Below is a list of panels that have been approved and are in preliminary scheduling (Schedule is subject to change). We are still reviewing some submissions and are still accepting submissions for ConStellation 15.
Below is a list of panels that have been approved and are scheduled. We are still accepting submissions for ConStellation 15. If you have a panel to submit at the convention let the Operations department know so we can get equipment needs for the panel and make sure it gets scheduled and announced.
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Convention Panels
Opening Ceremonies - Friday 6PM-7PM, Altair
Come join us for opening ceremonies where we will introduce the guests we have for you this year and go over some of the great things we have this weekend.
Guest Q&A - Friday 8PM-9PM, Altair
Come learn about our guests this year, ask them questions, and put them on the spot!
Graye Muir-Lewis Memorial Art Jam - Saturday 2PM-4PM, Nebula Bazaar
Are you an artist? Do you just like to draw, but don't want to do so alone? Come to the Artist Jam and gather with others to just draw, sketch, and just generally "art".
Cosplay Prejudging - Saturday 2PM-3PM, Vega
This is where the contestants will meet with the judges and answer questions before the contest portion.
Cosplay Contest - Saturday 4PM-5PM, Vega
Come support and cheer on your favorite cosplayers as they show off their crafting and performance skills and compete for a number of prizes! Do you want to compete yourself? Be sure to check-in with cosplay contest staff by applying ahead of time online, or on Friday or Saturday morning for last minute signups.
Art Auction - Saturday 7PM-10PM, Altair
Described by Hugo Award-winning artist John Picacio as a "three-hour fever dream," nothing surpasses the amazement and glory of the art auction. Come to bid or come to watch! You could loose your shirt for a good cause, or buy someone else's! ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN!
Closing Ceremonies - Sunday 4PM-5PM, Altair
All good things must come to an end. Come and wrap up the convention with us, discuss some of the best of times you had, and find out about the future years.
Guest of Honor Panels
Chris McKitterick Reading - Friday 7PM-8PM, Altair
Chris McKitterick
Chris McKitterick will read some of his works.
Amazing Stories: The 100th Birthday of Science Fiction - Saturday 12PM-1PM, Vega
Mike Page
100 years ago, the first issue of the first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories, was published. Thus, Science Fiction was born! Dr. Page will examine those first issues and discuss Hugo Gernsback and the pioneering authors he published.
Ad Astra Universe-ity - Saturday 4PM-5PM, Altair
Chris McKitterick, Jalyn Fiske
How a little nonprofit institute intends to offer a comprehensive speculative fiction education on par with a university MFA degree - and make it accessible to everyone looking to better understand, teach, and create SF.
Star Trek Countdown: 60 Years of the Original Series - Saturday 5PM-6PM, Altair
Mike Page
Star Trek at 60! Dr. Page will share his episode-by-episode rankings of Star Trek The Original Series, focusing on the Top Ten, the Bottom Five, and some of his favorites in between.
Acrylic Painting Demo with Theresa Mather - Sunday 6PM-7PM, Deneb
Theresa Mather
Watch Artist Guest of Honor Theresa Mather create fantastic scenes and creatures with acrylic paint.
Ad Astra! James Gunn, Chris McKitterick, and beyond! - Sunday 12PM-1PM, Altair
Kij Johnson, Chris McKitterick
Starting with Grand Master James Gunn, Kansas has been a nexus for SF writing and scholarship. Learn about the latest iteration of his legacy, the Ad Astra Institute, and what we're doing.
Why Publish My Story Collection As a Hybrid Writing Guide (with Tips and Guidance for Self-Publishing Your Own Book) - Sunday 2PM-3PM, Altair
Chris McKitterick, Jalyn Fiske
ConStellation 15 Writer GOH Chris McKitterick shares his experience putting together, funding, and publishing an innovative new book his writing students have been asking - and doing it in time for the convention. He'll also talk about what he learned to help others avoid the challenges he faced along the way.
Chris McKitterick's TRANSCENDENCE, A Critical Analysis and Discussion - Sunday 3PM-4PM, Altair
Mike Page
This presentation will discuss GOH Chris McKitterick's novel TRANSCENDENCE and some of his other fiction.
