Nebraska Science Festival

Seeds & Sprouts
2025-04-19 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Crete Public Library, 1515 Forest Ave, Crete, NE, 68333, United States
Looking for a fun, educational, and hands-on activity for the whole family? Bring your loved ones closer to nature with Crete Public Library‘s Seeds & Sprouts program! Whether you’re seasoned gardeners or total beginners, there’s something for everyone.

Lincoln Earth Day
2025-04-19 10:00 - 14:00 | Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Drive, Lincoln, NE, 68508, United States
The Lincoln Earth Day Celebration is an annual celebration in Lincoln, Nebraska. The exciting community event has approximately 2,500 attendees annually and their Coalition wants you to join in the fun. There will be dozens of booths that all promote, educate, and celebrate environmental stewardship, green education, and sustainable living.
Grab your friends, families and coworkers and join us for this year’s environmental education and family fun!

Indigenous Foraging with the Moon Cycle - Featuring Bluebird Cultural Initiative
2025-04-19 11:00 - 13:00 | Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
In this workshop, learn about the intimate relationship between Indigenous practices of plant foraging and the cycles of the moon. Sicangu Lakota artist and educator Steve Tamayo will share insight on the many plant medicines Indigenous communities have relied on for generations, how these relationships with plant relatives were impacted by colonization, and how they remain vital still today.

Steve Tamayo is the founder of the nonprofit Bluebird Cultural Initiative. The organization’s mission is to provide meaningful programming to the community that enriches their understanding of the history and cultural traditions of Native American peoples of the Great Plains.

This event is included with any daily admission ticket or with a membership at Kiewit Luminarium.

Earth Day in the Greenhouse
2025-04-19 11:00 - 14:00 | Mulhall’s, 3615 N 120th Street, Omaha, NE, 68164, United States
Come join Mulhall’s in the Greenhouse to kick off the season and celebrate the planet with live music from local singer-songwriter Andre Vander Velde!
Learn more about the vital research and conservation efforts dedicated to preserving the extraordinary biological diversity of the Great Plains, presented by Lauritzen Gardens.
While you’re here, bring your garden tools, mower blades, scissors, and even kitchen cutlery! Foster’s Sharpening Service will hone your blades, preparing them for another season of use.
Enjoy delicious lunch options from Kitchen Table, cold-pressed juice from The Grove Juicery, and take a moment to relax and recharge. Find your favorite new threads from Great Plains Vintage.
Stop by to chat with some amazing community partners, including The Nature Conservancy, Hillside Solutions, Heron Haven, Keep Omaha Beautiful, Whispering Roots, and Omaha Parks Foundation.
Spend the afternoon in the Greenhouse, connect with wonderful community partners, and see how fun it can be to care for our Earth. Let’s make a positive impact together!

Skeletons on the Screen: Dr. Katie East
2025-04-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St., Omaha, NE, 68134, United States
Join Dr. Katie East for an entertaining look into forensic anthropology on the screen to learn what forensic anthropologists actually do. Compare television, movies and real life. It may be entertaining when pop culture gets forensic anthropology wrong, but the consequences are more real than you think.
This is a free event for teens aged 13-19.

Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects®
2025-04-20 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-21 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-22 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-23 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-24 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-25 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-26 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-27 09:00 - 17:00 and 3 more dates | Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE, 68108
BUILD a great garden adventure during Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects®: Made with LEGO® Bricks all month long at Lauritzen Gardens. This exhibit celebrates the beauty of nature but also emphasizes the delicate connections that exist between all living things. Marvel at 18 larger-than-life sculptures built from more than 275,000 LEGO® bricks, including a majestic monarch butterfly, a hovering hummingbird, a sly fox, and more! Ignite your imagination, make your own brick-built creations, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the relationships and connections that sustain our ecosystems.

Incredible Edible Landfill
2025-04-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Charles B. Washington Branch, 2868 Ames Ave., Omaha, NE, 68111, United States
Have you ever wondered what happens once you throw something into the trash can? How important is recycling? Join the Omaha Public Library as they explore these issues in a fun (and tasty) way! Participants will use pudding, candy, cookies, cereal, and other tasty treats to create an edible landfill.
This program contains allergens such as wheat, milk, eggs, soy and tree nuts. However, the treat can be made without all the ingredients for children that still want to participate.
This is a free event for children ages 7-12. First come first served. Childcare groups and groups larger than 10, please call in advance.
Parents/caregivers must remain with their child(ren) for the duration of the program.

