Northern Illinois University Presents: The STEAM Studio

Science shapes our everyday lives, but understanding it often feels out of reach. In this episode, science communicator Jessica Burgess joins the NIU STEAM Podcast to explore why effective STEM communication matters and how complex topics can be made accessible to everyone.

Drawing from her experiences as a marine biologist, zookeeper, educator, museum professional, and outreach leader at Argonne National Laboratory, Jessica discusses the challenges scientists face when communicating with public audiences. The conversation examines the impact of jargon, the importance of storytelling, and why enthusiasm and audience-centered communication are key to sparking curiosity.

This episode also explores science literacy, misinformation, emerging technologies like quantum computing and AI, and the growing need for STEM communication that helps people connect new ideas to what they already know. Jessica shares how her work through STEM Translation Company is helping researchers, educators, and organizations bridge the gap between expertise and understanding.

Whether you're a STEM professional, educator, student, or simply curious about science, this episode offers valuable insights into making science more engaging, approachable, and meaningful for all

Step behind the curtain and discover the remarkable blend of creativity, engineering, technology, and problem-solving that brings theatrical magic to life. In this fascinating episode of the NIU Steam Podcast hosts Charles & April welcome renowned theater technologist, educator, and entrepreneur Tracy Nunnally for an illuminating conversation about the science behind stage effects. From flying performers safely through the air to designing complex automation systems, Tracy reveals how mathematics, physics, and innovation power some of the most unforgettable moments in live entertainment.

Listeners will gain exclusive insight into Tracy's unique journey from studying mathematics during the dawn of the computer age to becoming a nationally recognized expert in theatrical rigging and special effects. As a faculty member and technical director in the School of Theater and Dance at NIU, and owner of Vertigo, Tracy shares how engineering principles and creative thinking intersect to solve challenges that many consider impossible. His stories demonstrate that behind every breathtaking stage illusion lies careful planning, precision, and a deep understanding of science and technology.

The conversation also explores the extraordinary growth of Vertigo, a company that has evolved into a global leader in flying effects, custom automation, and theatrical engineering. From Broadway-style productions and holiday classics to international projects and cutting-edge anti-gravity simulations, Tracy offers a captivating look at the innovations shaping modern performance. Along the way, he highlights the importance of collaboration, risk management, and the relentless pursuit of creative solutions.

Whether you're a student, educator, artist, engineer, or simply curious about how spectacular stage moments come to life, this episode delivers inspiring insights into the power of STEAM education and interdisciplinary thinking.

Join us as we explore how imagination, technology, and human ingenuity combine to make the impossible possible, and don't miss Tracy's upcoming STEAM Cafe presentation on October 7th at Fatty's Pub and Grill, 630 P.m. where he'll bring even more behind-the-scenes magic to the conversation.

In this episode of the NIU STEAM Podcast, we dig into one of Illinois' most iconic yet often overlooked landscapes: the prairie. Ahead of the upcoming Tuesday, September 8th STEAM Café event at Lucha Cantina, titled Snacking on Sustainability, host discussions feature Courtney Gallagher, Director of Campus Sustainability at Northern Illinois University, and Holly Hanson, Community Engagement Manager at Wild Roots Nature Center.

The conversation explores why Illinois is known as the Prairie State and how more than 99% of the state's original prairie habitat has disappeared due to agriculture, urban development, and changing land use. Today, organizations across Illinois are working to restore these ecosystems, bringing back native plants, improving wildlife habitat, and creating opportunities for community engagement.

Learn about two exciting restoration projects. Wild Roots Nature Center is transforming a 169-acre former golf course in Rockford into thriving prairie habitat, while NIU is preparing to convert 40 to 45 acres of campus green space into native prairie. Both projects aim to improve biodiversity, strengthen local waterways connected to the Kishwaukee River system, and create spaces where students, families, and community members can experience nature firsthand.

The episode highlights the ecological importance of prairies, from carbon sequestration and flood mitigation to supporting pollinators such as monarch butterflies and the endangered rusty patched bumblebee. Courtney and Holly explain how prairie plants invest most of their growth underground, creating deep root systems that enrich soil, store carbon, and improve water infiltration.