Submitted Panels
I’m An Editor: Ask Me Anything - Friday 3PM-5PM, Vega
Jessica Gryphon
Have you ever wanted to work with an editor but couldn’t afford one or even find one? Well, here’s your chance! With a bachelor’s degree in English & Communication, Minor in History, Jessica Gryphon has 17 years of experience working as both a professional editor and writer of science-fiction and fantasy novels. Her poetry and blog articles have been featured in Worldbuilding Magazine, The Adventist Review, and the online worldbuilding platform, World Anvil, where she was the co-winner of the 2021 Hero’s Journey Writing Contest. She also works as a ghostwriter, graphic designer, and web designer while crafting her own upcoming novels about vampires, elves, dragons, and one very evil unicorn. Ask her anything from beginner writing tips to how to achieve the ultimate writing dream: getting published!
Collecting Weird Tales, Conversing with Derleth (13+) - Friday 5PM-6PM, Vega
Todd Sandsted, Robert Stock
Robert Stock was a Professor of English at UNL from 1967-2015. Dr. Stock tells what it was like to be a fan of speculative fiction in the 1950s, recounts his correspondence and meeting with August Derleth, co-founder of Arkham House, and shows the Weird Tales magazines he has collected for almost 70 years.
Tell Tales: Bards Wanted! - Friday 5PM-6PM, Deneb
Lisa & Ella Montoya
Come and play story telling games with us! Learn about and explore some of the story and poetry games we have collected.
Intro to 3d printing - Friday 7PM-8PM, Deneb
Seth Swanson
For fun, for cosplay, for utility. 3d printing is more useful and easier than ever. If you've ever wanted to learn what you'd need to dip a toe in, this is the panel for you.
Music in Science Fiction - Friday 8PM-9PM, Vega
Keith Strehle
Through the ages the music in science fiction movies, shows and programs has been unique and memorable.
Klingon Jeopardy - Friday 9PM-11PM, Vega
IKV Raptor's Heart
Star Trek Jeopardy ran by Klingons you get a question right you get treats, get a question wrong and you get the business end of a pain stick.
Conquering the Tyranny of the Blank Page (15+) - Friday 9PM-11PM, Deneb
Patricia Scott
Patricia Scott will guide you through the process of creating a "magic" idea generator to help you avoid staring at a blank page. Everyone in the group will walk away with an idea generator of their very own. She will also share some writing tips she's learned over the years. Please be sure to bring a notebook and pen/something to use for note taking. This panel is being limited to 15-20 people.
Mastering Your Dungeon - Friday 11PM-12AM Saturday, Vega
Seth Swanson
Whether you're a forever DM or looking at running your first game we all have things we can learn from each other. Bring your best tricks and tools of the trade for running a good game.
The Best of Science Fiction in Anime (13+) - Saturday 12AM-1AM, Vega
Gavin Donaldson
The anime medium has a long history of drawing from Science Fiction traditions, and I'll be sharing clips and analysis from anime titles that exemplify genres such as Space Opera, Steampunk, Dystopia, and Cyberpunk. And of course, as per the Rules of Anime, there will be giant robots.
Writing Is An Ocean: How Not to Drown - Saturday 10AM-12PM, Deneb
Jessica Gryphon
So you want to write a book? Great! But where to begin? And right there is usually where people get stuck. But, as Douglas Adams once wrote in large, friendly letters: DON’T PANIC. Consider this class your must-have life preserver as you brave the wild oceans of writing advice.
Price is $20 for convention attendees and $25 for non-attendees.
Are We Alone in the Universe? - Saturday 11AM-12PM, Vega
Dr. Daniel Claes
Enrico Fermi enjoyed posing interesting questions which were often difficult to impossible to answer directly, but amenable to rough approximations and inspired guesses. A lunchtime discussion with colleagues about "Are We Alone?" (or as he put it, "Where is Everybody?") led to speculations now known as Fermi's Paradox. We will discuss how recent findings feed into Fermi's calculations and consider the conclusions.
Craft In with the Yarn Guild - Sunday 12AM-1PM, Deneb
Yarn Guild of Lincoln
Join us to work on projects, learn a new technique, and get to know you better. We will have crafts available for children who are accompanied by a parent as well.
