Nebraska prairies are the focus of the next Omaha Science Café, at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St.
Ecologist Chris Helzer will discuss the history of prairies in Nebraska, the creatures that live there and the ecology and management of the state’s prairies.
Program director for the Nature Conservancy, Helzer supervises the management and restoration of about 5,000 acres of land in central and eastern Nebraska. He is the author of the book, “The Ecology and Mangement of Prairies,” and blogs at http://prairieecologist.com .
Helzer also is a well-known photographer, whose images regularly appear in NEBRASKAland magazine and other publications. He uses a combination of photography, natural history, and personal stories to describe why prairies are interesting, important, and worth saving.
Science Cafe is a free educational event sponsored by UNMC and other groups to increase the population’s science literacy. Hosted by UNMC, Bio Nebraska and the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, Science Cafes are held the first Tuesday of each month in Omaha and one Thursday every other month in Lincoln. They are open to everyone 21 and older.
Free pizza, available for the first 50 people, will be provided by Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. For more information about Science Cafes, go to www.unmc.edu/sciencecafe.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu