The third annual Nebraska Science Festival – presented by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and scheduled for April 10-18 – is still a few weeks away. But, with a multitude of science- and technology-related activities in communities across the state, it’s not too early to plan your SciFest schedule.
You’ll find the entire schedule on www.nescifest.com, including these activities of interest in the Kearney, Hastings and Aurora area:
- ESU 10 Invention Convention – April 14 from noon to 1 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the area’s best student inventions and interact with the inventors. These first- through eight-grade students in Educational Service Unit No. 10 schools will showcase their creative work and discuss the inventive process.
- Building Beasts with Gary Staab – April 16 from 7 to 8 p.m., Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Melding science and art, sculptor Gary Staab builds scientific sculptures of animals and artifacts for museums around the word. He uses a hybrid of techniques that include the latest in 3D printing technologies and traditional work in clay. The subject of his sculptures varies greatly from a flea to a life-size, 75-foot-long dinosaur. His talk will cover the process of making a replica of the Mummy of King Tut and include an update on a current project to recreate the “Iceman,” which will be featured in an upcoming NOVA special.
- 3-D Sculpting with Gary Staab – April 18 at 10 a.m. Students (2-6th graders) will have a hands-on experience sculpting a small-scale dinosaur. This workshop will compare living and extinct animals as well as explore some of the considerations artists face as they work with scientists to create sculptures for museum displays. Materials and tools will be provided. The workshop is in the Morrison-Reeves Science Center, Room 131. RSVP to nescifest@gmail.com. Space is limited.
- Science of Brewing Beer – April 17 from 6 to 8 p.m., UNK Alumni House, 2222 9th Ave., Kearney, Neb. This event will introduce the science of brewing and provide insights into what provides the wide variety of flavors found in different beer styles. An overview of brewing, from grain to pint-glass, will be presented including malting, mashing, wort boil, fermentation and conditioning. Participants will be guided through a tasting, demonstrating the variety of flavors contributed by hops, yeast and malt. Finally, an overview of commong 'off-flavors', considered to be defects, will be discussed. Participants will be able to taste simulated off-flavors as we discuss their causes and solutions. This event is limited to participants age 21 or older; valid identification must be presented at the door. The cost is $10 per person, collected at the event. Space is limited to 40 participants. RSVP required. To sign up, visit the SciFest website's schedule of events.
- Edgerton Explorit Center – April 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Edgerton Explorit Center will be open for visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and host a special Super Science Saturday Program from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the science of sound. Stop by for demonstrations and hands-on activities, including a demonstration of our ruben's tube, which allows you to see sound waves in flame. This family friendly program will include a hands-on lab and take home project. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
- Lunch and Learn: The Impact of Investing in Stem Cell Research: California’s Story – April 14 at noon at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni House, 2222 9th Ave. Join C. Randal Mills, Ph.D., president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), at this special Lunch and Learn sponsored by the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. Prior to joining CIRM in May 2014, Mills was the former president and CEO of Osiris Therapeutics. Under Mills’ leadership Osiris developed the world’s first approved stem cell drug, remestemcel-L for graft versus host disease in children, a devastating complication of bone marrow transplantation that can be fatal. RSVP requested via the SciFest website.
The Nebraska Science Festival is a collaboration of organizations and individuals interested in the advancement of science literacy. The Science Festival is designed to make science accessible, interactive, relevant and fun for kids and adults alike. In addition to UNMC, other sponsors, to date, include Nebraska Medicine, the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, Metro Credit Union, HDR, West Corporation and media sponsors KETV and the Omaha World-Herald.
For the full schedule of SciFest activities and participating sites, visit us on the web: www.nescifest.com. For additional info and updates, visit us on Twitter (@NESciFest) or Facebook (NE SciFest).
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 and follow us on social media.