The Wheel of Mortality Returns! - Saturday 1PM-2PM, Altair
Nebraska Swordfighter's Guild
A medieval weapon edutainment extravaganza! Come spin the Wheel of Mortality and learn how various medieval weapons were used against each other! Can swords cut through armor? How does a spear work against a dagger? What's the best way to fight a knight? All these questions and more will be answered by the demo team from the Nebraska Swordfighter's Guild. So step right up! Give the wheel a spin, and prepare to be entertained!
Fandom and Fiber - Sunday 1PM-2PM, Vega
Yarn Guild of Lincoln
Come learn about how yarn crafts and fiber can be used to develop regalia, reflect fandom, and enhance the cosplay experience.
The Long Writing Road - Our Journey So Far - Saturday 2PM-3PM, Deneb
Jessica Gryphon, Patricia Scott
Jessica Gryphon (J. L. Gryphon Books), Patricia Scott Join writer Tricia Scott and writer/editor Jessica Gryphon in a discussion about their unique writing journeys so far, their different approaches to writing, and how both the “pantser" and the "planner" embark on the long writing road headed for the Gray Havens (and hopefully not Mt. Doom).
"And he lived happily ever after until the end of his days." - Bilbo Baggins thinking up an ending for his book. Sounds good to us!
The Trouble with Woobles - Saturday 3PM-4PM, Deneb
Kyle Brown
A crocheters review of the fancy fandom crochet kits.
Who's Your Friend? The Reality of Imaginary Companions - Saturday 6PM-7PM, Vega
Susan Sarver
You know your imaginary friend is real. But don't you sometimes have doubts? Come to this presentation and learn what the research says about imaginary friends (and you). How common are they? Should we worry when our children have them? Is your cosplay really just making an imaginary friend? This will be an interactive session where you can share your experiences and, of course, bring your imaginary friend.
Competitive Reading Event using the "Eye of Argon" Reading Rules (18+) - Saturday 10PM - Sunday 1AM, Vega
Patricia Scott, Vanessa Montz, Dylan Nigh
An attempted reading of of a sci-fi/fantasy novel using the "Eye of Argon" reading rules. Once the hosts fail, we will let audience members try to give it their best shot.
Sunday morning coming down - Sunday 10AM-11AM, Vega
Keith Strehle
Come to a low key, lo-fi, safe space. Come read or just sit in an easy listening environment.
Bind a Book - Sunday 10AM-11AM, Deneb
Lisa & Ella Montoya
Come join us and create your own journal or sketchbook! We will provide the materials and teach you several methods to bind your own personal book.
Amigurumi Design - Sunday 11AM-12PM, Vega
Keith Strehle
We will talk about different ways to design your own amigurumi.
More than just D&D - Sunday 11AM-12PM, Deneb
Seth Swanson
While Dungeons and Dragons is the great granddad of the Table Top RPG world, there's a lot of different systems to play and explore and that appeal to different types of play. We're going to talk about several different options you have when you're spinning up your next game.
Comic Book Physics 101: Solar Energy as the Source of Superpowers - Sunday 12PM-1PM, Vega
Dr. Daniel Claes
Earth's sun is a primary source of Superman's powers – and the X-men’s Cyclops as well.
Visit the Riverbank with Kij! - Sunday 1PM-2PM, Altair
Kij Johnson
Kij tells us all about her amazing new cozy RPG "Riverbank" about polite animals in polite society. In Riverbank, players create animal characters who find their plans sometimes end up going a little sideways in delightful ways.
Comic Book Physics 101: Faster than Light - Sunday 1PM-2PM, Vega
Dr. Daniel Claes
Jumps to lightspeed. Warp drive. Advanced alien space ships cross intergalactic distances in a few comic panels. Superspeedsters and flying superheroes break the light speed limit all the time. Prof Dan Claes examines Einstein’s Special and General theories of relativity for loopholes around the light barrier.
Anime Name That Tune - Sunday 2PM-4PM, Deneb
Gavin Donaldson
Celebrating and enjoying opening and ending songs from anime, from the classics to the latest. I'll play some favorites, take requests, and throw out some for the audience to guess, all for fun.