At UNMC, researchers love science and the 2014 Nebraska Science Festival showed others why they should too.
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Interested in a closer look? Click here for a photo album of the event. |
Toddlers and teens launched soda rockets, touched a sheep’s heart, made rubber balls, ate spoonfuls of a special SciFest ice cream and went on nature hikes.
And, that only scratched the surface of the four-day Nebraska Science Festival, which drew approximately 12,000 people to 30 venues in such cities as Omaha, Lincoln, Ashland, Kearney and Wayne.
| Watch a video about the 2014 Nebraska Science Festival. |
“Every day, I heard kids and adults say, ‘Whoa, this is awesome,'” said Kacie Gerard, science outreach programs coordinator at UNMC and organizer of the Nebraska Science Festival. “Watching them enjoy science and learning made me say, “Yes, this is awesome.”
A number of UNMC faculty and staff, as well as affiliated individuals and groups, participated including:
- Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D., and Kim Soper
- Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health
- Center for Advanced Surgical Technology (CAST)
- UNMC/Nebraska Physiology Society
- Clinical Laboratory Science Program
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Public Health
- UNMC Physicians
- UNMC Physicians ENT
- College of Nursing/HEROES
- LiveGreen
- The Hyperbaric Medicine Center at The Nebraska Medical Center
During the keynote presentation, Jeff Corwin — executive producer and host of the award winning weekly series, “Ocean Mysteries” — explained the importance of environmental conservation by showcasing an American boa constrictor and such keystone species as an alligator snapping turtle, cane toad and American alligator.
Back this year was the Dancing Scientist, aka Jeffrey Vinokur, whose chemistry demonstrations — set to hip-hop music and done while dancing — educated and entertained thousands of SciFest fans.
Elsewhere, SciFest fans enjoyed hands-on activities, talks, tours, nature experiences, exhibits, performances and other science-related events. In addition to UNMC, sponsors included the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures and media sponsors KETV and the Omaha World-Herald.
The annual festival is designed to make science accessible, interactive, relevant and fun for kids and adults alike. Planning already is underway for the 2015 Nebraska Science Festival, which runs from April 10-18.