Talk Archives

Advancements in AI have unleashed astonishing capabilities, but it is not magic. Peter Stone reveals his insights into cutting-edge AI and robotics and explores how they may reshape our world. Someday these technologies could win the World Cup, and they are already outperforming the best humans at complex tasks like high-speed racing. Registration open now.   Check out the Cool Activity list here.

The powerful James Webb Space Telescope allows us to see back to the beginning of time, shortly after the Big Bang, when the first stars and galaxies were only starting to form. Professor Caitlin Casey will explore with us some exciting new discoveries made using JWST during the first billion years of cosmic time. These discoveries are challenging scientists’ existing understanding about the universe itself and will change the way you see the cosmos.  

Image of the Ring Nebula, based on research by a team including Prof. Dinerstein and Dr. Kaplan of UT Astronomy. Image credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, M. Barlow (UCL), N. Cox (ACRI-ST), R. Wesson (Cardiff University).

In "Recipes for Food Insecurity," Dr. Raj Patel unveils his research into a powerful link between food justice and addressing climate change. Battling a changing climate means transforming the food system and challenging oppressive systems. Dr. Patel's insights originate from researching frontline communities who have already developed unique solutions for a hot planet.

Have you ever wondered what an insect’s worst nightmare is? Dive into the wonderful weirdness of tarsiers with Dr. Chris Kirk in “Tarsiers – Tiny Terrors of the Tropics!”. These primates have freaky adaptations, but in many ways, they are also just like us!

Discover the enchanting stories that make the Hill Country such a unique place. From colorful wildflowers to endangered species, an incredible variety of plants and animals call this region home. Learn about the importance of preserving the Hill Country's biological diversity and leave with ideas for how you can make a positive difference. Copies of Dr. Hillis’s new book, Armadillos to Ziziphus, will be available for purchase on site—don't miss the chance to get your copy signed after the talk!  

Based on Hollywood movies, many of us imagine that a dinosaur may have roared like a lion or a tiger. But what if instead of roaring, dinosaurs instead cooed? By examining birds as living descendants of dinosaurs, Dr. Julia Clarke shares how ancient dinosaurs may have produced sound and what that tells us about modern-day birds.

Understanding how climate change will stress our human systems can lead to better decisions and better outcomes for people. Using computer representations that can capture the entire Earth system, geoscientist Geeta Persad conducts research that sheds more light on our climate future and solutions at hand.

Join us for the screening of The Ants and the Grasshopper, a documentary that tells the story of a Malawian activist trying to save her home from extreme weather. The film weaves together the most urgent themes of our times: climate change, gender and racial inequality, the gaps between the rich and the poor, and the ideas that groups around the world have generated in order to save the planet. This event is a collaboration between the LBJ School, Hot Science - Cool Talks, and Texas Global.

Tropical cyclones cause on average more than 10,000 deaths and $40 billion in damages globally each year. Not only are hurricanes destructive because of the damaging winds but heavy rainfall and storm surge lead to flooding, rip currents and even tornadoes. Are hurricanes becoming more powerful and destructive and to what extent are these changes caused by climate change? Dr. Kerry Emanuel shares his research on hurricane prediction models and the long-term risk of hurricanes.

Is it possible to change an individual’s perceptions about climate change?  Definitely!  Join us for a conversation with Michael Ranney, whose research focuses on understanding and explaining challenging information, including concepts such as global warming and its impacts.  Prof. Ranney shares interventions that have proven to be effective in increasing the acceptance of climate change by people across the political spectrum.