Science Festival expo registration opens today

The 2020 Nebraska Science Festival may be months away, but organizers are encouraging faculty and staff to register their booths now for the free science expos.

Registration will open Oct. 30 at noon for the student expos, which provide engaging, hands-on learning opportunities geared toward second-through fifth-grade students. Last year, more than 1,600 students were introduced to animals through Wildlife Encounters, created DNA bracelets, viewed of sun spots and magnified chicken embryos and strolled through an inflatable colon.

Student expos will be held at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Neb., and The Durham Museum in Omaha.

Registration opens at noon Oct. 30 at the festival website for:

  • Anyone interested in having a hands-on booth at the student and/or public expo;
  • Community sites that want to schedule (or already have planned) a science-related activity open to the public; and
  • Individuals who want to volunteer during the festival.

Student expo dates are as follows:

  • April 16: The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
  • April 24: The Durham Museum

The expos run from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to the student expos, the eighth annual Nebraska Science Festival — scheduled throughout the month of April — will feature an array of science- and technology-related activities in communities across the state. The public is encouraged to mark their calendars for the free science expo on April 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at The Durham Museum in Omaha. A variety of hands-on science booths will be available for people of all ages to broaden their knowledge on different science topics.

Sponsorship opportunities also are available. Visit the website on how to showcase your organization's commitment to science and play a vital role in making the festival accessible and affordable to the entire community.

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.