Northern Illinois University Hosts 16th Annual STEM Fest on Sept. 20

Northern Illinois University (NIU) will welcome visitors to its 16th annual STEM Fest on September 20, 2023, in DeKalb. The festival is set to run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., showcasing a blend of past, present, and future technology. Events will take place across multiple venues, including the NIU Holmes Student Center, Swen Parson Hall, MLK Commons, and the Founders Memorial Library.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on activities. Participants can launch weather balloons, build electrical circuits, drive robots, and explore innovative technologies such as “air drawing.” Additionally, an educational web game will allow visitors to apply mathematical concepts in a fun and interactive way.

One of the highlights of the festival is a demonstration by NIU alumnus J.A. Allen, Ed.D., focusing on how cartoon-based learning models can facilitate the communication of complex ideas.

Exploring the BookLab

The festival will introduce a unique BookLab, a hands-on space dedicated to exploring the evolution of books, their technology, history, and future. Visitors can learn about the workings of a replica of the Common Press and delve into the historical significance of lead type. Activities in the BookLab will include playdough cuneiform writing and the use of smaller BookBeetle printing presses.

Commenting on the significance of the BookLab, Nicole Clifton, a professor of English at NIU, stated, “The BookLab is an exploration of the past, present, and future of writing. How did writing happen before computers or phones? Even though the printing press is different from our current digital technology, you can see how typesetting from several hundred years ago still influences our digital books and word processing today.”

Innovative Technologies and Student Engagement

Attendees will also have the chance to explore modern technologies featured in the NIU Office of Innovation’s 71 North Partnership Studio. Here, they can experience educational video games, view demonstrations of virtual reality technology by NIU students, and learn about various methods to communicate complex ideas.

Federico Bassetti, the assistant director of innovation ecosystem development, emphasized the festival’s diverse offerings. “We’re hosting a range of different hands-on activities that show how technologies from writing to video games to virtual reality technology help people communicate,” he noted.

Students from several organizations, including the NIU Innovation Club, the Burmese Student Group, and Indie Game Developers, will share their knowledge and expertise throughout the event. NIU Huskieverse students will showcase various virtual reality simulations developed as part of their coursework. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to write Burmese characters through interactive sessions hosted by the Burmese Student Group.

Another anticipated feature of the festival is a mobile workshop by Meta, titled “Be Pro Be Proud.” This workshop will include virtual reality simulations related to skilled trades such as robotics, welding, and plumbing, offering attendees a glimpse into potential career paths.

For more information about the event, interested participants can visit go.niu.edu/stemfest. The STEM Fest promises to be an engaging and educational experience for attendees of all ages, highlighting the intersection of technology, education, and creativity.