The spring UNL Research Fair April 12-14 features the Nebraska Supercomputing Symposium and the Food, Water and Energy Resources Policy Symposium. These focused sessions will enable faculty, staff and students to explore some of UNL’s research priorities in greater depth.

The ninth annual Research Fair is a campuswide celebration of research, creativity and scholarship. It also features events for undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs, and will conclude with the spring Nebraska Lecture.

"Research Fair is our campuswide celebration of student and faculty success," said Prem S. Paul, vice chancellor for research and economic development. “It's also a great networking opportunity.

"This spring’s two symposia offer faculty the chance to learn more about our supercomputing resources and to be involved in planning a major new research initiative. I urge all my colleagues to participate,” he added.

Events are free to the public in the Nebraska Union and the Nebraska East Union, but some require registration. Visit the Research Fair website for the latest schedule, speaker bios and online registration.

The Research Fair is sponsored by the Office of Research and Economic Development in cooperation with campus partners.

The April 12 Nebraska Supercomputing Symposium is a universitywide discussion on high-performance computing topics. Caspar Ammann, deputy program manager for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, will discuss capacity building opportunities at a noon luncheon in the Nebraska Union’s Regency Suite. William G. (Gerry) McCartney, Purdue University’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer, is presenting at 3 p.m. in the Nebraska Union. This event is co-sponsored by the Holland Computing Center and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Registration is required.

Other speakers include David Swanson, Holland Computer Center director and associate professor of computer science and engineering, and Paul.

The Food, Water and Energy Policy Symposium is April 13 at the Nebraska East Union. The event is a continuation of an interdisciplinary faculty retreat held in December to plan for a major interdisciplinary research initiative on food, water and energy resources policy at UNL. The goal of the symposium is to further develop ideas proposed at the retreat and build a framework of interdisciplinary research goals. Registration is required.

The featured speaker is Shenggen Fan, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute, who will give his plenary address at 8:45 a.m. Also presenting are Paul and Chancellor Harvey Perlman.

A speed networking session will follow at 10 a.m. It will be an interactive way for attendees to become aware of food, water and energy research opportunities and to discuss how to leverage each other’s expertise. Participants will report on what they learned during a panel discussion led by Nebraska agricultural leaders Roger Wehrbein and Bob Bettger. Mark Gustafson, director of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, will moderate the discussion.

Kathie L. Olsen, founder and managing director of ScienceWorks LLC and a former National Science Foundation administrator, will give a talk at 3:15 p.m.

This event will conclude at 4 p.m. with remarks from Stan Johnson, board chairman and chief executive officer of the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy. The symposium is co-sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, Office of Research and Economic Development, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Office of Academic Affairs.

Other speakers and events include:

* The Graduate Student Poster Session from 3-5 p.m. April 13, sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies. Faculty are encouraged to attend the session to view students’ outstanding work. A reception in conjunction with the poster session begins at 4:30 p.m.
* Richard Lombardo, director of the UNL Office of Postdoctoral Studies, will present "Planning and Preparing for Graduate School," a workshop for undergraduates, at 5 p.m. April 13. Registration is required.
* The Office of Undergraduate Studies sponsors the Undergraduate Research Conference and poster session at 3 p.m. April 14, which showcases students’ research and creativity.
* Margaret D. Jacobs, professor of history and director of women’s and gender studies, wraps up Research Fair events with her Nebraska Lecture, "A Battle for the Children: Indigenous Child Removal in the United States and Australia from 1880-1940," at 3 p.m. April 14. A reception and book signing will follow. The Nebraska Lecture is sponsored by the UNL Research Council, Office of the Chancellor, Office of Research and Economic Development and the Nebraska Humanities Council.