High School Science Academy
NWRI's High School Science Academy aims to give Omaha high school students the opportunity to participate in college-level lectures and field/lab work, and nurture their interest in the biological sciences before leaving high school. Each month, students explore a different topic in the biological sciences. They participate in one full evening of lecture on a weeknight, followed by a half or full-day field or lab session on a weekend later in the month. All sessions are taught by university professors and are supervised by NWRI's education staff. Past topics have included entomology, parasitology, prairie ecology, pollinators, small mammal diversity, genetics, bat biology, and much more! Enrolled students also have the option to view the great sandhill crane migration in central Nebraska each March and to participate in a 5-day fieldwork program at UNL's Cedar Point Biological Station in western Nebraska each summer.
All materials are provided and students are served meals and snacks at every session. If students and their families do not have access to transportation to and from sessions, it can be provided from school pick-up points at no charge.
The application period for the 2019-2020 school year is now closed. Please check back in May 2020 for next year's application!
2019-2020 Schedule
| Month | Topic |
|---|---|
| September 28, 2019 | Orientation |
| October 1 & 5, 2019 | Mammalogy |
| November 5 & 9, 2019 | Urban Forestry |
| December | No session, holiday month |
| January 14 & 18, 2020 | Zombie Crickets & Robotic Roaches |
| February 11 & 15, 20202019 | Evolution & Genetics |
| March TBD | TBD |
| March 28-29, 2020 | Sandhill Crane Viewing Trip (Overnight) |
| April 14 & 18, 2020 | Forensic Entomology |
| May TBD | TBD |
| June 2020 | Cedar Point Biological Station (5-day fieldwork trip) |
Important Forms for Students Enrolled in the HSSA
2019-2020 Monthly Pages (Photos, Presentations, References and Links)
