Excitement is building for the 2023 Nebraska Science Festival.
Mark your calendars for a myriad of science and technology-related activities scheduled throughout the month of April.
Launched in 2013 by UNMC, the statewide festival allows participants to discover the importance of science and how it is intertwined in their daily lives. Activities – scheduled in more than a dozen communities across the state – are interactive, relevant and fun for kids and adults.
Visit the Nebraska Science Festival website for a full and detailed list of activities, including opportunities to join a knowledgeable bird guide (April 18), watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower (April 22), and meet an astronomer (April 23), meteorologist (April 25) and astronaut (April 29). While many events are free, some require reservations via the website. While there, you’ll find the following events – and many more:
- Omaha Science Café – Gaelle Doucet, PhD, director of the Brain Architecture, Imaging and Cognition Laboratory at the Boys Town Institute for Human Neuroscience, will present “Understanding the Aging Brain,” on April 4 at the Slowdown in Omaha. This free event is open to anyone 21 years and older.
- SciFest keynote speaker – Ken Jennings, the greatest “Jeopardy!” player of all time and current co-host of the show, will present “Artificial Intelligence: Are Humans in Jeopardy?” April 6 on the Boys Town, Nebraska, campus. Tickets are required (and sold out) for this free event. You may add your name to a wait list in the event that tickets become available.
- Science Sundays – Stop by Omaha’s Gene Leahy Mall and, while supplies last, participate in (or take home) a science project designed for kindergarten through fourth grade. The SciFest team will be located near the mall’s giant slides on Sundays between 1 and 2 p.m., with the exception of Easter Sunday (April 9), when the activity will take place April 8.
- Anechoic Chamber and Audiology Open House – Visit the Boys Town National Research Hospital Downtown Medical Campus in Omaha to tour a ‘no-echo’ anechoic chamber, learn more about the function of the ear and the science of hearing. Although free, registration is required for the April 14 event.
- Metro Community College Science Day – On April 15, stop by Metro Community College’s South Omaha Campus for free hands-on activities that encompass a variety of science disciplines, including physics, chemistry and biology.
- Wildlife & Whiskey – Inside a downtown Omaha bar, Wildlife Encounters will showcase – up close and personal – a few wildlife creatures. Then, Mercury owner Clark Ross will discuss the science of whiskey. This is a free event on April 18 (unless purchasing a tasting sampler); due to limited space, tickets are required.
- Lyrid Meteor Shower Late Night Star Party – The Lyrid Meteor Shower is predicted to yield as many as 10 to 15 meteors per hour. Join us at the Branded Oak Observatory northwest of Lincoln for the big show April 22. No registration or park permit required.
- Sunday Science with The Bad Astronomer – Tickets are required for this free, all ages event at Site-1 Brewing on April 23. The author of Bad Astronomy, Phil Plait, PhD, will discuss his new book, “Under Alien Skies,” and take questions.
- Meet a Meteorologist – Open to all ages, KETV NewsWatch 7’s Caitlin Harvey will be at Site-1 Brewing on April 25 to talk about her education, work and all things weather. The event is free, but tickets are required.
- Public Science Expo at The Durham Museum – The free, in-person public expo on April 29 will feature a variety of hands-on science activities. Admission is free, although tickets are required.
- Meet an Astronaut Day – Visit the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum on April 29 and enjoy educational booths with interactive STEM activities, along with special items from the archive for limited time viewing. Nebraska’s astronaut, Clayton Anderson, will host a Q&A and meet and greet, followed by a star show in the planetarium.
- SciFest Flavor of the Month – Love ice cream? Throughout April, eCreamery will sell its SciFest Flavor of the Month called Double Jeopardy! The tasty treat features cookies and cream ice cream with brownie bits and fudge swirls.
- Plus, numerous events will be hosted by the Omaha Public Library, including NE SciFest storytime, crime scene investigation: DNA and more.
Throughout April, SciFest also offers a variety of statewide events including:
- Art Contest – Discover the intersection of art and science in this year’s art contest. Using fungi as inspiration, participants can create (draw, paint, glue, sculpt) artwork that reflects this unique organism and be entered to win an NE SciFest swag package.
- Walk to the Moon Challenge – Show your love of science by participating in a 30-day exercise challenge that collectively will take Nebraska participants to the moon. The challenge will start April 1 and end on April 30. Any type of exercise will count (miles, minutes or steps) and all exercise will be converted into steps for the challenge. The challenge is to collectively cover 238,855 miles, or 477,710,000 steps, so plan your exercise schedule.
- Statewide Scavenger Hunt – Go out and search for science. To participate, simply complete a series of questions during the month of April. Once you find all the items, take a picture and email it to SciFest for the chance to win an NE SciFest swag bag.
- Essay Contest in partnership with Kiewit Luminarium – Anyone 19 and younger who lives in Nebraska and is enrolled in a public, private or home school may participate. Visit the SciFest website for details. Winners receive a swag bag of NE SciFest and Kiewit Luminarium goodies.
- Social Media Trivia – A science trivia question will be posted daily throughout April on SciFest’s social media pages.
Presented by UNMC, the Nebraska Science Festival is a collaboration of organizations and individuals interested in the advancement of science literacy. In addition to UNMC, other sponsors, to date, are Boys Town, Metro Credit Union and media sponsor KETV. Activities will be promoted on the Nebraska Science Festival website, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.