Science Under the Stars: Let’s Go Bananas

Ever wondered why banana candy tastes so different from the bananas we eat today? It’s all thanks to the Gros Michel banana, once the “it” banana of the fruit world until a devastating fungus wiped it out in the 1960s.

Join Sarah Hunter, Ph.D. candidate in Plant Biology, as she explores the history of this banana variety, the collapse of an entire industry, and the lasting impact on agriculture. Learn about one of the worst plant epidemics in history and the risks of growing in monoculture. Don’t miss this fascinating dive into the past! 

Schedule:

• 7:00 pm: Kid’s activities and natural history displays
• 7:15 pm: Guided tour of Brackenridge Field Laboratory
• 8:00 pm: Talk Begins

The talk will be held outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory.

Science Under the Stars is a free public outreach lecture series in Austin, Texas run by UT graduate students. Events are held outdoors at Brackenridge Field Laboratory, 2907 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, Texas 78703. Find schedules and links for each event on the SUtS blog, Instagram, X/Twitter and YouTube channel, or sign up on their listserve to get event notifications.