OPEN Book is the Office of Research and Innovation’s internal monthly electronic newsletter that highlights upcoming activities, office news, and accomplishments. The OPEN Book newsletter is sent on the last business day of the month.
News, Information and Upcoming Events
OPEN Forum – Reminder to Register by end of day Friday, August 29
Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m., Willa Cather Dining Center, Red Cloud Suite
Research and Innovation’s next OPEN Forum will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 8:30-10:00 a.m. at the Willa Cather Dining Center, Red Cloud Suite. Breakfast will be served. Please RSVP your attendance plans by end of day on Friday, August 29.
The Office of Research and Innovation’s leadership will share the R&I Strategic Plan. R&I staff are encouraged to attend to learn more.
We hope you can attend in person. If you are unable to attend in person, and would still like to participate, please register and then let Becky Carter know you will need a Zoom link.
A regular feature at our OPEN Forum is to take time to celebrate our colleagues. Please submit a kudo to a colleague that will be shared at the event and in the OPEN Book Newsletter.
OPEN Forum is a quarterly meeting for all R&I staff; it is an opportunity to gather with colleagues, have fun, and learn about an important aspect of the office. If you have questions regarding the OPEN Forum, please contact Becky Carter.
Staff and Family Picnic – Register to Attend
Thursday, September 25, 2025, 5:00-8:00 p.m., Adventure Golf Course
The annual Research and Innovation staff and family picnic is set for Thursday, September 25, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Adventure Golf Center.
You are invited to join your colleagues for a picnic and an evening of mini golf (mini golf and picnic are provided by R&I). Families and special guests are encouraged to attend.
The catered picnic will be served from 5:00-7:00 p.m. When you register, you will be asked to select a time you and your family will eat to better manage the flow of people.
You can golf either or both the Blue or Backwoods courses, as long as your round starts before 8:00 p.m. Golfing in groups of up to 4-5 people will help manage the flow. The Backwoods course is more difficult and it is recommended to be for 12 years of age or older.
The picnic includes a nacho bar, with ground beef, fajita shredded chicken, black beans, cilantro lime rice, tortilla chips, lettuce, salsa, black olives, sour cream, jalapenos and shredded cheese. There will be a sweet treat, sodas and bottled water.
Please RSVP by September 17, so we can give the caterer final numbers. Contact Becky Carter with questions.
We hope to see you there!
Nebraska Innovation Studio: Past, Present and Future – Save the Date
Monday, October 6, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Join us to celebrate a decade of Nebraska Innovation Studio and the launch of the Frontier Tech Lab. Hear from current makers, staff, and partners on what’s been happening at the studio and meet the people who will shape the next 10 years of making. See projects that push the limits of traditional and digital fabrication. More details to come.
2025 Nebraska Bluegrass Concert Series
Join us at the Nebraska Bluegrass Concert Series for live music in the plaza at Nebraska Innovation Campus! Concerts are free and open to the public. Come eat, drink & have fun!
Food/drink available for purchase @ 5:00 p.m. Concerts @ 6:00 p.m. There will be some seating but guests are highly encouraged to bring their own lawn chair. Our concerts will not be rescheduled if there is bad weather. Instead, we will move inside to The Mill Coffee & Bistro.
Fall 2025 Line Up:
September 3 – Jason Carter Band & Shucks Brothers
September 10 – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes & The Midnight Wanderers
September 17 – Henhouse Prowlers & The Bottle Tops
For more info, please visit https://www.nebraskabluegrass.com/
It takes a village. Nebraska Innovation Campus would like to thank our supporters who help make the Nebraska Bluegrass Concert Series possible: ALLO, The Mill Coffee & Bistro, Music Go Round, Nebraska Nova, The Scarlet Hotel, and Union Bank & Trust.
R&I Staff Recognition Event – Save the Date
The date has been set for the annual Reserach and Innovation Staff Recognition Event.
Thursday, December 4, 2025, 11:45 – 3:00 p.m. at Sun Valley Lanes and Games, 321 Victory Lane, Lincoln
We eat, celebrate our hard work, bowl, play trivia and win prizes. You won’t want to miss it.
Nominations for the Invaluable Service Awards and registration will be sent out closer to the event.
