Seminars

Mónica Siañez  

Monday from 9-10 am in PAI 4.28 

Unique: 49000   

This one-hour seminar explores how Latina cultural icons (Selena Quintanilla and Selena Gomez) shape public understandings of health, from physical wellness and nutrition to mental health advocacy. Students will analyze how each artist, across different generations, communicates health values through music, media appearances, philanthropy, and branding. Using a public health lens, the seminar examines the intersections of celebrity, identity, and health communication within the context of Texas Latinx communities. Special attention will be given to how cultural relevance and media visibility influence health behaviors, trust, and equity in underserved populations.

Shelly Rodriguez  

Wednesday from 12-1 pm in PAI 4.08 

Unique: 49005   

Making is an iterative process of tinkering, problem-solving, and invention rooted in a DIY mindset. It is collaborative by nature and encourages self-expression through the creation of personally meaningful artifacts. 

In this seminar, you will explore making and maker-centered learning. You’ll visit Hello Maker, the CNS Makerspace, where you’ll gain hands-on experience with design and construction tools to strengthen both your analytical and creative skills.

Donnie Sackey  

Tuesday from 2-3 pm in PAI 5.42 

Unique: 49010  

This seminar examines how unequal access to affordable and reliable energy shapes daily life, health, and opportunity around the world. How does limited or expensive energy access affect participation in education, telework, or healthcare? How do heat waves or winter storms make energy poverty worse, and who bears the brunt? Should access to affordable, reliable energy be treated like access to clean water? Do smart meters, apps, and demand-response programs actually help low-income users—or do they assume resources and knowledge that some don’t have? We will draw connections across science, policy, and culture to understand why energy poverty persists and explore solutions—from microgrids to community-led design—that reimagine a more just energy future.  

Scott Burghart  

Monday from 2-3 pm in PAI 5.42 

Unique: 49015  

From serving as a habitat for myriad organisms to reshaping the climate, we’re familiar with discussions about how humans interact with the natural world. Yet, our interpretation of this relationship has evolved over time. In this seminar, we will explore the concept of exemptionalism (humanity’s perceived separation from nature) and discuss its implications for how we interact with our environment.  

Brittany O'Malley  

Wednesday from 2-3:30 pm in PAI 5.42 

Unique: 49020   

The current generation experiences higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety than any prior generation. These issues are further exacerbated by the pressures of college-life and/or expectations of being high-achieving students. In this seminar, students will learn to practice strategies for cultivating and maintaining positive mental health and well-being in college and beyond, as well as ways to approach and help peers and colleagues struggling with related issues. Several guest speakers from various professional backgrounds—including staff from the Counseling and Mental Health Center and Longhorn Wellness Center—will help introduce students to wellness-related strategies and topics that can be carried and expanded upon through their education and career.   

Rachel Cohen-Ford 

Wednesday from 2-3 pm in WAG 112 

Unique: 49025   

Life is all about change, and this class is designed to help you face it confidently. Through a series of highly interactive activities, you will design a life and career of joy and purpose. You will challenge limiting beliefs, reconsider how you define success, and develop a collegeview, worldview, and workview aligned with your personal values. This class focuses on four pillars: Be Curious, Get Connected, Try Stuff Out, and Tell Your Story. Some class topics include: navigating ambiguity, reframing failure, design thinking, asking for help, and personal values. By the end of the spring semester, you will have a deeper understanding of yourself, multiple plans for your future, and an empowered approach for embracing change throughout your life.  

William H. Press 

Monday from 4-5 pm in PAI 4.28 

Unique: 49040   

In less than two years, a substantial fraction of students and faculty have integrated AI large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT or Claude, into their academic work. In this seminar, we will interactively invent, hands-on explore, and then share, advanced strategies for using LLMs in undergraduate science education and the production of scientific research. Strategies will include both new understanding of “prompt engineering” (using the LLM mass-market interfaces) and also learning how to use programmatic API calls (the LLM Python developer interfaces). We will test strategies in formal and informal ways; for example, by friendly competition among small teams. 

Some Python coding knowledge is a REQUIRED prerequisite for this seminar. Novices are welcome, but you must ALREADY be able to write a simple Python program. LLM interactions in the course will improve your coding skills. 

Tepera Holman  

Thursday from 10-11 am in PAI 5.42 

Unique: 49050   

This 1-hour honors seminar invites students to critically examine the evolving landscape of higher education through the lens of current events, policy debates, and institutional challenges. Each week, students will engage with timely topics such as access and equity, student activism, free speech, financial sustainability, technological innovation, and the role of higher education in society. Through guided discussion, guest speakers, and collaborative analysis, students will develop a deeper understanding of the forces shaping colleges and universities today—and their implications for the future. 

Students will be encouraged to bring their own perspectives and experiences to the conversation, and to consider how higher education intersects with broader social, political, and economic trends. 

George Rodgers  

Thursday from 4:30-5:30 pm in PAI 4.28 

Unique: 49060  

This seminar invites undergraduates interested in a healthcare career to explore the human heart from both scientific and humanistic perspectives.  Each week, we will examine the heart through different lenses: Anatomy and physiology, clinical cases, medical innovations, the heart in culture and ethics, and empathy in treating patients with heart disease. 

Joshua Roebke  

Wednesday from 3-4 pm OR 4-5 pm  

Unique: 49065, 49070  

Online  

This course is designed for Dean’s Scholars and Option 1 Health Science Scholars currently writing their theses. You will turn in different sections of your thesis throughout the semester to receive comments and edits from me and your peers. Basically, you are in this class to hone your thesis and I am here to help you.