Best of CASE District IV Award
 

Institution: University of Texas at San Antonio

Title of entry: Planet UTSA

About this entry: In early 2024, the UTSA Office of University Strategic Communications began planning for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. We had a unique opportunity before us: The UTSA Main Campus was situated in the coveted path of totality, where eclipse viewers receive the best experience. At the same time, Texas’ elected leaders were becoming increasingly vocal about their desire to grow the state’s space economy beyond Houston and Austin.

The convergence of these factors created a timely opportunity for our team to elevate UTSA as a hub for space science education and research. The space industry is poised to become a multi-trillion-dollar industry over the next decade.

To leverage this incredible opportunity, our University Strategic Communications team developed an integrated communications plan focused on the breadth, depth and variety of space-related research programs underway at UTSA. Our goal was to put UTSA on the map in space science, further elevating the university, the UT System and our state.

Since space is such a technical discipline, we knew needed creative elements to tell our story. To achieve this goal, we developed a five-part podcast mini-series called Planet UTSA, dropped in the five weeks leading up to the eclipse. The series explored various aspects and effects of the eclipse while introducing UTSA experts in space science. Topics included how UTSA faculty members are helping the visually impaired experience the eclipse, the role the eclipse has on animals and insects, and the science of eclipses.