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| GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER CHAPTER - Apr 27, 2023 |
Chapter Hosts Dinner With a Scientist |
In April, Jesse E. Bell, director, Water, Climate and Health Program, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, was the guest speaker for the first Dinner With a Scientist event held at Bellevue University. Bell engaged the audience with his story of how he became interested in science. As a little boy, he accompanied his father on outdoor excursions where they engaged in hunting and fishing. His father often turned him loose, and he would hike great distances and see many interesting things. From this early age, Bell was fascinated with the outdoors and tried to understand the natural world around him. This formed the basis of what Bell wanted to do with his life. He discussed his years of education, where he formalized his love of biology and doing research, leading him to a path of applied research. Bell talked about his travels and the jobs he held, each one uniquely preparing him for his work in Lincoln, Nebraska, focused on the environment and its effects on people's health and other aspects of environmental changes. One thing led to another, and in 2020, Bell started the Water, Climate and Health Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he works today. |
Event Photographs: |
 The first Dinner With a Scientist event featured Jesse Bell, director, Water, Climate and Health Program, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, as the guest speaker. The event was held at Bellevue University and chaired by the chapter, Omaha STEM Ecosystem and Bellevue University. The main event sponsor was Lockheed Martin, while table sponsors consisted of Kiewit, Peraton and World Wide Technology. There were approximately 10 teachers in attendance accompanied by 38 students. Schools in attendance were Bellevue West High School, Central High School, OHDZA Zoo Academy Papillion, Omaha North High School, Omaha South High School, Papillion-La Vista Health Systems Academy, Papillion South High School, the University of Nevada Medical Center High School Alliance and the Zoo Academy Omaha Public Schools. |
 Elizabeth Durham-Ruiz, Senior Executive Service, and director, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems, and chief information officer, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska talks briefly with the Dinner With a Scientist assembly and offers her views on education and the unique opportunity the attendees received. |
 Event Chair Bernard T. Lichvar (l) poses with the presiding scientists who gave life to the April Dinner with a Scientist Event (l-r): Patrick Nieland, assistant professor, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska; Kelsey Ferris, senior manager, Operations Analytics, LinkedIn, Omaha, Nebraska; Michael Hollins, director, Community and Business Engagement, iEXCEL; Ann Fruhling, distinguished professor of Information Science and Technology School of Interdisciplinary Informatics, the University of Nebraska at Omaha; Jesse Bell, director, Water, Climate and Health Program, the University of Nebraska Medical Center; Andrea Grover, associate professor, the University of Nebraska at Omaha,; Jason Herrick, vice president of conservation/animal health, Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, Nebraska; Lennis Gahona, manager, Insights/Business Intelligence, LinkedIn, Omaha, Nebraska; James Persson, aerospace medicine physician, U.S. Army Aeromedical Activity, Omaha, Nebraska; Raj Sharma, director of product development, SES Solutions, Bellevue, Nebraska; and Derrick Nero, assistant professor, the University of Nebraska at Omaha. |
 Students participate in the first Dinner With a Scientist event held at Bellevue University in April. |
 Students and teachers from 10 area schools participated in the Dinner With a Scientist event in April. |
