HC Students Shine at NAS Research Meet

Charting the Course of Scientific Discovery: The Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Hastings College Partnership
For over 140 years, the Nebraska Academy of Sciences (NAS) has served as the state’s flagship institution for scientific collaboration, weathering economic storms and technological shifts like a steadfast lighthouse guiding ships of discovery. Founded in 1880—back when Edison’s light bulb was still a novelty—the NAS has evolved into a dynamic hub where nearly 400 scientists, educators, and students annually converge to share breakthroughs. Among its most dedicated crewmates is Hastings College, a liberal arts institution whose physics students have turned NAS conferences into a rite of passage. This article explores how their symbiotic relationship has not only enriched Nebraska’s scientific community but also created a blueprint for grassroots innovation.
The NAS: Nebraska’s Flagship of Scientific Inquiry
Much like a well-stocked research vessel, the NAS offers tools for every discipline—from gravitational wave physics to prairie ecosystem studies. Its hybrid-format annual meetings, featuring 200+ presentations, cleverly navigate modern challenges: rural students Zoom in from corn country, while Omaha-based researchers debate findings over Nebraska-brewed coffee. The Academy’s *Transactions* journal, freely accessible via University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Digital Commons, functions as a treasure chest of open-access knowledge—unlike those paywalled journals even university libraries struggle to afford.
But the NAS’s secret weapon is its network of affiliated societies. By supporting groups like the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science, it ensures K-12 educators stay current—a critical mission when 60% of rural school districts lack dedicated science lab facilities. This ecosystem mirrors Silicon Valley’s collaborative ethos, just with more tractors and fewer venture capitalists.
Hastings College: Launching Pad for Future Scientists
At Hastings College, physics seniors don’t just write thesis papers—they defend them NAS-style, complete with peer reviews from professors who’ve weathered NSF grant rejections. These capstone presentations, honed through mock Q&A sessions in Hastings’ 19th-century lecture halls, give students a taste of academic rigor. As one recent presenter quipped, “It’s like *Shark Tank* for quark research.”
The college doubles as a talent scout for young scientists through events like the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences Central Regional Science Fair. Here, high schoolers present projects ranging from AI-powered crop yield predictors to biodiesel experiments—proving you don’t need an Ivy League lab to do groundbreaking work. Hastings’ faculty, many NAS members themselves, often spot future interns among these teen researchers.
Beyond Nebraska: Expanding Horizons
While the NAS meetings anchor their calendar, Hastings scholars regularly embark on academic “road trips” to conferences like the Great Plains Psychology Symposium. These excursions—funded by the college’s Student Research Fund—have yielded unexpected dividends: a 2023 chemistry project presented at NAS caught the attention of a Mayo Clinic researcher, leading to a summer internship.
The NAS-Hastings model also offers lessons for sustaining regional science communities. Their partnership demonstrates how small colleges can punch above their weight by leveraging local networks—a strategy now being emulated by peer institutions in Iowa and Kansas. When Hastings upgraded its observatory with a NAS-recommended telescope, astronomy enrollment jumped 40%, proving investment in infrastructure pays dividends.
This partnership between a 143-year-old academy and a liberal arts college exemplifies how regional collaboration can fuel national-impact research. From mentoring future Nobel contenders at science fairs to democratizing access through digital journals, their work ensures Nebraska’s scientific legacy isn’t just preserved—it’s propelling new generations forward. As NAS prepares for its 150th anniversary and Hastings College expands its STEM facilities, one truth becomes clear: in the ocean of discovery, even landlocked states can be maritime powers.