Nebraska Innovation Studio

NIS member Rick Hearon, a skilled leatherworker, shares his craft with visitors from the Young South Asian Leaders Initiative (YSALI), offering insights into traditional leatherworking techniques and the artistry behind his work.

Nebraska Innovation Studio team member Isaac Regier showcased his work at NYC Design Week!

Two of Isaac’s original night light designs were selected for inclusion in DUDD LITE, a group exhibition featuring more than 130 artists from around the world, each offering a unique interpretation of the night light. The exhibition is on display at The Future Perfect's West Village townhouse in New York City until June 26.

We’re proud to see Isaac’s creativity recognized on a national stage and celebrated alongside such an inspiring collection of designers. Congrats, Isaac!

NIS member Connor made this incredible 3D-printed flip-text design. Printed on a Bambu Lab 3D printer, the piece features The Lord of the Rings logo from the front and reveals a silhouette scene of the Fellowship hidden within the design when viewed from above.

Join us on June 16 to celebrate the incredible work of the second cohort of Nebraska Innovation Fellows.

Over the past five months, Bill Berzonsky, Jon Turkus, Dr. James Willcockson, M.D., and Chris Wong have transformed bold ideas into reality at Nebraska Innovation Studio. With mentorship from industry experts and support from the local startup community, their projects are advancing innovation and entrepreneurship.

Enjoy light appetizers, connect with inspiring members of the innovation community and hear project updates and accomplishments from the fellows. Space is limited!

Register: https://NIFShowcase.eventbrite.com

🎨 CALL FOR ARTISTS 🎨

Uni Place Creative District Crosswalk Mural Project

The Uni Place Creative District is seeking artists to help re-imagine crosswalks across three intersections as a bold, cohesive public artwork. This project will create a highly visible gateway into one of Lincoln’s most creative neighborhoods.

📍 48th & St. Paul Ave.
📍 48th & Baldwin Ave.
📍 48th & Madison Ave.

This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) not a Request for Proposals. Artists are asked to submit past work and a brief statement of interest. A short list of artists will be invited to submit full design proposals in a later phase. Artists selected for the RFP phase will be compensated $500 for their designs. Compensation for the final selected artist varies based on role: design-only or design + installation. Full details in the RFQ.

🗓️Key Dates
● RFQ Deadline: June 14, 11:59 PM
● Finalists Notified & Invited to RFP: June 17
● RFP Design Proposals Due: July 7
● Installation Begins (East & West sides): Mid-August
● Installation Continues (48th St / North & South sides): August 29, concurrent with Summerfest

Artists of all backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Public art experience is welcome but not required.

For full details and submission info visit: https://www.uniplacecreativedistrict.org/get-involved

Nebraska Innovation Studio will be closed Saturday, May 23, and Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26.

The Nebraska Innovation Fellows are hard at work! Yesterday, they shared project updates with Nebraska Innovation Campus Partners. With access to equipment, mentorship, and a collaborative community, they are building impactful innovations:

- Bill Berzonsky is developing a smart wheat seed thresher and grain analyzer to improve agricultural research and efficiency.

- Jonathan Turkus is streamlining plant sample collection and processing for faster research.

- Christopher Wong is building a secure communications network to keep drones, autonomous systems, and tactical teams connected in challenging environments.