Science, engineering focus of EPSCoR summer camps at UNK

Young Nebraska Scientists camps encourage youth participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning. Faculty from Nebraska colleges and universities are camp leaders, and university students help staff the camps. (Photo courtesy of YNS)
Young Nebraska Scientists camps encourage youth participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning. Faculty from Nebraska colleges and universities are camp leaders, and university students help staff the camps. (Photo courtesy of YNS)

KEARNEY – Summer camps hosted at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will introduce campers to today’s hottest topics in science and engineering.

Nebraska EPSCoR – Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research – is accepting registrations for its Young Nebraska Scientists camps, which aim to develop new generations of scientists.

A June 12-16 camp – “Agricultural Biotechnology: Rooting for a Bright Future” – is presented by UNK biology faculty Julie Shaffer and Paul Twigg. The camp for middle school students will focus on plants’ interaction with the environment, basics of soil science, plant responses to stimuli, soil profiles in the field and genetically modified crops.

Shaffer and Twigg are presenting the camp as part of their participation in Center for Root & Rhizobiome Innovation. The National Science Foundation-funded project is investing million in Nebraska through 2021 for crop improvement.

Camp fee is 0 for overnight campers and 0 for commuters. Need-based scholarships are available.

UNK also is the host site for a June 6-10 CyberCamp, led by Computer Science & Information Technology Assistant Professor Matt Miller. The camp will explore cyber security, introduce students to computer architecture and embedded systems hardware, networking concepts, computer programming and computer engineering. Each camper will receive a Raspberry Pi device to work with during camp and keep when camp ends.

Camp fee is 0 for overnight campers and 0 for commuters, with need-based scholarships available.

Registration deadline for the Young Nebraska Scientists camps is May 1. For more information and to register, visit http://yns.nebraska.edu.

ABOUT YNS CAMPS
YNS camps are conducted by Nebraska EPSCoR, with support from the National Science Foundation, to encourage youth participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning. Faculty from Nebraska colleges and universities are camp leaders, and university students help staff the camps.

YOUNG NEBRASKA SCIENTISTS 2017 SUMMER CAMPS

High School Camps
June 6-10 –
CyberCamp (University of Nebraska at Kearney)
June 18-24 – Biodiversity Field Science (Cedar Point Biological Station, Ogallala)
June 25-28 – Life Underground: Unseen Power of Microbes (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Middle School Camps
June 6-10 –
CyberCamp (University of Nebraska at Kearney)
June 11-16 – Agricultural Biotechnology: Rooting for a Bright Future (University of Nebraska at Kearney)
July 17-19 – The Secret Life of Metals (Creighton University)

On The Web: http://yns.nebraska.edu/

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Writer: Todd Gottula, UNK Director of Communications, 308.865.8454, gottulatm@unk.edu
Contact: Lindsey Moore, YNS Camp Director, 402-472-8942, lmoore@nebraska.edu
Contact: Carole Wilbeck, Communications Specialist, Nebraska EPSCoR, 402-472-8944, cwilbeck@nebraska.edu