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Some 1.1 billion years ago, the North American continent nearly split in two, leaving behind a 1,200-mile swath of volcanic rocks known as the Midcontinent Rift that may be able to produce enough natural hydrogen to yield vast amounts of clean energy.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers are studying the rift — which runs from beneath Lake Superior through parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas — to determine how best to access that hydrogen.

Hydrogen is potentially a key player in the effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. It produces no carbon emissions and, unlike oil and gas that can take millions of years to generate from organic deposits, it is constantly renewing underground when water interacts with the volcanic rock. 

But there is much to learn.

“Our understanding of processes governing the production, migration and accumulation of evasive natural hydrogen in the continental deep subsurface is still in its infancy,” said Seunghee Kim, Charles J. Vranek Associate Professor of civil engineering and one of the project’s principal investigators.

To test the viability of hydrogen production in the rift, a test well was drilled in Nebraska five years ago. So far, the data is promising. Scientists believe it is possible the geomechanical and biogeochemical conditions in the rift limit the loss and consumption of this naturally generated hydrogen, which could leave trapped hydrogen “at an economically meaningful scale in the mid-continent subsurface.”

The Midcontinent Rift is estimated to be 3,000 to 5,000 feet underground.

“It could be deep enough to be stored but shallow enough that we can access it,” said Karrie Weber, professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences and biological sciences and another project investigator. “The geology is in our favor.”The U.S. Geological Survey estimates between tens of millions and tens of billions of megatons of hydrogen are in Earth’s crust. But much of that would be inaccessible to humans because it is either too deep or too far offshore, or present in amounts too small to exploit. That is what makes sites like the Midcontinent Rift so important. Other subsurface rifts in the world — located in France, Germany, Russia and the African continent — could also produce hydrogen, Kim said.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there might be enough accessible natural hydrogen under the Earth’s surface to meet global energy needs for thousands of years.

Kim said the Nebraska team will explore several questions surrounding hydrogen flow and seepage from the subsurface to the surface; the feasibility of storing hydrogen naturally or in engineered storage systems; how hydrogen reacts with existing fluids and rock minerals in the subsurface; and how fast and how much hydrogen could be consumed by microorganisms.

Kim is approaching the questions from a civil engineering perspective, while Weber and another co-principal investigator, Hyun-Seob Song, are exploring the biogeochemical and microbiology implications. 

“This has not been well-studied so far,” said Song, associate professor of biological systems engineering and food science and technology. “We aim to predict the microbiomes’ behavior at this subsurface level.”

Song will develop computational modeling tools to integrate and assess that data that Weber provides.

The project is funded by a five-year, $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE) initiative. It is one of 19 projects funded this year.

The research builds on previous work funded by the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research.

Weber said the university’s role in this research is another instance of the state’s potential leadership in what is called “the hydrogen economy,” which refers to the role hydrogen could have in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and serving as a clean energy source.

Third-generation Husker. Father to a current student and a recent graduate. President of the largest alumni chapter in the country. Recipient of the Nebraska Alumni Assocation’s Distinguished Service Award.

Safe to say living in Colorado hasn’t kept Dan Spencer from embracing his Nebraska roots.

“There are so many Nebraskans here that it feels like Nebraska,” he said with a smile.

Spencer’s involvement with Coloradans for Nebraska began as a simple way to stay connected after establishing his dental practice near Denver 25 years ago. It quickly grew into a larger calling.

“I was always involved, but then I got volunteered to join the board, and before I knew it, I was president,” he said.

Today, the group boasts 3,500 members and a mission that is close to Spencer’s heart — raising scholarship funds for Colorado high school students who choose to attend the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“We give out eight scholarships each year,” Spencer said. “I work a lot with the recruiters to get the message out, and I’m always on the lookout for kids for whom I feel Nebraska would be a great fit.”

To help make the case to Colorado students, Spencer and his fellow Coloradans for Nebraska alumni take initiative to help get prospective students to campus for a visit.

“This year, we have about 80 kids coming from Colorado, and I personally helped get seven to campus for a visit,” he said. “Once you get kids on campus, Nebraska pretty much sells itself.”

For Spencer, building a strong alumni base that powers the next generation of Huskers all comes down to relationships.

“Ninety percent of my job is about relationships — how I treat my patients and interact with people. That’s something I learned growing up in Nebraska,” he said. “Being good to people goes a long way, no matter your profession. Good relationships lead to a happy life.”

Keeping a strong connection to Nebraska and the powerful relationships that have endured the distance is a huge part of the happy life Spencer has built. Unsurprisingly, he credited Nebraska for much of it.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Nebraska — it shaped me into who I am.”

Bold, audacious research ideas that will improve the lives of current and future generations of Nebraskans have been funded through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Grand Challenges Catalyst Competition. 

Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett and Sherri Jones, interim vice chancellor for research and innovation, announced nine new Grand Challenges projects Sept. 3. Projects include two catalyst awards and seven planning grants. 