Join us September 8th at Lucha Cantina for STEAM Café: Snacking on Sustainability and learn how prairie restoration is helping create a healthier, more resilient future for our communities. SCAN QR NOW

Discover how a simple farm invention helped shape DeKalb's future. In this episode, Charles Lansberg sits down with Jesse Haish LaRue, Executive Director of the Glidden Homestead, to explore the story of Joseph Glidden, the invention of barbed wire, and the lasting impact local innovators had on building the community we know today. Learn about the historic Glidden Homestead, the origins of NIU, and why preserving local history continues to matter.

Featured Event

NIU STEAM Café at the Glidden Homestead Experience local history where it happened and explore the birthplace of an invention that changed the world.

"History happened here, and its story continues to inspire future generations."

Registration: https://niu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b87E9co37bNgxQq

Glidden Homestead website: https://www.gliddenhomestead.org/

Burritoville: https://burritovilleil.com/

In this episode of the STEAM Studio Podcast, host April Startzel sits down with Michael Corvino, lead instructor of NIU’s summer film production camp, to explore what makes this fast-paced, creative program so impactful.

Michael shares his unique dual role at NIU supporting technology across campus while teaching audio and video production. Michael explains how those experiences shaped the film camp he’s helped lead for over a decade.

In this episode of the Steam Studio Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Melissa Adams Campbell, professor of English at Northern Illinois University, to explore how literature, creativity, and technology collide in her innovative Monsters and Makers upcoming summer camp.

Dr. Melissa Adams Campbell (NIU) shares how her Monsters and Makers camp blends Frankenstein, hands-on bookmaking, and digital design to explore creativity, ethics, and emerging technologies like AI. From printing presses to collaborative monster-building, discover how students read, create, and reimagine what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.

In this episode, we hear from students in DeKalb High School’s Environmental Club as they reflect on their experience in the NIU STEAM Innovation Challenge. Just weeks after competing, they share how they created a solution to reduce microplastics in agriculture by designing a biodegradable seed coating made from chitosan.

Working outside of a traditional classroom, the team balanced busy schedules, met after school and at the library, and completed most of their project in a fast-paced final stretch. Their approach was entirely research-driven, relying on scientific literature and real-world examples rather than hands-on experimentation.

The conversation highlights what made their experience unique, including their focus on a locally relevant problem in a farming community, their flexible and collaborative workflow, and the challenges of limited time and resources. Students also reflect on what they would improve, such as starting earlier, exploring more creative presentation formats, and connecting with industry mentors.

More broadly, this episode showcases how the Innovation Challenge helps students move beyond classroom learning to solve real-world problems, build teamwork skills, and see the impact of science in action.

In this episode, Romeoville students share their award-winning experience at the NIU STEAM Innovation Challenge, where they earned first and third place by tackling antibiotic resistance and microplastic pollution.

They discuss how understanding the problem, conducting research, and refining ideas led to innovative solutions, while also highlighting the importance of teamwork, time management, and persistence. Students reflect on the challenges of making ideas both scientifically sound and financially feasible, and how they learned to communicate and market their concepts effectively.

The conversation also reveals the critical role of mentorship and the value of connecting student innovation with real world industry insight. As these students move forward into careers in medicine, engineering, and business, they remain driven by one core belief: ideas fuel innovation and create future opportunities.

In this episode of the NIU STEAM Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Duckett, Director of the Black Studies Program at Northern Illinois University, to explore Black history through a global lens and to spotlight the upcoming Sankofa Summer Institute: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future.

Dr. Duckett shares her journey in Black Studies, discusses the importance of pre colonial African history, and explains how culture, music, movement, and symbolism carry knowledge across generations. We dive into what makes this summer camp a unique, hands on, immersive experience and why it is open and meaningful for students of all backgrounds.

In this STEAM Studio Podcast episode, we spotlight the impact, innovation, and people behind NIU STEAM Camps. Host conversations with NIU STEAM educator Jess Winn and NIU student counselor Erin Lauer offer an inside look at how the camps inspire K–12 students, build confidence, and create lasting connections to STEAM disciplines and the NIU campus. Through personal stories, program insights, and practical information for families, this episode demonstrates why NIU STEAM Camps are a successful, sustainable model for precollegiate engagement and Husky recruitment.