Our Impact and Reach
THE HIGH SCHOOL RESEARCH INITIATIVE
A Texas-wide program that connects high school classrooms to UT research by providing professional development for teachers, project-based curricula, and a supportive network of teachers, UT faculty, and undergraduate students.
- Since 2016, the HRI has hosted eight multi-week summer professional development sessions, partnering with over 27 teachers from 25 schools and impacting over 400 high school students.
- Almost all teachers rated the professional development a 5 of 5.
- 20% of participating schools are from rural districts
- “They give you everything you pretty much need. You have a lesson plan, you have the prompt questions, you have the handouts, you have the PowerPoints. …as a beginning teacher, it’s a really great start for you to build on. I mean, everything is there…if you’re trying something new, that’s the perfect way to do it.”
MCDONALD OBSERVATORY TEACHER WORKSHOPS
Set in the breathtaking Davis Mountains, these workshops offer teachers up to 20 hours of professional development, combining astronomy education with unforgettable experiences at the largest optical telescope in North America.
- 83 teachers from over 10 states participated in workshops held in February, June, July, and October
- Activities included telescope tours, interactive discussions with resident researchers, and guided nighttime stargazing
- “For a few days, we got to stare up at the skies and awe at the magnificence of space. How lucky were we to visit this place full of scientists and engineers asking, ‘Where do we come from?’ and, ‘Are we alone?’ It is an experience we will never forget.”
MCDONALD OBSERVATORY LIVESTREAMS
Live sessions with McDonald Observatory astronomers, researchers, and engineers offer the public stunning views of the night sky from the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, interactive astronomy lessons, and real-time Q&A.
- 11 livestreams reached global audiences, including one in Spanish
- 62,611 views on YouTube this year, with high engagement for the Solar Eclipse stream
- “Thank you both for doing this! We love watching them!!!”
- “Thank you so much! My son and I really enjoyed watching and learning!”
MCDONALD OBSERVATORY FIELD TRIPS
Discover the wonders of astronomy with a three-hour field trip to see McDonald Observatory’s three largest telescopes. Students engage in TEKS-aligned activities, explore live views of the sun, and learn about cutting-edge research shaping our understanding of the universe.
- 30% of participants come from rural backgrounds
- Over 800 students from across Texas (and even Mexico!) visited
- Many students experienced looking through a telescope for the first time
- “Wonderful time, awesome instructor – very engaging!”
MCDONALD OBSERVATORY DISTANCE LEARNING
Students connect with award-winning McDonald Observatory staff right from their classrooms through Connect2Texas, engaging in TEKS-aligned activities on topics like the sun, the moon, and other astronomical phenomena.
- Reached 11,542 students through live sessions and recordings
- 7,779 students participated in Spotlight Sessions
- Featured “Sunny Thursdays” in the Fall, showcasing live views of the sun through solar telescopes in Fort Davis
- Won the “Connect2Texas Spotlight Session Award” for the solar eclipse session