The Grand Challenges initiative represents a commitment by the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of Research and Innovation to strategically invest funds earmarked for research.

“The Grand Challenges underscore the university’s dedication to advancing research that has meaningful impacts on our communities and future generations,” Bennett said. “This strategic investment empowers our researchers to address complex issues with creativity and collaboration, further establishing our flagship, land-grant institution as a leader in transformative and interdisciplinary innovation.”

Projects funded in 2024 address the initiative’s seven thematic areas: anti-racism and racial equity; climate resilience; early childhood education and development; health equity; quantum science and engineering; sustainable food and water security; and science and technology literacy for society.

“The Grand Challenges projects represent the qualities of discovery, creativity and innovation that define research at Nebraska,” Jones said. “I am incredibly proud of our faculty’s efforts to work across disciplines to build teams that are equipped to address some of society’s most pressing challenges. I look forward to celebrating the long-term impact of their work.”

Faculty, staff and students from all nine colleges are represented among the teams. The full list of funded projects and teams is available on the Grand Challenges website.

Catalyst awards

Galen Erickson, Nebraska Cattle Industry Professor of animal science; and a team of Anne Schutte, associate professor of psychology, and Sarah Karle, associate professor of landscape architecture, lead teams that earned catalyst awards. The funded projects will support the beef industry in Nebraska and beyond in adapting management practices for a changing climate, and the state’s early childhood education field in creating green spaces and physical environments that promote healthy development, especially for youth in under-resourced communities.

Advancing Development of Assessments, Practices and Tools (ADAPT) to Produce Climate Smart Beef in Grazing Systems 

As consumers become more aware of how their decisions impact the environment, the beef industry is working to build consumer trust in production practices and find ways to improve. Newer incentive programs are based on beef producers demonstrating that their grazing operations improve carbon capture, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, or both. 

A Grand Challenges award will bolster the university's efforts to support a sustainable beef industry, which researchers believe is crucial from an environmental, economic and social standpoint. The ADAPT project, led by beef expert Galen Erickson and a diverse group of faculty and staff from UNL’s Beef Innovation team, aims to establish resilient, climate-smart beef production systems that are tested and scientifically proven to be effective across many types of management practices, soil types, weather conditions, forage types and other factors. The Grand Challenges project aligns with larger efforts that recognize the importance of a sustainable beef industry from environmental, economic and social standpoints.

Nebraska consistently ranks as one of the top beef-producing states in the U.S., making it an ideal laboratory for the team’s work. Husker researchers will develop robust models and cost-effective integrated data-management tools that producers can use to measure carbon flux on their grazing lands. The team will use that data to test potential climate-smart management practices and evaluate effectiveness. This work will provide more information to guide production practice incentives and help shape policy affecting the cattle industry. The team will develop best practices for beef producers to reduce greenhouse gases and the carbon impact of grazing, while supporting a more biodiverse, resilient landscape in Nebraska and beyond.

Through communications and outreach activities, researchers will share scientifically accurate stories about climate-smart beef production and responsible land stewardship. Messages will be geared toward policymakers, environmental and land stewards, consumers and youth.

Nick Kumpula | Research and Innovation

Transforming Environments: Promoting Children’s Health, Development and Learning Indoors, Outdoors and Beyond 

Increasing studies suggest that physical environments — especially green spaces — are essential to young children’s health and well-being. But even in Nebraska, with its abundance of open spaces, there are disparities in who has access to the natural world for play and exploration. In low-income communities, for example, “built” environments are often more prevalent than green spaces.

Led by cognitive development expert Anne Schutte and landscape architect Sarah Karle, the project team aspires for every Nebraska child to have access to green spaces and environments that promote healthy development, especially in early childhood education and care settings. Many studies suggest that green-space exposure may lead to better outcomes for young children, including improved attentiveness, memory and emotional well-being. 

The interdisciplinary team will establish a comprehensive community-based research program that integrates design, developmental science and educational outcomes to enhance children’s daily environments. Using behavioral and physiological measures, plus neuroimaging, researchers will assess how physical environments impact development and well-being. 

Leveraging Nebraska Extension’s leadership in addressing complex issues at the local, state and national levels, the team will co-create solutions for Nebraska communities to enhance, improve and create healthy environments for young children and their caregivers. Working with the Early Childhood Health Outdoors program, the team will develop professional development resources to help educators incorporate green spaces — especially in communities with fewer resources. Researchers also will create experiential learning opportunities for College of Architecture students to learn how to design healthy indoor and outdoor environments, drawing upon research findings in psychology, architecture and education. 

