NIU is stepping up efforts to boost the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills and interests of students in the region—even before they reach college age.
In previous years, various units within the university collaborated to provide energetic and popular science outreach programs to young students in the region. Now NIU Outreach is managing a new university-wide STEM Outreach program, consolidating and expanding efforts across campus.
Those efforts include traveling science demonstrations, summer science camps for high school and middle school students and a year-round program for female students designed to inspire careers in engineering.
“We’ve made a central place within the university to coordinate our efforts in the region to engage students in science, math and engineering and raise awareness among teachers, parents and community members about the importance of nurturing these skills,” said Marilyn Bellert, executive assistant to the vice president for administration and university outreach.
“Our region, state and nation need more people who are well qualified to work professionally in the STEM fields,” she added.
Pati Sievert has been named as the new STEM Outreach coordinator. She previously served as a physics instructor and as coordinator of the Frontier Physics outreach program.
Sievert will continue to coordinate regional outreach to schools and communities and develop programming for students, teachers and parents. She intends to bring science demonstrations to as many as 60 schools in the coming year.
- Tom Parisi, NIU Public Affairs