Supporting Nebraska's STEM Scholars
The Nebraska Science Olympiad (NESO) supports over 90 teams of Nebraska's top STEM middle and high school students per year by organizing and supporting STEM competitions and working with teacher-coaches to make lasting impacts on the lives of Nebraska's young STEM talent. Our goal is to increase interest and opportunity in science and help create and support a technologically-literate workforce.
| About the Nebraska Science Olympiad | |
Science Olympiad |
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Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to over 7000 teams at approximately 425 tournaments in all 50 states. The Nebraska Science Olympiad supports over 90 teams and close to 1000 of Nebraska's top STEM middle and high school students per year. The UNO STEM TRAIL Center and the Nebraska Science Olympiad Organizing Committee plans and executes the state tournament, promotes and supports invitationals, provides resources for team development, organizes volunteers, and tells our students' stories. |
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Science Olympiad Competitions |
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Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each division (Division B is middle school; Division C is high school). Each year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation. Through Science Olympiad, students, teachers, parents, principals and business leaders bond together and work toward a shared goal. |
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Science Olympiad Tournaments in Nebraska |
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| Nebraska is preparing for 4 Science Olympiad regional tournaments in the 2027 season. These are being tentively planned in Kearney, Omaha, Ogallala, and Lincoln in March and early April. The Science Olympiad State Tournament will be held on Saturday April 24, 2027 at the UNL EAST Campus. The Division B and Division C state champions will be invited to attend the National Science Olympiad Tournament that will be held in May at Ohio State University. If you are interested in volunteering at the state tournament, please contact the state director or sign up on our Volunteer Form. | |
Nebraska Scicence Olympiad Director |
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Deanna JohansenWith a long history in teaching STEM education, Deanna is passionate about increasing inquiry-based learning and inspiring the next generation of scientists. As the new director of the Nebraska Science Olympiad, Deanna is on a mission to increase Science Olympiad participation across Nebraska. You can reach Deanna at deannajohansen@unomaha.edu. "I have come to truly appreciate that the value of Science Olympiad extends well beyond competition day. Students train all year for events that foster inquiry-based learning across science, math, engineering, robotics, and computer science. It is more than a tournament." ~ Deanna (Dee) |
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STEM TRAIL Center |
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| The University of Nebraska Omaha's STEM TRAIL Center creates innovations in STEM education. The Center is the administrative home of the Nebraska Science Olympiad and dedicates staff time for organizational and logisitcal needs. The Center also utilizes the connections and relationships it has built with the university for improvements in fundraising, volunteer development, and team development. Its STEM education research infrastructure is also used to learn how the Science Olympiad can best serve the needs of Nebraska students and grow the Nebraska STEM workforce. | |