What we’re about
Welcome to Houston Science Enthusiasts! Founded in 2010 (under the original name Houston Super Secret Science Club), our goal is to provide a place for people interested in science to find and gather at the most interesting science-related activities in the Greater Houston region. These include gatherings at the many science-related lectures held at area universities and other educational institutions, visits to museums, outdoors field trips and social mixers at local pubs and restaurants. The idea to make these meet-ups entertaining and interesting to the lay community as well as those from the ranks of professional scientists. Anyone can join -- you don't need a Ph.D., just some curiosity.
You also are invited to join our Facebook group, where we continue the discussion online: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HoustonSuperSecretScienceClub/
Find our listing of Houston Science Resources here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/houston-science-enthusiasts/houston-science-resources/637381806593089/
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- 8th Annual Summer Science SymposiumHouston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
HYBRID: The MAPTA (Methodist Association for Postdoctoral & Trainee Affairs) will host the 8th Annual Summer Science Symposium, featuring poster and podium presentations from research trainees, clinical fellows and summer interns.
Eighth Annual MAPTA Summer Science Symposium
July 31 - Aug. 1, 2025 | 9 AM to 4 PM
Houston Methodist Research Institute | 2nd Floor Lobby & AuditoriumDescription: Join us for the Eighth Annual MAPTA Summer Science Symposium, a premier event showcasing groundbreaking research from our vibrant community of graduate trainees, postdoctoral fellows, and summer undergraduate interns.
Day 1 will feature podium presentations from our graduate trainees, medical students and postdoctoral fellows, highlighting their innovative research across all fields of translational, basic science, and clinical research.
Day 2 will feature poster presentations, including contributions from both our trainee community and the summer undergraduate interns. This day also serves as the capstone project for our interns, marking their final day in the program.
We are also excited to announce the return of the PI Faculty Mentor of the Year Award. This award recognizes a principal investigator who has demonstrated exceptional mentorship, inspiring their mentees to achieve ambitious goals.
Don't miss this opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and celebrate the achievements of our talented trainee community. We look forward to seeing you there! Please email MAPTA@houstonmethodist.org with any questions.
Day 1 Schedule - Podium Presentations
9:15am – 9:30am Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:30am – 11:30am Graduate Student Podium Presentations
11:30am – 12:00pm Break & Lunch Pickup
12:00pm – 1:00pm Keynote Speaker
1:00pm – 1:15pm Break
1:15pm – 3:20pm Postdoctoral/MD Podium Presentations
3:20pm – 3:30pm Closing RemarksYou can use the following link for connecting virtually to the podium presentations on Thurs. July 31:
https://houstonmethodist.zoom.us/j/98472334538?pwd=ta0BA1cjOAppnpob0RmaScGKI2vT99.1Day 2 Schedule - Poster Presentations
9:25am – 9:30am Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:30am – 10:30am Keynote Speaker
10:30am – 11:30am Grad Student & Postdoc Poster Session
11:30pm – 12:30pm Lunch
12:30pm – 1:15pm Summer Intern Poster Session #1
1:15pm – 2:00pm Summer Intern Poster Session #2
2:00pm – 2:45pm Summer Intern Poster Session #3
2:45pm – 3:30pm Summer Intern Poster Session #4
3:30pm – 4:00pm Break for Final Scoring
4:00pm Awards Ceremony & Closing RemarksEvent page and registration for attendance (required): https://attend.houstonmethodist.org/event/8th-annual-mapta-summer-science-symposium
Map and Directions: Research Institute Events : Maps & Directions | Houston Methodist
Parking: Parking is available in the Texas Medical Center parking garages but it is expensive. Information: https://www.tmc.edu/parking/visitor-parking/
Metro: The Houston Methodist Academic Institute is also easily accessible by the Metro Red Line: https://www.ridemetro.org/riding-metro/transit-services/metrorail
- Tracking Satellites – Why and HowUniversity of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX
HYBRID: The Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society will hold a meeting featuring a presentation by Charles Phillips titled "Tracking Satellites – Why and How".
The meeting at will be held at the University of Houston-Clear Lake STEM Building, Room 1203 starting at 7:30 p.m.. People should arrive between 7 and 7:15 p.m. Attendees should park in Parking Lots D3 or D4 no earlier than 7 p.m.
Please see the UHCL Map here -- Please park in lots D3 and D4. The STEM building is building #5 on the map. Come in from the east side and go left. When you come to the end of hallway, you should find the auditorium where the meeting will be.
The meeting can be accessed by going to the JSCAS YouTube Channel at the link: https://www.youtube.com/c/JSCAstronomicalSociety
Also, the JSCAS YouTube Channel link will be posted on the JSCAS web page: http://www.jscas.net
To submit questions for our presenters during the meeting, please either enter your questions as a YouTube comment (if you have an account that will allow doing so) or send your questions to: jscaslive@gmail.com
JSCAS is open to anyone who wants to learn about astronomy and membership is free. After joining, you’ll have access to our amazing Astronomy DVD Library with 100’s of choices to learn from (from Astronomy Magazine, NASA, The Great Courses, Discovery Channel, etc.).
- A Conversation with NASA Flight Director Anthony VarehaIon - Forum Stairs, Houston, TX
IN-PERSON: "The Ion is proud to present 'NASA Stories at the Ion' —a one-of-a-kind morning series spotlighting the human side of space exploration. Each session will feature personal and powerful stories from astronauts and key NASA personnel. From breathtaking missions aboard the International Space Station to unexpected lessons in leadership and teamwork, this series offers a behind-the-scenes look at spaceflight, told by the people who’ve lived it.
"This speaker series is designed to inspire anyone curious about what it takes to push the boundaries of human potential. Complimentary breakfast and networking kicks off each event.
Speaker bio: As a Flight Director at NASA’s Mission Control, Anthony Vareha has spent over 8000 hours operating spacecraft in low Earth orbit and beyond. His primary duty is the safe operation of the International Space Station (ISS) as he leads a multi-national team to execute the mission of humanity’s greatest scientific and exploration asset in space. Anthony has provided operational leadership to the Commercial Crew Program, as a Flight Director on console during the SpaceX Demo 1, SpaceX Demo 2, and Boeing Starliner flight test missions. Anthony was the lead NASA Flight Director for the SpaceX Crew-1 mission, which was the first six-month mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. As lead Flight Director for Expedition 61, his team set a variety of records for both the number of spacewalks as well the number of hours of scientific research. From 2021-2022, Anthony served as Assistant Director of Flight Operations for the Commercial Crew Program. In 2022, Anthony served as a Flight Director during the Artemis 1 mission – the first instance of a human-rated spacecraft orbiting the moon since the end of the Apollo program. His current assignments are as the lead Flight Director for the next flight of the Boeing Starliner capsule, as well as lead Flight Director in the development of the US Deorbit Vehicle – responsible for the eventual safe decommissioning of the ISS.
Full details and registration: https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-stories-at-the-ion/
PARKING:
Ion District Parking Garage
Enter 4111 Fannin Street into your GPS for directions directly to this parking garage, located a block from the Ion. Parking in the Ion District Garage is free for the first two hours.Red Parking Lot
Enter 4203 Fannin Street into your GPS for directions directly to the red parking lot, located across the street from the Ion. This lot is for overflow guest parking and tenant parking and is free for the first three hours.NOTE: This is a NON-HOSTED meetup.
