Nebraska eighth graders are invited to compete in the University of
Nebraska Medical Centers regional Health/Science Meet competitions, which
will be held in March and April at six locations.
In order to compete in the regional competition, students should contact
their science teachers in January. Deadline for registration forms to arrive
at UNMC is mid-February. Registration for the regional competition requires
students to write a short description or abstract of a specific science
project of their interest. In order to compete in the regionals, students
will be required to develop a posterboard display presentation of their
project.
Judges will rank science projects at the regionals. Those students with
the top 80 projects will be invited to attend the 2003 UNMC Health/Science
Meet June 5-7 on the UNMC campus in Omaha. Those who attend the June meet
will receive free meals, lodging and entertainment.
The goal of the Health/Science Meet is to provide students a fun and
educational experience that will inspire them to pursue a career in the
health sciences, said Dan Chambers, program coordinator of the Rural Health
Education Network. The state meet provides students with the opportunity
to participate in hands-on activities involving education, research and
patient care.
Students should work with their science teachers to register for the
regional competition. In addition, they also can get information, as well
as registration forms, by contacting Dan Chambers at UNMC, (402) 559-3398
or via e-mail, dcchambers@unmc.edu.
The cities listed below will hold regional competitions:
North Platte — Thursday, March 20, 2003, Mid Plains Community
College–Belton Campus
Grand Island — Thursday, March 27, 2003, College Park–Central Community
College Campus
Scottsbluff — Tuesday, April 1, 2003, UNMC College of Nursing West
Nebraska Division
Omaha — Saturday, April 5, UNMC Student Life Center, Omaha
Norfolk — Wednesday, April 16, Norfolk Junior High School
Lincoln — Saturday, April 26, UNMC College of Dentistry, Lincoln
The sponsor of the regional competition in Grand Island is the Central
Nebraska Area Health Education Center (CN-AHEC), and in Norfolk, the Northern
Nebraska Area Health Education Center (NN–AHEC). The centers were created
through federal grants as a way in which medical schools and rural communities
can cooperate to recruit and train health care professionals to serve in
rural areas.
Other sponsors are: Grand Island, St. Francis Medical Center; North
Platte, Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful, Mid-Plains Community
College, Nebraska Junior Academy of Science; and Norfolk, Faith Regional
Medical Center, and Norfolk Public Schools.