Vox Culture will be continuing its 2018 Homegrown Initiative addressing the environment with “Homegrown: Green Innovation”.   Vox Culture is hosting this event in partnership with Houstainable. Based locally, Houstainable seeks to build and enable the platform for clean technology entrepreneurs and sustainable capital to thrive in Houston.

Together, the organizations are bringing a select group of rising Houston startups that are building and implementing new technologies to encourage local innovation and address the various environmental issues that plague Houston and the world. Also featured will be environment related art work created by Houston artist Johnathon Michael Espinoza – who will also talk about the possible intersection of arts and green businesses.

Discover how superheroes like the Avengers use chemistry to keep villains in check and save the world, and how forensic chemistry can help real-life crime fighters. Join Dr. Burks as she shares her experiences, from working in a crime lab to being a professor and TV personality, all while developing research tools for chemical sleuthing.
We encourage attendees to dress up as their favorite superhero and join us at this family friendly event. We ask that costumes do NOT include facsimiles of weapons (including toys or props).
Dr. Raychelle Burks is a professor at St. Edwards University who enjoys the challenge of developing methods for detecting a variety of materials, including illegal drugs and explosives. She designs portable sensors, including those that work in your smart phone, that can make chemical measurements in the field. She helped create and organize SciPop Talks!, a popular talk series blending science and pop culture. Dr. Burks is a popular science communicator, appearing on the Science Channel’s Outrageous Acts of Science, American Chemical Society’s Reactions videos, Royal Society of Chemistry podcasts, and at conventions such as DragonCon and GeekGirlCon.
Directions and Parking
The talk takes place in Burdine Hall, Room 106 located at 2505 University Avenue. Hot Science – Cool Talks attendees may park at the 27th Street Garage (TSG) located at 109 W. 27th St. at the discounted rate of $4. Only if you park at this garage will you receive the discount. Please bring your parking ticket with you to the event. Parking staff will sell discounted parking passes from 5:30-7:15 p.m. Only debit and credit cards are accepted. There will not be PTS staff at the garage.
From parking garage to event venue: Exit the garage on Wichita St. Walk south on Wichita St, crossing Dean Keeton St, and entering the Burdine Courtyard through the archway next to the Biomedical Engineering Building. See a map here.
Check-in
All talk attendees are required to have a ticket to attend the talk. Check-in is available at 5:30 p.m. or no later than 6:50 p.m. in the hallways outside of Room 106 in Burdine Hall. Please bring your Eventbrite ticket (printed or email) to check-in. We ask that everyone is seated by 6:50 p.m. or you may lose your seat. We expect the talk and its Q & A session will end by 8:15 p.m. though ending times may vary depending on the speaker.

Cool Activities
Explore the evening’s topic through hands-on activities and information from 5:30 – 6:40 p.m. Closer to the event date, we will share a list of organizations participating in Cool Activities.
We encourage attendees to dress up as their favorite superhero and join us at this family friendly event. A prize will be awarded to the winner with the best superhero costume. We ask that costumes do NOT include facsimiles of weapons (including toys or props).
About Hot Science – Cool Talks
Hot Science – Cool Talks provides a front row seat to world-class research. Presented by the Environmental Science Institute (ESI) this nationally recognized series allows leading researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and other prominent universities to share their passion about science, technology, engineering and math with the general public. Events are held six times a year.

Join the Big Bend Conservancy for another round of Brews for Big Bend this March. Houston area Big Bend fans, this is your chance to meet and greet with other West Texas enthusiasts.  For those attending, the Conservancy invites YOU to submit your photos of the Park.  Selected images will be shown onscreen at the event. Ticket purchasers can submit their photos of the Park to director@bigbendconservancy.org for consideration.

Click here to register for the event today.

There will be no tickets sold onsite, there are limited tickets available.

The Conservancy thanks everyone who purchases a ticket for the event and looks forward to seeing you there.

