The Biology of Love
FEBRUARY 20, 2026
Steven Phelps
UT Integrative Biology
What is the talk about?
What does science say about love and long-term relationships? In the next Hot Science – Cool Talks event, biologist Dr. Steven Phelps explores the biology of love through the surprising world of prairie voles, one of the few monogamous mammals. By studying how vole brains form lasting bonds, Dr. Phelps reveals what biology, brain chemistry, and evolution can teach us about human connection, trust, and commitment. This engaging talk offers a fresh, science-based look at why we pair up right after Valentines Day!
About our presenter
Steven Phelps
Steven Phelps is an Associate Professor of Integrative Biology and the Director and co-founder of the Center for Brain, Behavior and Evolution. His research, funded by NSF, NIH, and National Geographic, focuses on social cognition, brain evolution, neural modeling, gene regulation, and human evolution. Phelps earned his PhD in Integrative Biology from the University of Texas in 1999 and completed predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the NSF Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, supported by the NIH.
Schedule & Location
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30-6:40 PM | Cool Activities | Grand Hallway, Welch Hall (WEL), UT Campus |
| 7:00-8:15 PM | Talk | 2.224, Welch Hall (WEL), UT Campus |
Parking & Directions
Welch Hall (WEL), UT Campus
Welch Hall (WEL) is located at 105 E. 24th St, on the corner of Speedway and 24th Streets. Enter the Welch Hall building from the Speedway side.
Discount event parking will be available soon at https://utparking.clickandpark.com/ until midnight Thursday before the talk! From the "Venue Selection" page, select Welch Hall. You will see the Hot Science - Cool Talks, select the date of this event. Select Find Parking. Select the parking passes you need and click Add to Cart. (The cost of parking is determined by UT Parking and Transportation) Select Continue Checkout. Add your Billing Info and Complete Purchase. You will be sent a pdf attachment with a QR code. Please check the PDF has your code. Otherwise, contact ClickandPark at 866-330-7275 for billing issues.