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 the festival website 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.
Participating sites in Omaha 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 Ice Cream & Gelato
- Nebraska Brewing Company
- The French Bulldog (This event is sold out.)
- Brix
- Lauritzen Gardens
- City Sprouts
- Bellevue University.
Outside of Omaha, participating sites include:
- The Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland.
- Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln.
- University of Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall & Mueller Planetarium in Lincoln.
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
- Lincoln Children’s Museum.
- Fred G. Dale Planetarium in Wayne, Neb.
- A rocket launch in Jansen, Neb.
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 its Science Festival-affiliated event on April 24, Nebraska Brewing Company will have a limited batch of SciFest beer for sale — Pink Elements, a Belgian hibiscus beer (and yes, it’s pink).
Presented by UNMC, 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.