Omaha Science Cafe - "The Teenage Brain Today"
2025-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Slowdown, 729 N 14th St., Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Join Giorgia Picci,Ph.D., the Susan & George Haddix Endowed Chair in Developmental Neuroscience in the Institute for Human Neuroscience at Boys Town National Research Hospital, for the April 22 Omaha Science Cafe as she presents, “The Teenage Brain,” 7pm at the Slowdown.
The teenage brain is built for change. Decades of research have shown that adolescence is one of the most dynamic periods of brain development. This rapid transformation is driven by a mix of biological and social factors, including pubertal hormones, shifting social dynamics, and the push toward independence. This interplay creates a developmental paradox—a window of both great opportunity and heightened vulnerability. In today’s world, added complexities like social media are reshaping the landscape of adolescence. Dr. Picci will unpack these topics and discuss how they may help explain the rising rates of mental health challenges in teens.
Science Cafés address science topics in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. The events are open to everyone (21 and older).
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.

Science in Space at Mercury
2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Mercury, 329 S 16th St #3, Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Launch into Mercury on April 23 at 7pm, to hear Anthony Galdamez, NASA Solar System Ambassador and program manager at Kiewit Luminarium for a night of science fun. Anthony,is a scientific astronaut candidate, is currently researching and studying Astro-botany for future space missions. Join him for a talk on his research, space training, and some audience participation, all while sipping a space themed cocktail from the master mixologists at Mercury.

Roots, Research and Resilience: Exploring the Future of the Nebraska Sandhills
2025-04-25 10:45 - 11:45 | UNL East Campus Union, 1705 Arbor Drive, Lincoln, NE, 68503, United States
Dr. Mary Ann Vinton will present “Roots, Research and Resilience: Exploring the Future of the Nebraska Sandhills,” for the 2025 Maiben Lecture at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 2025 Annual Spring Meeting at the UNL East Campus Union. In her presentation, she will blend ideas from natural and social science to explore the status and future of the Nebraska Sandhills as one of the most intact grasslands in the world.
Dr. Mary Ann Vinton grew up as a member of a five-generation family of cattle ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills. She did an undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Wyoming, a MS at Kansas State University, and a PhD in Ecology at Colorado State University. She is now Professor of Biology and Director of Environmental Science at Creighton University in Omaha. Dr. Vinton teaches courses in biology, ecology, and environmental science. Her research program revolves around the ecosystem consequences of human impacts on plant communities, such as impacts wrought by invasive plants or the demise of once-common plants. Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA-Nebraska Space Grant, and Nebraska Environmental Trust, and involves close mentoring of undergraduate research students. Recently, she has returned to the Sandhills to reconnect with her roots and study how landscapes are changing with management and climate. Dr. Vinton inherited a section of land on the Dismal River from her mother and “Kinkaided” by her great, great aunt, Mary Crouch. The section is known as the “Aunt Mary” and is surrounded by family. She has used the Aunt Mary as a study site for biodiversity work and analyses of the landscape diversity inherent in the wet meadows and dry dunes in the Sandhills. In talking with friends and family, Dr. Vinton has become interested in the factors that affect land management and how decisions and attitudes are often not based on science or economic optimization, but often involve feelings of obligation and connection, stemming from long relationships between one another and land.
Visit neacadsci.org for more information.

2025 Northeast Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Plant Fair and Market Vendors
2025-04-25 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-26 09:00 - 15:00 | Northeast Community College Agriculture Complex, 2301 E Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE, 68701, United States
Held at Northeast Community College, Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex is the 2025 Northeast Extension Master Gardener Plant Fair and Market Vendors.
Educational speakers will be present Friday and Saturday with proceeds from the fair helping to support educational speakers and horticulture scholarships to Northeast Community College.

SCC Family Science Night
2025-04-25 17:30 - 20:00 | Southeast Community College Lincoln, 8800 O St., Lincoln, NE, 68520, United States
Spring into Science and celebrate Earth Day at a FREE event for families on Friday, April 25 at Southeast Community College Lincoln.
Come have fun with friends and family and learn about Science with exciting activities, great prizes and enjoy free food too!

Earth Day Omaha 2025
2025-04-26 11:00 - 16:00 | Elmwood Park, 6232 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE, 68106
A celebration of our planet and a commitment to sustainability, Earth Day Omaha brings together community members, organizations, and businesses to showcase their dedication to the environment.

With a variety of educational exhibits, interactive activities, and informative presentations, attendees will learn about the importance of reducing waste, conserving energy, and preserving our natural resources. From local food trucks to environmental demos, Earth Day Omaha 2025 promises to be a fun-filled day for the whole family!

