Houston Science Enthusiasts

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.

IN PERSON: Let's meet and talk about Australia’s distinctive birds and their role in evolution based on the book by biologist Tim Low.

"Renowned for its gallery of unusual mammals, Australia is also a land of extraordinary birds. But unlike the mammals, the birds of Australia flew beyond the continent’s boundaries and around the globe many millions of years ago. This eye-opening book tells the dynamic but little-known story of how Australia provided the world with songbirds and parrots, among other bird groups, why Australian birds wield surprising ecological power, how Australia became a major evolutionary center, and why scientific biases have hindered recognition of these discoveries.

"From violent, swooping magpies to tool-making cockatoos, Australia’s birds are strikingly different from birds of other lands—often more intelligent and aggressive, often larger and longer-lived. Tim Low, a renowned biologist with a rare storytelling gift, here presents the amazing evolutionary history of Australia’s birds. The story of the birds, it turns out, is inseparable from the story of the continent itself and also the people who inhabit it."

Everyone is welcome whether you have explored the topic before or not.

You can:

• read sample
• view past selections
• view pool of candidates
• add your ideas to the pool of candidates

At this meeting each person can nominate a book to be voted on whether it is from the pool of candidates or not.

We'll be meeting at Cafe Express. There is ample parking in the nearby lot.

Come prepared to discuss the ideas in the book and have a good time.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

IN-PERSON: "The Women in Coastal Science Speaker Series is a free, award-winning program that brings together leading female scientists, conservationists, and researchers to share their expertise. Held monthly, this engaging series covers topics ranging from marine mammal rescue to habitat restoration, giving attendees an inside look at the critical efforts shaping our Gulf shores."

About the speaker: Dr. Kelly Burks-Copes has over 32 years of experience working on both civil works and military projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers specializing in hybridized engineering and environmental strategies to tackle coastal storm risk management, flood damage reduction, navigation, and ecosystem restoration problems across the country. She was recently promoted to be the Chief of the Mega Project Division’s Program Support Branch, but continues to serve as the Project Manager on the Corps’ largest ever coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration study, commonly referred to as the Coastal TX study in the Galveston District.

More information and registration: https://www.visitgalveston.com/women-in-coastal-science/

Directions: https://www.visitgalveston.com/things-to-do/beaches/east-beach/

NOTE: This is a NON-HOSTED meetup.

"Join us for a timely and compelling conversation between U.S. Representative Dr. Brian Babin (R-TX36), Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and Paul Cherukuri, vice president of innovation at Rice University. Babin will explore how the United States remains at the forefront of space exploration, emerging technologies, and scientific advancement. As debates surrounding funding and the path forward for science policy intensify, Babin’s perspective offers a crucial look at what’s next and what’s at stake.

"Babin represents Texas District 36 which includes eight counties stretching from the southeast side of Houston in Clear Lake, east to Beaumont, and deep east Texas. He was first elected to the U.S. Congress for the 114th Congress (2015) and was named Chairman at the beginning of the 119th Congress (2025).

This event is free, but registration is required: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/event/future-american-science-conversation-us-rep-brian-babin

Baker Institute on the Rice Interactive Map: [https://map.concept3d.com/?id=473#!m/120221?ct/13398](https://map.concept3d.com/?id=473#!m/120221?ct/13398)

Campus parking: [https://parking.rice.edu/parking-facilities-and-rates](https://parking.rice.edu/parking-facilities-and-rates)

NOTE: RSVP'ing on this Meetup page DOES NOT mean you are registered for the event itself.