UALR Nerd Night to Offer STEM Demos and Stargazing

More than 600 people have already registered for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s annual Nerd Night, a figure that puts this year’s turnout ahead of the pace set by last year’s crowd of 700, according to ualr.edu.

The event, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m., serves as a massive community outreach effort for the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (DCSTEM). By opening the doors to hands-on STEM demonstrations and student-led exhibits, the university is attempting to bridge the gap between academic research and public engagement, turning a campus into a living laboratory for families, prospective students, and Little Rock residents.

Hands-on science across the UA Little Rock campus

The scale of the evening is spread across several key campus locations. Much of the primary activity will be concentrated on the first and fourth floors of the Engineering & Information Technology (EIT) building. Attendees can expect to find a variety of technical demonstrations, including mobile and industrial robots, virtual and augmented reality experiences, and activities hosted by the Cybersecurity Club and the Trojan Forge Makerspace.

The university is also utilizing the Engineering Technology & Applied Science (ETAS) building, Stabler Hall, and Trojan Way to accommodate the growing interest. Stabler Hall is set to host Pico Balloon launches at 6:30, 7, and 7:30 p.m., alongside stargazing opportunities. If the weather holds, the skies are expected to be clear, providing a direct view of the stars, though a live feed from the observatory will also be available inside the EIT building for those indoors.

Adding to the variety of the evening, the Aerospace Club’s pop-up planetarium is returning to the EIT building, an attraction that has historically drawn significant crowds. Other recurring highlights include experiments from the American Chemistry Society student group, as well as contributions from the university’s George W. Donaghey Emerging Analytics Center (EAC) and the Cyberspace Operations Research and Education (CORE) Center.

“It’s a way to build community (among) students and their families, prospective students, and the Little Rock community,” said Erin Flowers, director of student services. “The exhibits make it amazing — more than half of them are from student organizations, which is really cool — and it’s a fun time for us all to be together.”

New attractions and community engagement

This year’s iteration introduces new elements to the traditional lineup. Trojan Way will host a crop demonstration and “disappearing ghosts,” along with a new pet rock adoption activity. For those interested in digital competition, the ETAS building will feature a gaming lounge with Esports.

The event also functions as a recruitment and networking hub for DCSTEM. Current and prospective students can investigate specific academic pathways, including research opportunities, leadership programs, honor societies, and various career trajectories available within the college.

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To manage the logistics of the crowd, the university has placed the check-in station and food trucks in the parking lot situated between the EIT building and the Reynolds business building. Organizers have noted that attendees should arrive early to secure food, as the various dining options—ranging from barbecue and tacos to loaded potatoes, vegetarian, and vegan selections—are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be ordered in advance.

As the event continues to expand, the university’s focus remains on the immediate impact of these interactions. Flowers noted that the sheer volume of activities means that “time flies by quickly,” urging visitors to arrive early and prepare a plan for the evening.