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Tag: STEM Cafes
Why do golf balls have dimples? How do Newton’s laws of motion impact your drive off the first tee? At the next STEM Café, NIU Physics Department Chair and golf enthusiast Larry Lurio will explain what science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can teach us about golf––and what golf can teach us about STEM. NIU...
By now everyone has heard about the frightening problems with lead-polluted water in Flint, Michigan. But exactly how did the problems come about? And how can similar health risks be detected or prevented here in Illinois? At the next STEM Café, two NIU faculty members will dissect what went wrong in Flint and will discuss...
Perseid Meteor Shower
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...
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...
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...
Our robots are getting smarter. Should we be excited or scared? At the next STEM Café, “RoboRevolution: The Future of Sentient Machines at Home and in the Workplace,” two NIU thinkers will explore the many ways cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence are changing our lives. The free talk and discussion will be held from 6:30...
What if our cars could help save the environment? At the next STEM Café, “Renewable Nation: How Hybrid Cars and Smart Grids Will Change America,” NIU assistant professor Kevin Martin will explain how technology could transform vehicles from gas guzzlers into key components of a smarter, more sustainable power system. The free talk and discussion...
The April 9 tornado near Franklin Grove, Ill. Photo courtesy Walker Ashley, NIU Department of Geography
All DeKalb-area residents can remember the violent and deadly tornado that tore through Rochelle and Fairdale last April, leveling houses and trees in its path. At the next STEM Café, “Tornado Tracking: How Meteorologists Predict and Pursue Storms,” NIU associate professor Walker Ashley will tell the story of how he forecast and chased the tornado....
Matt Streb
At the next STEM Café, “Predicting the Primaries: How Math Shapes Presidential Elections,” Department of Political Science Chair Matt Streb will explore the nitty-gritty of election polls, discussing how they work, how they are analyzed and how they can affect outcomes. The free talk and discussion will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday,...
Photo of a robot
For years, humankind has thought of capable, intelligent robots as the stuff of science fiction, from the friendly droids of “Star Wars” to the mechanical overlords of “The Matrix.” In fact, smart robots are already all around us – with more coming every day. The ongoing invasion of robots into our everyday lives is the...
Last fall, the automobile industry and eco-minded consumers were rocked by the revelation that Volkswagen had intentionally manipulated sensors in its cars – 11 million in all – to beat emissions tests, letting their diesel engines spew illegally high amounts of harmful nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere. At the next STEM Café, two NIU professors...
Still looking for that perfect gift for a child you know? Something exciting, hands-on, and educational for a budding inventor? Something they will remember for years to come? Northern Illinois University’s STEM Outreach has gift options ready for you – a diverse new schedule of STEM Saturday classes designed to get young people fired up...
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