U-46 hosts kickoff events at libraries for annual STEM Expo

Elgin Area School District U-46 will host four kickoff events at local libraries in October and November to prepare students and families for the 2020 STEM Expo.

The annual expo is scheduled for Feb. 22 at Streamwood High School, 701 W. Schaumburg Road, Streamwood. It is geared toward kindergarten through 12th-grade students and celebrates STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning.

At each kickoff event, students will be able to engage with cutting-edge technologies, experiment with next-generation science and observe live chemistry and physics demonstrations. Activities are designed to help students brainstorm project ideas they will showcase at the expo.

"The kickoff events are designed for students to explore their natural curiosities," said Deb McMullen, U-46 coordinator of K-12 science and planetarium. "We encourage the students to learn through hands-on interaction and to share their learning experiences with their family and peers."

Kickoff events are free and open to the public with no advance registration required. They will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the following dates:

•Wednesday, Poplar Creek Public Library, 1405 S. Park Ave., Streamwood

•Oct. 10, Bartlett Public Library, 800 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett

•Nov. 6, Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin

•Nov. 7, Gail Borden Public Library Rakow Branch, 2751 W. Bowes Road, Elgin

Students need not be enrolled in a U-46 school to participate in the STEM Expo. They will present their projects to peers, family and community members for critiquing at the expo.