Learning and Development
NSPIRE Leadership Development Program
This fall’s lineup includes engaging topics like discovering your leadership style, building trust, and navigating change—all designed to enhance your leadership skills and help you gain practical insights for your professional journey.
Learn more:https://news.unl.edu/article/nspire-fall-sessions-include-leadership-style-trust-and-change
Events calendar and registration can be found at:https://events.unl.edu/ODT/search/?q=nspire
- Discover Your Leadership Style | Sept. 5
- Helping Employees During Difficult Times | Oct. 2
- Building Trust and Engagement Workshop | Oct. 15-16
- Leveraging Strengths to Navigate Change | Nov. 7
- Leading Teams | Dec. 5
NCLUDE Learning Groups
Registration is open for the Fall session of NCLUDE small learning groups. https://hr.unl.edu/nclude-join/
#NCLUDE offers individuals who desire to grow their knowledge, skills, and awareness in a particular area an environment of care, commitment, and accountability. Learning groups co-create a space for students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members to engage in dynamic dialogue, reflection, and offer support to one another.
They still have plenty of space available in the below listed groups! Visit our NCLUDE website to view all the group and sign up.
- The Person You Mean to Be | Sept. 2
- Strengthening Connection to Combat Loneliness | Sept. 4
- Intentional Work: Building Purpose, Boundaries, and Belonging in Our Day-to-Day | Sept. 4
- Creating connections through the stories of our senses | Sept. 8
- Movie Moments, Real Life Impacts: Connecting film to policy | Sept. 10
- Academic Freedom in a Changing World | Sept. 11
- Worthy: Unleashing the Struggles around Self-worthiness | Sept. 12
- Bridging the Divide | Sept. 25
- Leader Shift | Sept. 29
New This Year: NCLUDE Networking Sessions
These 90-minute sessions are perfect for those who want to connect with colleagues and build community across campus but may not have the time for a full semester-long commitment.
Our first session, hosted by Institutional Equity and Compliance (IEC), will use a captivating case study to explore professional boundaries and how the Sexual Misconduct Policy applies to real-life workplace situations. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of IEC’s role and the resources available to you.
Every networking session is a unique blend of learning and connection. It kicks off with a casual welcome, followed by a 15-minute “microlesson” led by a different UNL department. The main event is an exciting one-hour speed-networking segment, giving you five focused opportunities to have meaningful, one-on-one conversations and forge new connections with colleagues from across campus.
https://hr.unl.edu/nclude/#network
NRICH Professional Development Opportunities
Find more information and registration links at: https://events.unl.edu/search/?q=nrich.
Some learning opportunities for the Fall are:
- Talking to Strangers: The Art of Small Talk | Aug. 28
- The Productive Employee: Improve Your Wellbeing by Managing Your Email, To-Do List and Time Better | Sept. 2
- Navigating Tough Conversations with Confidence | Sept. 4
- Say It Better: Using Intentional Language to Transform Communication | Sept. 16
- A Supervisor’s Guide to Retention Conversations | Sept. 18
- Customer Service Excellence 101+ | Sept. 25
- Emotional Intelligence – Developing Your Emotional Strengths | Oct. 21
- Speak Up, Listen Well Creating a Culture Where Feedback Works | Oct. 29
- Collaboration and Project Management with Microsoft Tools | Oct. 30
- Calm in the Chaos: Redefining Well-Being in Challenging Seasons | Nov. 6
- Power Up Your Professional Development Plan | Dec. 9
Employee Wellness and Community Resource Fair – Save the Date
The annual Employee Wellness and Community Resource Fair will take place on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 8-11 a.m.! More information on this year’s event will be released soon.
Welcome New R&I Team Members
Farewells
Aron Barbey’s last day with Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior was August 17, 2025. In the interim, please contact Jen Nelson.
Jenn Gartzke’s last day in Sponsored Programs was August 26, 2025. Jenn will be headed back to her previous employer, the Center for Disease Control. In the interim, please contact Shelly Cutsor.
Jerry Reif’s last day in Nebraska Innovation Studio will be September 5, 2025. Jerry and his wife are moving to Santa Fe. In the interim, please contact David Martin.
Open Position Announcements
Business Services Coordinator, Nebraska Center for Virology, application review date begins 8/27/2025
Research Communications Specialist, Research, application review date begins 8/29/2025
The Month in Pictures
