Welcome to UT Austin for STEM Girl Day 2023! As a curious child born into a family of civil engineers, I knew from the age of eight that I wanted to be an engineer when I grew up. And that’s the future we hope to inspire for all attendees of Girls in STEM Day. But most importantly, we hope you all have a fun visit to our amazing campus, where you’ll experience many great activities — for all ages to enjoy. I’ll see you there. Hook ’em!

Provost Sharon Wood

In the College of Natural Sciences, we like to say: Discovery starts here. People join us to learn about what’s new and exciting in robotics, computers and research about our world and the universe. When you are with us, you can find out how a telescope works, or extract DNA from a strawberry or fuel from water. Whatever you learn or try, you are experiencing a taste of discovery. And discovery is at the heart of science.

I am thrilled that this year’s STEM Girl Day is also a featured event in our two-week Texas Science Festival, which is happening through March 4. Even if you don’t get a chance to see everything you wanted to on our UT campus, that’s OK. We have still more activities where you can learn about eclipses, enjoy our Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and ask real scientists your questions about nature, animals, health and machines. I hope you stay curious. And I hope today inspires you to keep learning science and to stay excited about all the discovery it has to offer.

David A. Vanden Bout
Dean, College of Natural Sciences