Curious Cornhuskers: Why the Innovation Campus greenhouse lights are pink at night

As part of our initiative called Curious Cornhuskers, an anonymous reader asked The Daily Nebraskan, “Why are the Innovation Campus’s greenhouse lights pink at night?”

The lights give off a pink or purple color because they are a mixture of the red and blue colors that plants like to absorb, according to Amy Hilske, plant growth facilities director for the Greenhouse Innovation Center on Nebraska Innovation Campus. She said the greenhouse’s lights are programmed to be 20% blue and 80% red because of research that shows plants absorb red more. 

Innovation Campus’ ‘Pop-Up Bookshop’ will offer affordable books, community

The start of a new semester brings many constants that seasoned college students have grown used to: the promise of a successful football season, lots of coffee and, unfortunately, the purchase of bland textbooks .

But during the first week of classes, the University of Nebraska Press and the Nebraska Innovation Campus are partnering for an event where students can purchase some more leisurely books: the Pop-Up Bookshop. 

Shaun Ilahi uses art to tell overlooked stories, spark connections

Shaun Ilahi is not like most people. As a lawyer in the general counsel in Omaha for Habitat for Humanities, he helps with affordable housing construction and provides support and services to underserved areas. But Ilahi is also a budding artist, striving to redefine what society defines as beauty.

The Wisconsin native completed his undergraduate degree in Brooklyn, New York, and discovered his love for travel and finding beauty in things around him that others don’t see.

Innovation Studio helps international students learn English, technical skills

While the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Innovation Studio has been home to many 3D printing creations, ceramics and handcrafted wood sculptures, its purpose is not limited to physical creations. Every Monday at 3 p.m., 20 students from around the globe gather in the workshop to build their English skills.

The UNL Intensive English Program provides a variety of classes to help international students learn English. One of those classes, IEP 85 English for Science and Engineering, takes place at the Nebraska Innovation Studio.

The Gilded Swine food cart enters UNL food truck scene

On October 4, the owners of the food cart The Gilded Swine were ready to go.

Unfortunately, it rained the entire morning and the cart had to cancel that day.

“Just kind of dealing with the ups and downs of that can be kind of fun sometimes,” co-owner and chef Brandon Fowler said.

UNL Maker Space will be hands-on gathering place for creative minds

Hands-on students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will soon have an outlet for their creativity in the form of the Maker Space, a proposed facility on UNL’s Innovation Campus.

Shane Farritor, a professor of mechanical and materials engineering and member of the Innovation Campus faculty advisory committee, proposed the idea of Maker Space at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“I think such a place could really help UNL students in a lot of ways,” Farritor said.