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College of Science and Engineering
Department of Physics

Presidential Seminar - Astrophysics Celebration

Join us in celebrating Astrophysics and Space Science at TXST with a series of talks from our faculty culminating with the Presidential Seminar by Dr. Banzatti, a journey through the universe from far galaxies to nearby planetary systems.

Image of a nebula with some stars making the bobcat logo.

On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Texas State University invites you to an all-day public celebration of space science, research, and exploration. This free, open event brings together faculty, students, and the community to explore humanity’s search for understanding the cosmos from the birth of planets to the latest discoveries made with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Image of Dr. Banzatti
Dr. Andrea Banzatti

The day concludes with a Presidential Seminar by Dr. Andrea Banzatti, whose research using JWST was featured in a NASA press release. His talk will share the story behind his team’s groundbreaking discovery, tracing the scientific journey from 40 years of theoretical work to the first infrared detections of water ice being delivered to rocky planets. Dr. Banzatti’s presentation celebrates the creativity, perseverance, and shared vision that drive astrophysics and space exploration forward at Texas State University.

 

Event Highlights:

  • Invited talks by Texas State faculty covering astronomy, planetary science, physics, and engineering
  • A public showroom and expo floor with interactive exhibits and demonstrations
  • Opportunities to meet researchers and explore student projects in space science and technology
  • Keynote Presidential Seminar by Dr. Andrea Banzatti on a journey through our cosmic origins featuring our discoveries with the James Webb Space Telescope

 

Location:

All events will be held in the LBJ Grand Ballroom

700 Student Center Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666

 

Who Can Attend:

Open to the public, Texas State students, faculty, and staff. Admission is free.

 

Schedule of events:
Time Event
10 – 10:30 am Mini Talk (Dr. Brian Mulligan) – “Supernova: Explosions in the Night “
11 – 11:30 am Mini Talk (Dr. Blagoy Rangelov) – “Exploring the Extreme Universe—and Training the Explorers with Small Satellites”
12 pm Break
1 – 1:30 pm Mini Talk (Dr. Aditya Togi) – “Unveiling hidden blackholes and physics of merging galaxies with JWST”
2 – 2:30 pm Panel Session (Moderator: Prof. Marentes) – Panel Q&A with astronomy/space science professors
2:30 – 3 pm Mini Talk (Prof. Erika Marentes) – “Stellar Evolution: Looking at the Journey of a Star”
4 – 4:30 pm Mini Talk (Prof. Evan Jellison) – “Strange New Worlds: Highlighting Some of the Strangest Planets We've Discovered (So Far)”
5 – 6 pm Keynote (Dr. Andrea Banzatti) – “Water, rocky planets, and the James Webb Space Telescope: the story of a long, exciting journey of discovery”
7:30 – 10 pm Open Observatory – The TXST observatory on the roof of Supple Science Building will be open to the public (weather permitting)