Centers Supporting Centers: STC Working Side by Side with Kiewit Luminarium Center for STEM-cellence
Derrick A. Nero, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Education in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is a member of UNO’s STEM Leadership Team, advisor to the UNO STEM TRAIL Center, and is part of the advisory group for Omaha’s new Kiewit Luminarium. Kiewit Luminarium is currently under construction downtown at The RiverFront and is scheduled to open in 2023.
Dr. Nero is a long-term STEM professional, working as an engineer and middle school STEM teacher prior to joining UNO. Dr. Nero has been a keen proponent of the STC and Kiewit Luminarium because of his love of STEM. Describing this relationship, Dr. Nero said, “What’s being done in the classroom is what’s needed and supported by the STEM TRAIL Center. When outsiders look in, they can see what the STEM TRAIL Center is doing solely as STC, but also how that feeds in or branches out to UNO and the Omaha community, such as Kiewit Luminarium, which will provide opportunities to just be engaged with knowledge.”
When asked how he sees the STEM TRAIL Center partnering with Kiewit Luminarium, Nero envisions the STEM TRAIL Center giving published reports and perhaps producing research from interventions in partnership with Kiewit Luminarium. He sees the STEM TRAIL Center acting as a liaison, not only to UNO but to other universities and school districts. Further, Dr. Nero envisions this collaborative partnership to manifest into a standard or process of “how it’s done” for further replication in other cities. He concludes, “We have set the foundation”.
Kiewit Luminarium’s mission is to inspire lifelong interest and careers in science, technology, and engineering, and opens doors for everyone to discover. The purpose-built 82,000 square foot facility will hold four thematic galleries and over 100 exhibits designed to encourage inquiry-based learning and learning with your hands. Visitors will be able to experience phenomena and experiment with interactive exhibits that demonstrate scientific principles in an accessible way. Programming and events will bring Kiewit Luminarium exhibits to life, including specialized experiences for school field trips, a Youth Explainer program that will employ and engage young people, adult-only nights, and community partnerships.
Rachel Jacobson, President of Heritage Services, the entity managing Kiewit Luminarium’s capital campaign and project development on behalf of Omaha Discovery Trust, said,
“Thanks to our Advisory Group and community partners, like the Omaha STEM Ecosystem and the UNO STEM TRAIL Center, we already have great relationships ensuring we will reach every corner of the Omaha metro area community. This project is of and for the community and we are so pleased to have a diverse range of people and organizations helping us bring this project to life before our doors have even opened.”
With Omaha as our campus, Dr. Nero believes the opportunities are endless, “the sky’s the limit!” He is eager to show how our entire metropolitan area is full of opportunities to expand knowledge.