Nebraska Science Festival

Engage Wellness Seminar
2026-04-08 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | UNMC’s Engage Wellness Medical Fitness Center, 730 South 38th Avenue, Omaha, NE, 68105, United States
Open to the public, stop by UNMC’s Engage Wellness, on April 8 at 1pm, to hear from UNMC Occupational Therapy students.
Learn how meaningful activity can help you stay healthy as you age.
Learn about the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain connections with others.
Finally, explore ways to increase safety during your daily life activities and engagement with others.

Barn Girls NE SciFest Day
2026-04-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Barn Girls Farms, 5306 73rd Street, Ralston, NE, 68127, United States
Step inside a thriving urban farm and explore the fascinating world of microgreens, sustainable agriculture, and innovative growing techniques at this exciting Nebraska Science Festival event at Barn Girls Farms!
During this open house, participants will learn how tiny seeds transform into nutrient-packed microgreens, learn about urban farming, and see firsthand how fresh food can be grown right in the heart of the city.
This interactive experience is perfect for curious minds of all ages. Come grow your knowledge, taste the freshness, and see how science is helping communities cultivate a healthier future — one tiny green at a time!
Lunch will be available to purchase.

Science Sunday
2026-04-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-19 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Omaha RiverFront, 1001 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Join the Nebraska Science Festival for Science Sunday from 1-2pm in April at the Omaha RiverFront by the slides. This is a free family friendly hour for you to learn about nature, astronomy, chemistry, medicine and more with hands-on science activities (while supplies last).
Science Sunday Activities:

April 12 – Pi Bracelet Making

April 19 – Constellation Making

April 26 – Seed balls (please note we will be moving to the Lewis & Clark Landing for the Earth Day celebration on this day)

Nerd Nite Omaha
2026-04-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Saro Cider Lounge, 1012 S 10th St., Omaha, NE, 68108, United States
Nerd Nite is grounded in this super nerdy, highly engaging, fun approach to learning. We’re looking forward to more engagement, learning, and connection over the topics our speakers nerd out about!

Join us! Be there and be square.

There are two awesome talks lined up for the April event:

-Presentation #1: War! Huh! What is it good for? ADVANCING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY by Emily Speck
-Presentation #2: Successful Rain Gardens by Rocky Keehn

Genealogy Quest
2026-04-21 14:00 - 15:00 | City of Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68847, United States
If you love digging into your ancestral past, this is the study hall for you! Use the Kearney Public Library‘s resources to help you in your quest. This class won’t teach you what to do, but volunteers from the Buffalo County Historical Society and library staff will be there to give assistance when needed. So, if you enjoy delving into your ancestry but haven’t been finding time to work on it — come search with us!
This study hall is a partnership between the library and Buffalo County Historical Society, and meets in the Maker Space.

Cold Waters, Failing Systems: Lessons in Hypothermia from the Titanic
2026-04-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Join Geoffrey Talmon, MD, professor in the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, as he presents, “Cold Waters, Failing Systems: Lessons in Hypothermia from the Titanic,” at 6pm on April 22 in the Field Room of the Kiewit Luminarium in conjunction with their exhibit, “Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission.”
Dr. Talmon also serves as senior associate dean for medical education in the College of Medicine, overseeing the curriculum. In that role, he manages all graduate, undergraduate and external clinical teaching activities.
He also was the first to hold the James Linder Distinguished Residency Director Chair and was the inaugural director of the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators.
Dr. Talmon has more than 110 peer-reviewed publications, along with multiple book chapters and dozens of invited presentations. He co-edited the book, “Mind the Gap: Generational Differences in Medical Education,” which was the first work dedicated to managing intergenerational conflict in medical education.
He is past president of the Nebraska Association of Pathologists and a member of the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification and National Board of Medical Examiners.
Before the talk, be sure to experience the story of the Titanic like never before at the Kiewit Luminarium, as they host their first ever major traveling exhibition: “Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission.” Uncover hidden history once shrouded in secrecy. See real objects from the Titanic. Explore the breakthrough innovations that made the impossible possible. And relive the emotion of one of history’s most unforgettable discoveries.
The museum is open until 7pm with discounted admission on April 22.

Anatomy of a Moment: Capturing Truth in Court & Medicine
2026-04-25 18:30 - 20:00 | KANEKO, 1111 Jones Street, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Before the opening of his upcoming KANEKO exhibition Gestures, join Peter Millett, a Seattle-based sculptor and courtroom illustrator, and Dr. James Vargo, a Children’s Nebraska craniofacial surgeon and medical illustrator, for a compelling, unscripted conversation about the challenges of rendering truth under pressure and recording the human experience.
While one works in operating rooms and the other in high-stakes legal environments, both are tasked with translating fleeting, complex realities into images that inform, persuade, and endure. This program examines how artists capture and reconstruct critical moments, exploring the questions of accuracy, interpretation, and ethics that underlie every creative decision.
Anatomy of a Moment invites audiences to reconsider what it means to “document reality,” and how artists in medicine and law shape our understanding of truth in moments that cannot be replayed.
$15 General Admission
$10 Members and Students
Reserve your spot today.

Omaha Science Cafe - "A true crime history of forensic anthropology: How famous true crime cases led to the development of forensic anthropology"
2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Vis Major Brewing Company, 3501 Center St., Omaha, NE, 68105, United States
Join Katie East, PhD, D-ABFA, forensic anthropologist, for the April 30 Omaha Science Cafe as she presents, “A true crime history of forensic anthropology: How famous true crime cases led to the development of forensic anthropology,” 7pm at Vis Major Brewing Company.
Thanks to television and true crime, forensic anthropology is more popular, and sensationalized, than ever. What most fans don’t know is that the study of human skeletons is an important scientific tool in criminal investigations that has developed alongside real true crime cases. Join Dr. Katie East to learn about the unexpected origins of this fascinating field through real stories about true crimes that marked pivotal moments in this history of the field.
Dr. Katie East is a forensic anthropologist, university instructor, and science communicator. By day, Katie investigates skeletons as a Board-certified forensic anthropologist, and by night (and weekends), she captivates public audiences with the wonders of science and history.
With over a decade of experience in museums, laboratories, and field settings, Katie brings a wealth of knowledge about anthropology, archaeology, and science to audiences of all ages. For Katie, being a scientist isn’t just about wearing a lab coat—it’s about curiosity, passion, and empathy.
Science Cafés address science topics in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. The events are open to everyone.
Using plain language, an easygoing atmosphere and inclusive conversation, these interactive events are welcoming and comfortable for people with no science background. Each presentation is followed by a question-and-answer period.