The next STS-AIChE First Friday Networking Lunch (FFNL) will be held on Friday, April 6th from 11:30AM – 1:00PM at the Wyndham Houston West Energy Corridor Park Restaurant and Grill. The restaurant is located on the east side of the hotel and there is designated parking available.  The lunch cost $11 all included (tax, tip, drinks and food) after the South Texas Section has subsidized this event by $5 per attendee. You pay for the lunch when you walk into the Park Restaurant at the Wyndham hotel.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

Dr. William Pittman, Fire and Gas Detection Consultant, Micropack Detection (Americas), will speak on how 3D models are being used to develop enhanced fire and gas detector layouts that are cost effective and proven to be compliant with design standards. The methodology presented is based on leading industry guidance on the evaluation of Fire & Gas system effectiveness. It begins by specifying risk-based performance targets for the system and assesses the system’s ability to detect target fires using the actual geometry of the space and field of view of the selected detector – where available. For more information and to register, visit www.aiche.org.

On Apr. 7, 2018, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Houston’s Repair Cafe invites you to bring in a broken item and meet local people who have offered to share their skills to help you make repairs. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. You can also get inspired at the reading table, by leafing through books on repairs and DIY. Acceptable items to bring include clothing, small appliances, and bicycles.

If you are interested in volunteering, the Repair Cafe is calling for all handywomen, handymen, handy kids, handy teens and families, tinkerers, and sewers. Volunteers are also needed to guide and assist with general coordination.

For more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Join the Galveston Bay Foundation on April 7th as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary with a tour, dinner, and entertainment. The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) was established in 1987 under the laws of the State of Texas. The Foundation involves a true cross-section of Bay interests to address issues and concerns related to Galveston Bay. It is managed by members, who represent sport and commercial fishing groups, government agencies, recreational users, environmental groups, shipping, development, and business interests. For more information, visit galvbay.org.

The mission of the Galveston Bay Foundation is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come.

On Tuesday, April 17^th, HARC will continue its People & Nature Speaker Series featuring an evening with Rear Admiral Jonathan White, United States Navy (Retired), CEO and President of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL). Admiral White will discuss climate and ocean issues in the context of national security, energy and economic prosperity with a focus on opportunities and solutions for the future. The event, held at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Brown Auditorium, will begin at 6:00 pm. Guests are invited to continue the conversation at a post-event reception.

For more information, visit harcresearch.org.

EarthX, formerly Earth day Texas, is a nonprofit organization focused on environmental education and awareness. Earthx’s vision is to be the leading global connector and environmental forum to positively impact our world for a sustainable future. As the largest environmental experience, EarthX showcases the latest initiatives, discoveries, research, innovations, policies and corporate practices that are reshaping the future. Workshops at Earthx focuses on breaking down barriers to further accelerate the mass adoption and deployment of solar, storage and electric vehicle technologies. EarthxSolar is a B2B exposition and forum bringing together businesses, government, investors and academia to connect and collaborate.

Get involved with EarthxSolar: speak, exhibit, panel proposal, nominate speaks, workshop form, or volunteer. Learn more at earthx.org.

Calling all Urban Wild members!

Join Memorial  Park Conservancy for a Happy Hour in celebration of Earth Day on April 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.! Enjoy a drink at Eight Row Flint, meet up with like-minded young professionals, and learn what Memorial Park Conservancy is all about. Guests are welcome. For more information, visit memorialparkconservancy.org or call (713) 863-8403.

Please join fellow friends of the National Wildlife Federation for a free, informal gathering to celebrate all the ways your support helps to preserve and sustain Texas wildlife and their habitats. Learn how NWF is working to strengthen and protect coastal communities like Houston from increasingly extreme weather events. Enjoy wine, beverages, and hors-d’oeuvres provided by award-winning chef Soren Pedersen, plus meet National Wildlife Federation’s Regional Executive Director Susan Kaderka and other members of the NWF team.

All are welcome. Please register no later than Wednesday, April 24, 2018. Please also invite friends and family (and let us know the names of your guests when you register). For more information, visit eventbrite.com.