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Huskie Trek Talks: Ideas in Motion

Huskie Trek Talks showcases the bold, interdisciplinary work of NIU faculty and students who are driving innovation, research and artistry across campus. Their stories reflect NIU’s commitment to building a better, more equitable future—one idea at a time.

Each year, presenters demonstrate how their innovative projects address pressing challenges in healthcare, environmental sustainability, community engagement and more. The NIU Foundation Board of Directors awards funding to outstanding projects, advancing research that makes meaningful impact.

Read more about the Huskie Trek Talks event.

Watch the full program

2026 Featured Videos

The 2026 Trek Talk event was held on April 18, 2026. For more information, see our complete list of presenters. 

Listening smarter: NIU researchers are building an AI-powered stethoscope

When her toddler struggled to breathe, NIU engineering professor Lichuan Liu turned fear into innovation—leading a student-powered team developing an AI-powered stethoscope to help in detection of respiratory illness.

Designing plastics that disappear: NIU students reimagine a sustainable future

Inside NIU’s Bioplastics Lab, students are transforming crop waste, soy protein and even household lint into sustainable materials—designing products that can be thrown away and truly go away, without harming the planet.

2025 Featured Videos

The 2025 Trek Talk event was held on March 1, 2025. For more information, see our complete list of presenters. 

Invisible Threats, Visible Solutions and Microplastics Research

Professor Melissa Lenczewski, Ph.D., and her team use laser technology to research microplastics and their impact worldwide on groundwater and the environment.

Step-by-Step on How AI-Powered Gait Analysis is Transforming Autism Screening

Ziteng Wang, Ph.D., associate professor of industrial and systems engineering, leads a team testing an app that uses gait analysis to assess a child’s likelihood of autism.

2024 Featured Videos

The 2024 Trek Talk event was held on May 3, 2024. For more information, see our complete list of presenters.