity.utexas.edu
Meet Stengl-Wyer Scholar: Julia Schap
This article is about Stengl-Wyer Scholar Julia Schap
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Head out to the Texas Science & Natural History Museum on the UT Austin campus for an evening of "cocktails, crafts and prehistoric passion" at Fossils & Flowers. Thur, Feb. 12 Get tickets here: bit.ly/4qswAdX
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The Nature Conservancy @nature.org · 20/01/2026
Step into your winter groove and enjoy the quieter, cooler beauty of the season. Fresh air and movement in the winter sun can lift your mood and energize your body. 🧣🧤Bundle up, head outside, and let the cold work its magic on your mind and body. Let's keep the winter blues at bay, okay?
nature.ly
Chilling Out in Nature
The Nature Conservancy provides a guide to enjoying our preserves during winter.
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Join UT's Marine Science Institute on Jan 22, 2026, for a free public lecture with Angel Enriquez from the National Weather Service at the Patton Center. Presentation Title: A Case Study of the November 1, 2025 Large Hail Supercells Across the Coastal Bend. Details: utmsi.utexas.edu/learning-opp...
utmsi.utexas.edu
Public Lectures - Marine Science Institute. The University of Texas at Austin.
The public lecture series features in-person presentations by scientists on their research and programs, free for everyone to attend. For questions, please contact us at msi-edureserve@utlists.utexas....
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Integrative Biology - UT Austin @texas-ib.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
The Entomology Collection is pleased to announce the 2026 UT Spring Bee Contest! If you are UT student/staff/faculty, present the first sighting of seasonally-active Osmia mason bees in Travis County to win a prize. Details: biodiversity.utexas.edu/news/feature...
biodiversity.utexas.edu
2026 UT Spring Bee Competition
This article announces the annual spring bee competition.
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