NIU Today

Having a blast playing Pokémon Go this summer? Curious to learn how it works? NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming will examine the phenomenon during a “one-day, fun-day” from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, in Room 100 of the Campus Life Building. The event will explore topics about geography, GIS...

Don’t miss the astronomical light show of the year! Join NIU STEM Outreach Thursday, Aug. 11, at the Bliss Creek Golf Course in Sugar Grove for “Star Gazing,” a STEM Café event devoted to the dazzling Perseid meteor shower. The free event starts at 6:30 p.m with a buffet of pizza, pasta, salad and soft...

Longtime NIU chemistry chair Jon Carnahan died Wednesday at his home in Sycamore. He was 60. A well-loved fixture, Carnahan worked in the NIU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for 33 years and had served as department chair since 2006. His passion was working with students. He served as research adviser for 22 Doctor of...

While the summer might be a respite for some members of the community, it’s Lise Schlosser’s time to shine. As office manager in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming, many of her behind-the-scenes efforts take center stage this time of year. “My job provides me the opportunity to work hard, learn more...

Is the day coming when knowledge of the genetics behind human diseases will point the way to cures? At the next STEM Café – “The Human Blueprint” – NIU associate professor of biology Rick Johns will explore the latest scientific understanding of how genes relate to medical conditions. Johns then will describe the challenge of...

Three Northern Illinois University student-athletes were among a select group of 200 NCAA student-athletes chosen to attend the 2016 NCAA Career in Sports Forum held the first weekend of June in Indianapolis. Participants at the annual educational forum learn about and explore potential careers in sports. Among nearly 1,000 applicants from every level of collegiate...

Imagine getting lost in your own home or neighborhood. Imagine feeling disoriented, unsure of where you are or how you got there. For individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders or trauma – and more Americans than ever are diagnosed with these conditions each year – this “spatial disorientation” can be a daily occurrence and...

In the world of contemporary American poetry, NIU English Professor Amy Newman is a shining star. That might seem like a bold statement, but it’s easy to back up. Her numerous awards, five books and more than 250 poems, often published in top journals or magazines, speak volumes. Her feminist revision of Allen Ginsberg’s famous...

NIU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming is spreading the word on two cool Academic Summer Day Camp options for students entering sixth- through eighth-grades. Applications can be filled out online; a $25 discount is available to NIU employees. For more information, call (815) 753-5200 or email LASEP@niu.edu. Creative Writing Day Camp July...

NIU’s Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Studies will host an upcoming public lecture delivered by renowned cancer researcher Channing Der. Der is considered one of the world’s leading experts on the RAS family of oncogenes and their role in driving cancer-cell growth. He serves as the Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology at the...

NIU’s Office of Student Engagement & Experiential Learning hosted a brown bag colloquia series this semester to showcase the work of students who achieved success in their independent research, artistry or civic engagement projects. The colloquia series wrapped up with presentations from four undergraduate students. Senior Jessica Sandlund from Community Leadership and Civic Engagement discussed...

Victor V. Ryzhov, recipient of the 2016 David Raymond Technology in Teaching award, will present “Incorporation of Virtual Labs into Analytical Chemistry Curriculum” from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 9, in Altgeld Hall 125. Ryzhov, an associate professor in the NIU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will explore a typical issue for large...