Click on the image of each university to learn more.Since 1980, there have been many advances in science worldwide. Texas has a longstanding history of innovation in various industries, such as agriculture, energy, medical, and aerospace.
Agriculture has always been a major part of the Texas economy and the Texan culture. Throughout the history of the state, agriculture has served as a means to sustain the lives of Texans.
Texas is an avid innovator when it comes to agriculture. The root of this innovation lies, in part, with Texas A&M University in College Station. Originally named the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, Texas A&M was the first public college in Texas. The school was established in 1871 to teach agriculture, the art of mechanics, and military strategies in addition to general studies. In 1876, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youths was established in Prairie View. This school would later be named Prairie View A&M University. This school provided the same education as Texas A&M, except it educated African-American students who were not allowed to attend Texas A&M University. Both universities have educated many farmers, ranchers, and veterinarians of Texas for decades. During the late 20th century and the early 21st century, both universities have also contributed to agricultural innovation through research and experimentation.
Click on the image of each university to learn more.
In the previous lesson, you learned about how important oil is to the economy of Texas. You also learned about the impact of oil on Texas and the world.
Oil is also one of Texas’ most important scientific discoveries. The diagram below demonstrates how the innovations in the uses of oil have become important to Texas and the rest of the world.
Source: 122fyi, products, Energy Education Texas
Oil is one type of energy that is essential in Texas and the United States. Oil, however, is not the only type of energy that is used in Texas. Wind energy is also produced in Texas; the state has become a leader in producing renewable energy.
Source: 1024px Roscoe Wind Farm at sunrise, Fredlyfish4, Wikimedia
Beginning in 1995, Texas began to install wind farms to generate electricity through the use of turbines or windmills. These farms can produce more than 25,000 megawatts of electric power. The initial installation was a part of a project granted by the Permanent School Fund.
Let’s think about this: What is the purpose of the Permanent School Fund?
The Texas wind farm project contributes $100,000 per year to the Permanent School Fund. There are several wind farms in Texas that provide electricity to homes throughout the state. In 2005, a state law established a deadline to install more than 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy resources by 2015. The installation of the wind farms helped Texas meet that goal by 2014.
Source: Wind Farms Wind Strength, Texas Wide Open For Business, the Office of the Governor
Analyzing the map: Which region(s) of Texas have the most wind farms?
While wind energy encompasses 76 percent of the state’s renewable energy consumption, other types of renewable energy are used as Texas moves toward finding more renewable energy sources. Click on the words in the map legend to see their definitions.
Analyzing the map: Based upon the map, which area of Texas has the most diverse renewable energy sources?
Source: Aachor, Texas Medical Center Skyline of the Texas Medical Center Houston, Wikimedia
The Texas Medical Center is known as the largest medical center in the world. The Texas Medical Center is located near the center of Houston and sits on nearly 1,000 acres of land. Created in the 1940s, the idea for the Texas Medical Center has expanded to include several research and educational institutes, hospitals, and other specialty institutes. The Texas Medical Center is renowned for providing extraordinary healthcare for people in Texas, the United States, and all over the world.
The opportunity to learn, teach, or receive treatment from the Texas Medical Center has drawn millions of people to Texas each year. Some even decide to stay in the Houston area. The Texas Medical Center has become one of the largest and most influential medical centers in the world.
Aerospace is an industry that deals with travel throughout the Earth's atmosphere. Aerospace also encompasses the manufacturing of vehicles that are used in the travel of aerospace.
The United States entered the space technology race during the late 1950s. Sparked by the Soviet’s launch of Sputnik, the United States created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA to compete with the technology of the Soviet Union. Texas was chosen as one of the locations to house NASA’s space missions.
Source: Apollo 11 training in Houston, NASA, Wikipedia
One of the most famous space missions was controlled from the Johnson Space Center. The mission control team at the Johnson Space Center handled the Apollo 11 mission. This mission placed the first humans on the moon.
Click here to learn more about the Apollo Mission Control Center at the Lyndon B. Johnson Manned Space Flight center in Houston, Texas.
Click on the image below to access an interactive of the Space Shuttle Flight Control Room at the Johnson Space Center.
NASA is not the only aerospace industry in Texas. There are many other aerospace companies in Texas.
Click on each star on the map below to see where other aerospace companies are located in Texas.
Analyzing the map: Which city in Texas has the most aerospace companies?
Sources for images used in this section, as they appear, top to bottom: