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title: STEM TRAIL Center Newsletter
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Welcome Omaha STEM Ecosystem | Science Saturdays | Halloween at the Planetarium ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser September 2026  The Omaha STEM Ecosystem Has A New Home 🎊    Omaha STEM Ecosystem: What’s Next The Omaha STEM Ecosystem is beginning an exciting new chapter at the STEM TRAIL Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. After ten years of partnership with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, OSE is building on that strong foundation with new leadership, renewed momentum, and a continued commitment to connecting people and organizations across Omaha’s STEM community.   Join us November 17 for an evening of connection and conversation. Connect with longtime partners, meet new OSE Director Ashleigh Tierney, learn more about OSE’s partnership with UNO, and hear what’s ahead as we begin putting our strategic priorities into action.   📅 Tuesday, November 17, 2026 🕔 5:30–7:00 p.m. 📍 Thompson Alumni Center \| UNO Campus   Appetizers, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.   There is no cost to attend, but RSVP is required. RSVP to Attend  Meet the new Omaha STEM Ecosystem Director! 🤝   Ashleigh Tierney, M.Ed., recently joined the Omaha STEM Ecosystem as Director, bringing more than a decade of experience building partnerships and initiatives that connect education, industry, and community around shared goals. Most recently, Ashleigh served as Chief Operating Officer for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), where her work spanned organizational strategy, member and community engagement, digital transformation, government relations, and partnerships. Throughout her career, she has been particularly drawn to the space where big ideas meet execution: bringing people together, building strong relationships, and creating the structures that help collaborative work turn into meaningful results.   An Omaha resident for the past five years, Ashleigh is excited to focus that experience close to home. She is especially interested in the connections between STEM education, workforce development, and community opportunity, and in learning from the educators, employers, community organizations, students, and other partners already doing extraordinary work across the region. Outside of work, Ashleigh enjoys exploring Omaha and beyond with her husband and two young sons, tackling home projects, listening to podcasts, and finding any reasonable excuse to plan an event, trip, or elaborate spreadsheet.   As she begins her work with OSE, Ashleigh’s first priority is to listen and learn. She hopes to build on the strong foundation created by OSE’s partners and leaders while strengthening the connections that make an ecosystem valuable: helping people find one another, making resources and opportunities more visible, and creating more ways for organizations to work together around shared challenges. Ultimately, she hopes OSE can continue growing as a sustainable, trusted piece of Omaha’s STEM infrastructure, one that helps partners accomplish together what no single organization could accomplish alone. Ashleigh is eager to meet members of the OSE community and hear about their work, their experiences with the ecosystem, and their hopes for its future.   Community partners, old and new, are invited to schedule a 30-minute conversation with Ashleigh by clicking on the button below! Meet Ashleigh Announcements  Coming Soon to the Planetarium, Science Saturdays! 🔭🌠   🌟🔭 Science Saturdays Are Coming to the Mallory Kountze Planetarium! 🪐   Get ready for an afternoon of science, exploration, and fun! Coming later this fall, Science Saturdays will invite children in grades 3–8 to discover the wonders of STEM through engaging educational shows, hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, and more.   📅 When: Second Saturday of each month 📍 Where: Mallory Kountze Planetarium   Each month will feature a new theme, with upcoming topics including Smart Skies, Stars, Constellations, Earth Day, and more!   🌎🚀 Whether your child loves looking at the stars, exploring how things work, or simply enjoys hands-on learning, Science Saturdays will offer an exciting opportunity to learn, discover, and have fun.   👀 Stay tuned! Sign-up opportunities will be posted on the Planetarium’s website as dates approach.   Space is limited, and registration is required—be sure to watch for registration announcements coming soon!  Halloween at the Planetarium 🎃   Get into the Halloween spirit with a cosmic twist! Join us at the Mallory Kountze Planetarium for Spooky Space, a family-friendly show where real science meets supernatural legends.   👻 🪐 Explore the eerie side of astronomy as we discover some of the universe’s “monsters”—from black holes and ghostly nebulae to zombie stars and more.   🔭 What to Expect What’s Up? – A quick look at what’s happening in the night sky Spooky Space Show – A one-hour feature presentation exploring the science behind some of the universe’s creepiest phenomena Interactive Q&A + Bonus Content – Stick around to learn more, ask questions, and explore additional space destinations Show Details 📅 Dates: October 9, 11, 23 & 25, 2026 🕐 Showtimes: Afternoon and evening shows available 📍 Location: Mallory Kountze Planetarium, Durham Science Center UNO Campus 🎟️ Tickets: $10 per person 🎃 Costumes: Encouraged!   Discover the science behind the scares! Bring the whole family and explore the spooky side of space this October. Get Your Tickets University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182, United States, 402.554.2800 Manage preferences The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement. |
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