Outreach
Haunted Physics Laboratory and STEMfest
The Department of Physics holds an annual Haunted Physics Laboratory (HPL)as part of the NIU STEMfest. This tradition began in 2003, and was originally located at Faraday Hall on the DeKalb campus of Northern Illinois University. Due to its overwhelming popularity, HPL was expanded in 2010 to include other STEM disciplines and became the backbone of STEMfest, which is located at NIU's Convocation Center. The HPL and related LaserFest displays are still some of the most popular parts of STEMfest which is still held in late October each year. Check the STEMfest website for this year's date and parking information. The event remains a free, family event.
NIU
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Outreach can bring 25-100 of the interactive physics displays that
were developed for the Haunted Physics Labs to your school for a
day-long or evening event. Billed as Physics Phun Labs, except near
Halloween when they are still recognized as Haunted Physics Labs, these
investigations are sure to intrigue students from kindergarten through
high school.
NIU's
popular and dynamic physics demonstration programs for students
in kindergarten through high school can be customized for each audience
by choosing themes and concepts that reflect the materials currently
being covered in class. Demonstrations using liquid nitrogen, plasma
globes, strong magnets, lasers and diffraction-lensed rainbow glasses
among many other intriguing demos excite students as they bring physics
concepts to life.
To arrange to bring either the Hands-on Physics or Frontier Physics programs to your school or community contact Jeremy Benson, STEM Outreach Associate
Bringing your students to campus or bringing NIU Physics faculty or students to your classroom
STEM Outreach can assist with arrangements for campus visits in any
of the STEM fields and in arranging for faculty or students to visit
your classroom.
Professional Development
Whether you are looking for ways to engage your students or
increase your content knowledge, STEM Outreach can help you connect
with professional development resources at NIU.
To connect with NIU faculty in Physics or other STEM fields for visits or professional development, contact
Pati Sievert, STEM Outreach Director
Check out the STEM OUTREACH web page for an extensive list of on and off campus activities.
NIU's Davis Hall Observatory is open to the public for telescope viewing on Thursdays and Fridays when NIU is in session, and at other times by appointment. Click here for more information.
Quarknet
The Physics Department also sponsers a number of programs with high school teachers and students including the Quarknet week during the summer.
History
Particle physics faculty initiated an outreach program in 2001 which was dubbed the Frontier Physics Program to reflect the research that goes on at Fermilab and Argonne. Activities have included visits to schools and community organizations, a Haunted Physics Lab each Fall for families, a Physics Olympics for high school students in the spring, and science camps during the summer. In 2008 this program was expanded to include other science departments at NIU.
Events
STEM Summer Camps - various dates in Summer 2012. Click the link for more info and registration.
Summer Under the Stars - Free public viewing nights at NIU's Davis Hall Observatory - July 25 and August 4, 2012.
STEMfest - Haunted Physics Lab - October 20, 2012