Public Events
STEMfest Northern Illinois Science and Engineering Festival
STEMfest is NIU STEM Outreach's largest public outreach event, held annually in October. Please visit the STEMfest website for information on this year's event!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
NIU’s Haunted Physics Laboratory has been a big hit on the road as well as on the DeKalb campus of NIU since 2003. Responding to a Halloween theme each October, children and adults alike play with nearly 100 interactive displays which capture the essence of physical science concepts. NIU's Haunted Physics Lab, Creepy Chemistry, and Spooky Science Saturday are names we have used as we expanded the fun from physics to more science disciplines. All of these are now part of STEMfest. Please visit the STEMfest web site for information on this year's event.
NIU’s Physics Phun Lab is a similar program without the “haunted” theme. Bringing either Lab to your school can generate community- wide interest in science as you recruit parent and high school volunteers to make it happen. Contact us for additional information on bringing one of these programs to your community or for workshops on developing your own hands-on science experience. A basic fee of $2,000 covers 75 interactive displays set up at your location for a four hour, open-house style event. In October 2010 we are collaborated with the AAUW Chapters in Aurora and Naperville for an event titled Science Spooktacular for 4th and 5th grade girls in their area.
STEM Faculty or Student Visits to your school can be arranged through the NIU STEM Outreach Office. Options may include STEM faculty or graduate student volunteers speaking about their research, undergraduate students relating their latest success in an engineering competition, discussion of STEM careers, or other topics of interest. This could either be in the classroom, or a community event. Please call 815-753-1201 to make arrangements. It is best to allow approximately three weeks to arrange a visit. (No fee)
Family STEM Nights
Hosting a “Family Night” in any of the STEM fields? Contact NIU STEM Outreach to arrange for researchers to share their passion for their work and outreach volunteers with hands-on activities to participate. Fees for Family STEM Night support range from minimal for student volunteers to bring interactive displays to fees related to the scope of NIU STEM Outreach’s involvement.