Nick Kumpula | Research and Innovation

Planning grant awards

Planning grants support the teaming, ideation and development activities for teams to coalesce around one or more Grand Challenges themes and prepare a catalyst proposal. Funded projects and principal investigators are: 

• Sina Balkir, professor of electrical and computer engineering, “Integrating Microelectronics in Precision Agriculture: Toward Energy-Efficient Sensing Solutions for Soil, Plant and Animal Monitoring.”
• Dan Novy, assistant professor of emerging media arts, “Thinking Outside the Box(plot): Cultivating a Culture of Creative Data Visualization.”
• Kyungki Kim, assistant professor, Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, “Smart and Connected Long-Term Care Ecosystem with Robotic Caregiver.”
• W. Alex Mason, professor of child, youth and family studies, and Loukia Sarroub, department chair of teaching, learning and teacher education, “Ethical and Equitable Reintegration: Transitioning Youth from Out-of-Home Placement to the Mainstream Classroom.”
• Yanan (Laura) Wang, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, Christine Kelley, professor of mathematics, and Jordan Wheeler, assistant professor of educational psychology, “Education Landscape and Experiential Learning for Quantum Information Science and Technology Workforce Development.”
• Eileen Hebets, George Holmes Professor of biological sciences, Angela Pannier, Swarts Family Chair and professor of biological systems engineering, and Nicole Sexton, assistant professor of biological sciences, “Center for Arthropod Research, Education and Materials Innovation (CAREMI).”
• Milad Roohi, assistant professor, Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, “Climate Resilient Heartland: Leveraging AI for Equitable Risk Reduction and Adaptation Across Rural and Urban Systems.”

The Grand Challenges initiative aligns with the university’s strategic goals to increase the impact of research and creative activity and to foster interdisciplinary endeavors. A request for proposals for the 2025 Grand Challenges grant cycle will be released by Oct. 1. Details will be announced on the Grand Challenges website.

Recent achievements for the campus community were earned by Alisha Baginski, Melissa Gomis, Taeyeon Kim, Katja Koehler-Cole, Matt Kreifels, Tierney Lorenz, Glennis McClure, Peter McCornick, Wayne Ohnesorg, Jenny Rees, Jay Storz and Husker Athletics’ Creative and Emerging Media team.

Honors

Taeyeon Kim, assistant professor in educational administration, received the Educational Change Special Interest Group Emerging Scholar Award from the American Educational Research Association. The award is presented to an individual in the first eight years of their post-doctorate career as an educational scholar who has demonstrated a strong record of original and significant scholarship related to educational change. Kim’s research explores the intersections of leadership and policy, with particular focus on how leaders can challenge unjust systems and humanize practices to empower marginalized students and communities.

Katja Koehler-Cole, Nebraska Extension, received the Nebraska Achievement Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. The award is presented to extension professionals with less than 10 years of service. Koehler-Cole is a statewide soil health management Extension educator focusing on teaching and researching soil health and regenerative agricultural practices. Koehler-Cole also serves as the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education state co-coordinator, helping to raise awareness of sustainable agriculture resources.

Matt Kreifels, associate professor of practice in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, was recently honored by the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council with the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute’s Award of Merit during a special luncheon at the Nebraska East Union. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture oversees NAYC and NAYI. 

Tierney Lorenz, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, received a Rising Star Award from the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, the preeminent scientific organization in their field. Lorenz's research examines the interaction between mental, physical and sexual health.

Glennis McClure, Extension educator, earned the National Search for Excellence Award in Farm and Ranch Business Management from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents for developing “It’s as Easy as ABC – Figuring Cost of Production Using the Agricultural Budget Calculator Program,” a unique enterprise budgeting tool that offers a suite of risk management decision tools with educational and technical support provided by extension educators.

Peter McCornick, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska and biological systems engineering, received the Sukup Global Food Security Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The award recognizes enhancement of food security by innovative engineering or the application of engineering in the production and distribution of food, including the storage and handling of grains, oilseeds and other food products.

Wayne Ohnesorg, Nebraska Extension, received the Nebraska Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. The award honors extension professionals with more than 10 years of service who have conducted outstanding programs and are held in high esteem by their fellow workers.

Husker Athletics’ Creative and Emerging Media team won a Heartland Emmy for “The Place” docuseries episode “92,003: Volleyball Day in Nebraska.” 

Appointments

Alisha Baginski, assistant professor, joined the Libraries’ Digital Strategies team as the Digital Stewardship Librarian on May 20. Baginski most recently served as the interim director of digital curation and digitization projects coordinator at History Nebraska. Prior to that, Baginski held appointments or had internships with the Nebraska Library Commission, the Omaha Public Library, and museums in Indiana and Nebraska. Baginski received her Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis in 2020.

Melissa Gomis, associate professor of practice, has been appointed the new chair of the Collections Strategy and Open Scholarship unit within the University Libraries, effective Aug. 1. In her new role, Gomis will lead the unit’s efforts to build, develop and coordinate content and collections activities and open scholarly publishing. Gomis joined the Libraries in 2020 as a teaching and learning librarian with a focus on online learning and affordable content. She has a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jenny Rees, Extension educator, was selected as the vice chair for the North Central Region in Agronomy and Pest Management at the 109th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference of the National Association of County Agriculture Agents. 

Jay Storz, Willa Cather Professor of biological sciences, was elected as a Fellow to the Explorers Club for his research in the South American Andes. Established in 1904, the Explorers Club is a multidisciplinary society dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation.