By Sara Hinds
The 2026 MindExpo featured double the number of presentations from last year and exciting firsts. Submissions from fine and performing arts and dual-credit students were included for the first time in the annual event, held Thursday, April 23.
Around 200 Crete undergraduates and five dual-credit students from Lincoln High School showcased their original scholarly research with the broader university community through poster and oral presentations and performances.
Not even a tornado warning could break up the constant crowd in Nyrop Hall where the posters presentations were set up.
“The poster sessions were attended and busy the entire time,” associate professor Dane Bowder said. He helped organize the event as a member of the student research committee. “We had the tornado [warning], and everyone went down the hall and took shelter, as soon as the all clear got issued, the poster session was just as busy.”
Alex Ganshert, a senior at Lincoln High, was one of the five dual-credit students who presented at this year’s Mind Expo. Ganshert was part of RES 110 - Scientific Inquiry, aka STARLAB (Science Through Advanced Research, Learning, Application, and Building). Doane offers dual-credit classes every semester, like STARLAB. High schoolers can take the classes for transferable credit hours to Doane and other four-year institutions.
As part of STARLAB, Ganshert and his peers had to publicly present their research at least once. Brian Hageman, who teaches the class, encouraged his students to participate in any and every opportunity, from the Lincoln Public Schools Science Fair to symposiums hosted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. All five of his students traveled to Crete for the Mind Expo.
“So technically, their curricular requirements would have been met without attending Mind Expo,” Hageman said. “But based on the feedback I have heard from them, Mind Expo was an overwhelmingly positive experience that they all seem very happy to have participated in.”
Ganshert’s research included making a telescope that automatically locates objects in the sky. During STARLAB, he learned just what it is he wants to study in college. And while perusing other poster presentations, Ganshert met a Doane student whose project combined his two passions — engineering and theatre.
“A lot of this is what helped me realize where my interest lies, and it’s really made me interested in [the] electrical engineering aspect and a bit of the computer science, too, when it comes to coding,” Ganshert said.
The inclusion of more degree programs and high school students at this year’s MindExpo amplifies the hard work and creativity of the Doane community — and inspires future generations.
