{"id":58378,"date":"2017-03-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-31T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2017\/03\/31\/find-your-wow-moment-at-the-nebraska-science-festival\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T20:45:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-03T01:45:05","slug":"find-your-wow-moment-at-the-nebraska-science-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2017\/03\/31\/find-your-wow-moment-at-the-nebraska-science-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Find your ‘wow’ moment at the Nebraska Science Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

There was the time – during our science night at Werner Park – that a young boy who stood waist high to a cardiologist, lobbed question upon question about the heart surgery he once had. All while the two walked through a giant inflatable heart.<\/p>\n

Another time, there was a pint-sized girl whose white coat hinted at her career interest in being a scientist, or at least of dressing up.<\/p>\n

Then, there were the school-age inventors who scurried out of the path of Memento-fueled soda rockets that blasted across the parking lot at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.<\/p>\n

The days of the Nebraska Science Festival open a window on all things science, and each year I am privileged to watch the quizzical looks of children (and yes, even adults) gradually turn into whispers of “wow, that’s awesome.”<\/p>\n

I see and hear it time and again, and smile.<\/p>\n

It’s during each of these moments of awe and curiosity and discovery that the months of planning dissipate and the rewards stand tall.<\/p>\n

This year, we celebrate our fifth year of the Nebraska Science Festival, dubbed SciFest for short, and I encourage you to join us April 20-29 to discover your own “wow” moment. Or moments.<\/p>\n

While spearheaded and administered by UNMC, the festival involves the entire state and a number of organizations and individuals interested in the advancement of science literacy. This year, we’re excited to announce our keynote speaker, Kari Byron, best known as a host on Discovery Channel’s<\/p>\n

“Mythbusters” and “The White Rabbit Project” on Netflix.<\/p>\n

Returning will be our hands-on, free, family-friendly science expo, along with numerous activities across the state.<\/p>\n

Yes, each year gets bigger and better and 2017 will be no different. For a glimpse of the festival growth, I am proud to report that the 2016 festival:<\/p>\n