Nerd Nite Austin – Cave Fest Talks

Hosted by the Austin Cave Festival and Nerd Nite Austin –

Nerd Nite Austin and the Austin Cave Festival are teaming up for some talks about the city’s underground world – from springs, to stygobionts, to salamanders, to sweet but smelly cavers.

This event is FREE, but there are only so many seats in the theater, so please reserve your spot with ticket. Help make this happen – – be sure to cancel if you can’t make it so someone else can take your spot.

UPDATE – This event is at capacity, but we anticipate letting people in from the waitlist at the door to fill any unclaimed seats. Visit https://goo.gl/1YpzMs to get on that waitlist! And look at www.austintexas.gov/wildlandevents for other upcoming hikes, talks, and caves.

See you there!

More information about the Austin Cave Festival at austincavefestival.org
More information about Nerd Nite Austin at austin.nerdnite.com

Doors for the theater open at 3:00pm
Show begins at 3:30pm
Food and drink available for purchase from Alamo Drafthouse

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“Cave Restoration and Austin’s Cave Heritage”

Caves were historically filled across Austin area for many reasons such that relatively few remain. Caves are important heritage. Cave restoration projects are removing trash and fill from caves to reduce flooding, increase recharge to wells and springs, protect our water supply, restore habitat for cave life like bats, preserve historical artifacts, and provide exciting recreational and educational resources.

Nico Hauwert, Ph.D., Professional Geoscientist: Nico’s career in unraveling the mysteries of the underground frontier began through cave exploring since 1979 in Texas, Ohio, Peru, Mexico, Europe, and Canada. He previously served as both President and Vice President for the Austin Geological Society, completed his Ph.D. dissertation in May 2009 from the University of Texas, received an M.S. in Geology from the University of Toledo’s Department of Geology in 1991, and obtained a B.S. in Geology from University of Texas in 1984. From 1993-2000 he started groundwater tracing studies as Assessment Program manager and senior hydrogeologist for the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. From 2000 to October 2016 he served as environmental scientist senior for the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department, managing various cave restoration projects. He currently manages the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Program for Austin Water.

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‘Spiders, Stygobionts, and Salamanders, oh my!”

As we follow the limestone road into the world of karst biology, we’ll encounter a diversity of life. The Edwards-Trinity Aquifer is one of the most biologically rich aquifers in the world, inhabited by many endemic species, including the endangered Barton Springs and Austin Blind salamanders.

Liza Colucci has over a decade of experience working with endangered species in central Texas, previously as an Environmental Scientist with the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department and currently as a Biologist with Zara Environmental, LLC. Her career has focused primarily on Eurycea and karst invertebrate species. In her spare time, she can often be found underground exploring with her children.

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“Intro to Caver Shenanigans”

Cavers are never boring. This divulges the secret world of cavers and unique cultural moments arising from the unique caver mindset.

Ken Demarest has a passion for caving. Since January of 2016 he has worked hard to become proficient in vertical and sketching, cave rescue techniques, and has taken on leadership roles in cave conservation and management organizations. His caving trips have taken him to work on projects in Coahuila, Mexico, Fisher Ridge, KY, and his most memorable trip a hauling scuba tanks through a water filled cave near Austin. In a prior life Ken gained experience with real estate, management, budgeting and investment. His hope is to serve Texas cavers and give back a little to the great community that has given him so much.