NIU STEAM

Through an NIU partnership, middle school students took the lead on a professional design project, building essential employability skills. Thank you, Custom Aluminum Products, Inc., for making this a memorable experience for our students!
Read More: https://niutoday.info/2026/07/28/through-an-niu-partnership-middle-school-students-took-the-lead-on-a-professional-design-project-building-essential-employability-skills/

Last week, campers were able to take part with aquifer testing wells that are used for research by Dr. Megan Brown. Dr. Brown is a professor with the Department of the Earth, Atmosphere and Environment (EAE) studying microplastics in our waterways. She demonstrated the tools and techniques of sampling to our campers.

STEAM Cafe is back with "Innovation and Local History: The Glidden Homestead!"

On Aug. 19, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Glidden Homestead Museum (921 W. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL, 60115) Executive Director, Jessi Haish LaRue, will talk about the story of the Glidden Homestead.

After learning why Joseph Glidden had a need for barbed wire and how he created a new, transformative version, guests will tour the historic barn and see the latest updates in its restoration progress.

Don’t miss this chance to dig into DeKalb’s historical roots in agricultural innovation! Feel free to bring lawn chairs or blankets to this outdoor event. The Burrito Ville food truck will be on-site as well! Thank you Burritoville!
Register here: https://niu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b87E9co37bNgxQq

NIU STEAM appreciates the generous donation and support from the staff at Country Village Meats! Students enrolled in the health and medicine careers camp were able to have an enriched experience learning about conditions that affect vision by performing a dissection with their donation.

Calling all middle and high school educators!

The FREE 2026–27 NASA TechRise Student Challenge opens this September for student teams in grades 6–12.

Students can submit an experiment idea to fly on a high-altitude balloon as part of a NASA-sponsored mission. Winning teams receive $1,500, technical support, and the opportunity to test their experiment on a sponsored flight.

Learn more! https://www.futureengineers.org/nasatechrise

Register Now!https://festagestorage.blob.core.windows.net/nasatechrise2026/files/evergreennasatechriseflyer.pdf

Future Engineers :: NASA TechRise Challenge The NASA TechRise Student Challenge empowers teams of sixth to 12th-grade students to design, build, and launch experiments on flights aboard commercial suborbital vehicles. Guided by an educator, student teams affiliated with U.S. public, private, and charter schools can submit experiment...

Free AI STEM workshop for STEM educators! Join Argonne National Laboratory and the College of DuPage for an interactive AI STEM Learning Mini Jam designed specifically for STEM educators and academic leaders. This hands-on learning experience will put you in the role of a learner as you explore AI as a scientific assistant, collaborate with fellow educators, and discover practical ways to incorporate AI into STEM teaching and learning. Preparing an AI-ready workforce begins with empowering the educators who shape future talent.
REGISTER NOW: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=haH8DPcl40mK53BNUybihbX_72ge5b5Gq58W-HvnyW1URExBTlQxUVNGUzFFNFFWN1YyTzlXQ1NTRi4u&route=shorturl

NIU STEAM was at the WNIJ sponsored Familia Fest this past weekend running the STEAM Robot Soccer event! Participants utilized 3D printed chariots and Spheros which were controlled by iPads to get their game on!

Campers participating in NIU STEAM's Science Detectives: Forensic Analysis learned how to evaluate evidence collected at crime scenes. They mixed simulated blood samples with serum to determine a suspect's blood type, used real DNA evidence to compare individuals, and were able to view bullet fragments and investigation photos from a real crime scene with coroner Linda Besler. While visiting the DeKalb County Coroner’s office they also had the option to tour the morgue.

NIU STEAM’s Energy Innovators: Green Energy Engineering Camp has been busy this week visiting the CAPER prairie and learning how the biodiverse ecosystem of native prairies can positively affect the amount of energy used within a home. Visiting Members of the ComEd Energy Efficiency and Power of STEM Programs taught how electricity is delivered to residential homes and what occurs system-wide when demand for energy increases during those hot summer days.

Trying herbs in the garden and then conducting a taste test with them as new pop tart fillings, using Glo-Germ to teach proper hand washing, and taking a break to play soccer are just some of the activities at NIU STEAM Camp's Snacks: Food & Fun program!