Skeletons on the Screen: Dr. Katie East
2025-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Willa Cather Branch, 905 S. 44th St., Omaha, NE, 68105, United States

Incredible Edible Landfill
2025-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Downtown Branch, 1401 Jones St., Omaha, NE, 68102, United States
Have you ever wondered what happens once you throw something into the trash can? How important is recycling? Join the Omaha Public Library as they explore these issues in a fun (and tasty) way! Participants will use pudding, candy, cookies, cereal, and other tasty treats to create an edible landfill.
This program contains allergens such as wheat, milk, eggs, soy and tree nuts. However, the treat can be made without all the ingredients for children that still want to participate.
This is a free event for children ages 7-12. Registration is required and opens April 1. Please call 402-444-4828 to register.
Parents/caregivers must remain in the building with their child(ren) for the duration of the program.

Nebraska Science Festival Star Party
2025-04-26 21:00 | Branched Oak Observatory, 14300 NW 98th St., Raymond, NE, 68428, United States
In collaboration with NE SciFest, we are pleased to host the Nebraska Science Festival Star Party! This event is for all lovers of space science and astronomy. On Saturday, April 26th, Branched Oak Observatory will open its doors and train its telescopes to the skies between the hours of 9PM and Midnight. Explore the wonders of the night sky through a variety of telescopes. See the Beehive Open Cluster, the Hercules Globular Cluster, the Cigar Galaxy, the Crab Nebula and so much more!
Note: Night sky observing is dependent on local weather conditions.

Admission: $10 Adults, $5 for children 5 to 15. Always FREE to local astronomers setting up their own telesocpe and sharing views with the public.
No Registration
Open to Everyone
Arrive Anytime Between the Times Given
Stay for the Entire Event or As Long As You Want
No Park Permit Required

The Sounds of Science: Hearing Music Through Art and Science
2025-04-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Site-1 Brewing, 2566 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE, 68131, United States
Stop out to Site-1 Brewing on April 29 at 7pm to learn about “The Sounds of Science: Hearing Music Through Art and Science.”
Moderated by Dr. Allison Coffin, Associate Professor at Creighton University, panelists Dr. Chris Strecker, Director of the Technology Core and Spatial Hearing and Auditory Neuroscience Lab and Dr. A. Barron Breland, Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs & Dean of the Graduate School at Creighton University, will lead a discussion on how we perceive sound and hearing from the arts and science perspectives.

Speaker Bios:
Dr. Chris Stecker is the Director of the Technology Core and Spatial Hearing and Auditory Neuroscience Lab. Dr. Stecker has a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science and a doctorate in cognitive psychology. His current research focuses on using behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging (functional MRI) techniques to study how the brain processes spatial information.
Dr. A. Barron Breland is Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs & Dean of the Graduate School at Creighton University where he previously served as Chair of the Department of Fine & Performing Arts. He holds degrees in Music Theory and Choral Conducting from the University of Georgia and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has arranged, conducted, and performed broadly and across genres. He is also the Artistic Director of the Heartland Mixed Chorus.
Dr. Allison Coffin is an Associate Professor at Creighton University. Her research examines the cellular mechanisms of hearing loss from diverse toxic insults (noise, ototoxic drugs) and works to develop preventative or restorative therapies. Current research seeks to identify occult hearing (oto) toxins and develop predictive models to determine ototoxic potential early in pre-clinical drug development. She is also the co-founder and President of the Association of Science Communicators, a professional organization that seeks to increase the impact of science in society.

Wonderful Worms
2025-04-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Saddlebrook Branch, 14850 Laurel Ave., Omaha, NE, 68116, United States
Help the Omaha Public Library celebrate slippery, slimy, wonderful worms! This special storytime will feature books and songs all about wiggly worms. At the conclusion of storytime, stay and observe real worms. If real worms make you squirm, don’t worry, worm-themed crafts will be available.
All supplies included. While supplies last.

NE SciFest Social Media Trivia
2026-04-01 - 2026-04-30 | NE
Science is all around us so let’s have some virtual fun! Running every day through the festival we’re bringing back our NE SciFest Social Media Science Trivia.

Everyday we will be posting a trivia question (riddle, clue, etc.) on our social media pages related to science. All you need to do is respond with the answer.

Simply take or find a picture of the item in the clue and post it to Facebook (comments section) or Twitter (X) with the hashtag #nescifest.
