April 1, 2023 Festival Schedule (Tentative)

All times listed below are Central Time (CT).

We also have special events & bonuses. Check them out near the bottom of the page.

Main Events

10:00 – 11:00 AM CT

Dr. James G. Potter Lecture: “The Trouble With Gravity”

Presented by Richard Panek, popular science writer and award-winning author of best-selling books.

Location: Mitchell Institute (MIST), Hawking Auditorium.

10:30 AM – 3:00 PM CT

Hands-On Science Demonstrations

Join us on campus for an interactive science exhibition. Kids of all ages and grown-ups are invited to be astounded by all kinds of amazing phenomena, experience them live, and just play.

Location: Mitchell Physics (MPHY) & Mitchell Institute (MIST).

11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM CT

Science Circus

Amazing physics demonstrations taught with hilarity and dexterity by Rhys Thomas.

Location: Mitchell Physics (MPHY) Lecture Halls, Rooms 203, 204 & 205.

11:30 AM CT

Talk TBA

Presented by Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, NASA Astronaut and Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Location: Mitchell Institute (MIST), Hawking Auditorium.

3:00 PM CT

Grand Finale Depth Charge Explosion

Don’t miss our famous five-barrel depth charge explosion which will launch 1,000 plastic balls several feet into the air. Watching this from the front row may get you a shower and is sure to be a blast!

Location: South-side of Mitchell Physics (MPHY).

3:30 – 4:30 PM CT

Mitchell Lecture “The Last Stargazers: True Stories and Adventures of Astronomy”

Presented by Dr. Emily Levesque, Associate Professor of Astronomy at University of Washington.

Location: Mitchell Physics (MPHY) Lecture Halls, Rooms 203, 204 & 205.

Special Events & Bonuses

12:00 – 12:30 PM, 12:30 – 1:00 PM (Central Times)

A look inside the Large Hadron Collider tunnel.

Large Hadron Collider Virtual Tours

The Large Hadron Collider is the world’s largest and highest-energy particle collider. It consists of a 27-kilometer ring of superconducting magnets with a number of accelerating structures to boost the energy of the particles along the way. Join us for a virtual tour of this amazing spectacle.

Location: Mitchell Institute (MIST), Hawking Auditorium.

11:30 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:45 PM (Central Times)

Professor Glenn Agnolet showing his low temperature demo to excited children.

Low Temperature Extravaganza

Have you ever seen air as a liquid or a solid? Come watch this fascinating stage of low temperature.

Location: Mitchell Physics (MPHY), Room 213.

2:15 – 2:45 PM CT

2019 Yell Leaders cheering at the Festival

Texas Aggie Yell Leaders

The official spirit organization of Texas A&M, leading Aggie fans in “yells” and a variety of hand signals, called “pass backs”, to direct and intensify the crowd. They will cheer us on shortly before the depth charge.

Location: South-side of Mitchell Physics (MPHY).

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM CT

Earn MaroonBase Points and Enter To Win Cash!

If you’re a Texas A&M student, simply attend this Festival while using the TAMU MaroonBase app to earn points throughout the Festival day. Each 200 points enters you 1 time in the monthly drawing where 3 students win $500 each. All points go toward the semester-long competition for up to $2,000! For more info, go to: maroonbase.tamu.edu. Good luck!