Fall UNL Research Fair is loaded with opportunities to celebrate successes, learn about new research initiatives, resources and opportunities, and hear about National Science Foundation programs and priorities.

The 12th Research Fair, originally slated for Nov. 7-8, is being expanded to include a Nov. 6 workshop on algae biofuels and bioproducts and a Nov. 9 celebration of nanoscience at UNL.  Nov. 7-8 events include a faculty recognition breakfast, a social and behavioral sciences workshop, National Science Foundation Day at UNL, a supercomputing symposium and events for postdocs. All events are in the Nebraska Union and the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.

Sponsored by the Office of Research and Economic Development in cooperation with campus partners, Research Fair is a campuswide celebration of research, scholarship and creativity. Events are free to the public but some require advance registration. Visit the Research Fair website – researchfair.unl.edu  – for the latest schedule and online registration forms.

Nov. 7 kicks off with the Faculty Recognition Breakfast, which celebrates faculty successes from the past year. A buffet breakfast begins at 8 a.m., with a program at 8:30 a.m. Preregistration is required.

The day’s signature event, the Enhancing Research Excellence in Social and Behavioral Sciences Workshop, is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with walk-in registration at 9:30 a.m. The workshop will begin with an overview of UNL’s new Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Initiative. The initiative’s aim is to bring together faculty with diverse expertise to form large-scale collaborations and to build on UNL’s strengths in these areas to enhance UNL’s research excellence and competitiveness for external funding.

Speakers from Pennsylvania State University, University of Iowa and University of Michigan will share their experience establishing social science-related research centers at their institutions. Following lunch, faculty will break into groups to discuss ideas for shaping UNL’s new Social and Behavior Sciences Research Initiative.
The National Science Foundation takes center stage Nov. 8. NSF Day at UNL, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is an opportunity for faculty and others interested in seeking NSF funding to learn about its mission, priorities and budget. Speakers include representatives from the seven NSF directorates, the Office of International Science and Engineering and the Office of Integrative Activities.

Advance registration for NSF Day at UNL is due to NSF by Nov. 1. Because the event is part of Research Fair, the registration fee will be waived for UNL faculty, staff and students. Visit the NSF Day website to register and view the agenda.

On Nov. 9, UNL will host officials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for a celebration of the new Voelte-Keegan Nanoscience Research Center at UNL. Primary funding for the building was provided by NIST via a $6.9 million competitive grant. Speakers for the 10:45 a.m. celebration at the Nebraska Union include Stella Fiotes, with NIST’s Office of Facilities and Property Management and a keynote presentation, “Thinking Big about Small Things,” by Lloyd Whitman, deputy director of NIST’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology.
Other speakers and events include:

• Nov. 6, 1-5 p.m.: Forging Partnerships toward Advanced Algae Biofuels and Bioproducts in the Midwest. The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research will host an afternoon workshop featuring presentations from representative of industry, the U.S Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory and UNL faculty. The goal is to explore opportunities for biofuels research. The session is open to all interested faculty, staff and students but preregistration is required.

• Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: The Holland Computing Center Supercomputing Symposium will include PIvOT tutorials and breakout sessions, a presentation from center director David Swanson and discussions on user issues. Lunch is included and registration is required. 

• Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: The Professional Skills Development for Postdocs Workshop, co-sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Studies. Guest speaker Keith Micoli, postdoctoral program director at New York University, will address career development and reshaping postdoctoral training in the 21st century. This track includes a postdoc/principal investigator awards luncheon. Registration is required. Walk-in registration begins at 9 a.m.