Austin Science Fun Guide -Education - Texas Natural Science Center

A scientifically literate public will be essential to society in the 21st Century. All areas of science and technology are progressing rapidly because of the revolution in information technology. Many predict that advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology will spur the same sort of dramatic changes in science, technology, and business. The 21st Century is also presenting us with the challenge of balancing economic development with stewardship of the environment at local and global scales. The more people know about the world around them, the more they understand science and the role it plays in their lives, the better equipped society will be to deal with these challenges.

Industry and academia should work together as partners in achieving excellence in scientific research and education. Indeed, industry supports academic and research efforts in science with many types of resources, and academia produces high-caliber research results and trains students who will create the new advances in industry. Of course, this could not be accomplished unless both partners spread enthusiasm and knowledge of science throughout their local communities.

This website, the Austin Science Fun Guide, represents just such a partnership. It is the outgrowth of the printed version of this gateway to intriguing science adventures, ranging from an entertaining and educational visit to a science center or an enjoyable stroll along a nature trail, to membership and a longer-term commitment to local science associations. All of these resources are generally accessible to the public and are located in the greater Austin area. All make science fun. The idea of the Guide itself grew along with a related program called Austin Science Fun Day. Austin Science Fun Day celebrates the joy of discovery by teaming school classes with groups of professional or serious amateur scientists to develop exhibit booths over the course of the winter for display on a Saturday of every March at the Texas Memorial Museum.

The Guide and Austin Science Fun Day have always had corporate sponsorship. First AMD and later Motorola got the ball rolling on the Guide. National Instruments and AMD have been loyal funding sponsors of Austin Science Fun Day, and have recently been joined by Tokyo Electron America and KXAN-TV. Other corporations supply volunteers and judges for Austin Science Fun Day, like TyRex, the North Austin Rotary Club, National Instruments and AMD. And, of course, The College of Natural Sciences of The University of Texas at Austin was instrumental in creating and running both programs for several years, and remains a valuable partner in planning and organizing Austin Science Fun Day.

As with the previous editions of the Austin Science Fun Guide, many different types of science resources are included in the publication with the hope of stimulating interest in science for children as well as adults. We recognize that this guide is not comprehensive, thus, science groups not listed are encouraged to contact the Texas Natural Science Center for inclusion in the next edition of this guide.

Dr. Ed Theriot
Director, Texas Natural Science Center