Nebraska Science Festival to include more than 20 Nebraska sites

Jeff Vinokur, “The Dancing Scientist,” will be one of the attractions at the 2014 Nebraska Science Festival.

More than 20 participating sites will offer activities during this year’s Nebraska Science Festival, which begins April 24 and runs through April 27. The sites are scattered in communities across Nebraska from Omaha to Lincoln and Wayne to Jansen.

Activities are planned for science fans of all ages including rocket launches, printing press tours, hands-on science experiments, an electric car display, planetarium shows, a film screening on the arts and sciences, and educational sessions on stem cell science, as well as the science of bacon, ice cream, wine and beer.

Visit www.nescifest.com for the full listing of participating sites and activities. Note: Space is limited for some events and may require online registration and/or a fee to participate.

Omaha-area participating sites include:

Fontenelle Forest;

Metropolitan Community College;

The Durham Museum;

University of Nebraska at Omaha;

Omaha Children’s Museum;

Hyperbaric Medicine Center at The Nebraska Medical Center;

Happy Hour with a Scientist at Wilson & Washburn;

Omaha World-Herald;

eCreamery;

Nebraska Brewing Company;

The French Bulldog (NOTE: This event is sold out.);

Brix;

Lauritzen Gardens;

City Sprouts; and

Bellevue University.

Outside of Omaha, participating sites include:

Ashland – The Strategic Air and Space Museum;

Lincoln – Nebraska Wesleyan University;

Lincoln – University of Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall & Mueller Planetarium;

Lincoln – Lincoln Children’s Zoo;

Lincoln – Lincoln Children’s Museum;

Wayne, Neb. – Fred G. Dale Planetarium; and

Jansen, Neb.  – Rocket launch will be held.

This year, the Science Festival is pleased to announce it will have two items specifically made for the festival.

During the month of April, eCreamery Ice Cream & Gelato will sell the molecular malt ball masterpiece, a cake mix ice cream infused with blue and green malt ball matter.

Also, during the week of the Science Festival, Nebraska Brewing Company will have a limited batch of SciFest beer for sale – called Pink Elements, a Belgian hibiscus beer (and yes, it’s pink). By carefully balancing of the basic elements of beer and harnessing the natural color and tartness of hibiscus flowers, the beer is quite unique in appearance and flavor but is still wonderfully refreshing and delightful to drink. 

Presented by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, 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. Now in its second year, organizers intend for the festival to eventually reach across the state.

In addition to UNMC, other sponsors include The Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures and media sponsors KETV and the Omaha World-Herald.