A spirit of innovation pulses through a community of students known as Change Makers who bring innovative ideas to the table for the betterment of greater Nebraska.

 The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln launched the Change Maker program to enhance the future of Nebraska by developing solutions to key issues that historically impact Nebraska’s workforce, economy, and natural resources.

Megan Rothenberger, CASNR student success coordinator, said the quick pitch program targets eight grand challenges: feeding the world, new energy, biodiversity, sustainability and the environment, engaging diverse communities, water for the future, climate in the future, health, and developing tomorrow's leaders.

“Projects within each of these grand challenges are important because they showcase the breadth of CASNR disciplines, and the current generation of students is highly interested in finding solutions to them,” Rothenberger said.

 Both Nebraska and out-of-state students pitch their big ideas in a two-minute video contest judged by a panel of CASNR affiliates, and chosen winners develop their idea throughout their college career.

 “Change Makers better our college and Nebraska because they are drawn to look at a problem and think outside of the box to find a solution,” Rothenberger said. 

A Spark for Change

In addition to solving key societal issues, the Change Maker program prioritizes individual development and plays an important role in establishing a community for students.

 “Change Makers have a trusted resource on campus who is invested in their success and their ideas,” Rothenberger said.

 Rothenberger said students engage with mentors regularly to monitor project progress and develop plans of action. If personal and professional growth was not enough, the renewable scholarship helps make college financially possible.

“The Change Maker scholarships allow college to be more affordable and, in some cases, makes the university and CASNR the best college choice for them,” Rothenberger said.

 For students Jack Bunch and Lydia Storm, their journey as a Change Maker is a testament to the program’s depth, each excelling in unique ways.

Forging a Path in Forensics

Jack Bunch, a sophomore forensic science student from Irvine, California, recognized his desire to study forensic science would take him out of state, but it was not until he was awarded a Change Maker scholarship that he would settle on Nebraska.

“This scholarship award made a critical difference in being able to financially pursue my education in Nebraska and study in the forensic science area,” Bunch said.

 For his Change Maker pitch, Bunch recognized few schools have installed forensics education, so he pitched an idea to engage diverse communities by building a forensic science curriculum for high school classrooms.

 “Life science teachers who want to offer forensics as an elective can implement this lesson plan to spark new ideas and inspire students to consider a career in forensics,” Bunch said.  

For his project, Bunch developed an experiment that analyzes fly and maggot presence to determine the process of decomposition in organs. He performed tests at the university’s crime scene house in various environments to select the best methods to implement in the lesson plan.

 Alongside his mentor, Larry Barksdale, assistant professor of practice in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bunch successfully imitated the responsibilities of a forensic scientist within the experiment for students.

Out of the Box Empowerment

Lydia Storm, a junior biochemistry and forensic science student from Lawrence, Kansas, knew from experience that women in STEM face discrimination and empowering young women became the focal point of her Change Maker pitch.

 With a goal of developing tomorrow’s leaders, Storm developed a concept entitled Museum in a Box during her freshman year at the university. Audio coding and 3D printing collide to tell the stories of women in STEM, inspiring listeners to channel their passion.

 “There is a need for more integration in classrooms to close the gender and wage gap,” Storm said. “It is an honor to fight this battle for equality.”

For her project, Storm created miniature statues of notable women in STEM that carry a small sticker encoded with their story that will begin to play aloud when placed on the portable, acrylic box. At completion, Storm said elementary programs will utilize guided curriculum with the technology to build confidence in young women.

 “This programming will inspire girls to follow their dreams and create a ripple effect,” Storm said.

Making a Mark

Since the program’s inception in April 2020, scholarships have been awarded to 30 CASNR students with one thing in common: a spirit of innovation.

 “In 10 years, the Change Maker cohort will be a cyclical program that is synonymous with the ground-breaking ideas and spirit of innovation that CASNR has to offer,” Rothenberger said.

 For more information, visit https://casnr.unl.edu/casnr-change-maker-competition.

Key Takeaways

1. Change Makers enhance the future of Nebraska by developing solutions to key issues that historically impact Nebraska’s workforce, economy, and natural resources.
2. Change Maker is a quick pitch program targeted at solving eight grand challenges related to humans and the environment.
3. Recipients engage with mentors regularly to monitor project progress, develop plans of action, and discuss overall well-being during their Change Maker experience.
4. Change Maker scholarships have been awarded to 30 students since program inception in April 2020, making college financially possible.

For more information, visit https://casnr.unl.edu/casnr-change-maker-competition