For K12 Students
STEM Experiences at UNI
From free public programs to summer day camps, there are many opportunities for K12 students to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the University of Northern Iowa.
Annual Events
Sunday at the Quarry
Annually First Sunday in October
Rock, mineral & fossil collecting; quarry field trips; programs by Geological Surveys, UNI Earth and Environmental Science Department faculty and emeritus faculty, Soil and Water District, Black Hawk Gem & Mineral Club, Iowa Flood Center, Iowa Waste Reduction Center and much more!
Sunday at the Quarry is a fun way to spend an afternoon; it is FREE and a great experience for all ages. Individuals, families, school groups, scout groups and groups of all ages-something for everyone! A great way to start Earth Science Week! Sponsored by BMC Aggregates.
Halloween House
The UNI Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society, in collaboration with students from the departments of biology, physics and earth science, host an annual Halloween House generally on the Friday before Halloween. UNI students perform Halloween-themed science demonstrations and supervise hands-on activities.
FREE and open to the public, this event provides a fun introduction to the sciences for people of all ages. Individual room doors include warnings if the activity inside includes loud noises, turning out the lights, and other warnings to make the event welcoming and inclusive to all. Best of all this is a student led campus event! Thank you UNI students!
Cedar Valley SWE Girls Conference
Cedar Valley Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Girls Conference at the University of Northern Iowa is an annual event sponsored locally by the Society of Women Engineers - Cedar Valley Section and UNI STEM Support Services. This event brings 5th to 8th grade girls to campus for a day to participate in small group activities about STEM careers. The majority of sessions are facilitated by women professional engineers and scientists. Hosting the event on campus allows use of laboratories, the Metal Casting Center and other specialized spaces. Registration is required. The registration fee covers a bag, t-shirt and lunch for each participant.
FIRST Robotics Competition Iowa Regional
FIRST Robotics Competition Iowa Regional takes place in the McLeod Center and the Dome. This event brings together 40-60 high school robotics teams for three days each spring. Teams design, build and program their robots from scratch. The game and theme changes every year and is free to attend!
Visit the Iowa FRC Website to learn more about FIRST.
State of Iowa Physics Competition
A state-wide competition for high school teams, Physics Competition includes multiple individual events. Some events require teams to pre-build a vehicle, structure or tool while others are completed completely at the event. A school may choose to compete in any number of events from one to all.
NE Iowa STEM Festivals
The Northeast Iowa Region of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, housed at the University of Northern Iowa, hosts multiple STEM festivals across NE Iowa throughout the year. These events feature exhibits by schools, nonprofits and businesses that showcase the STEM careers and opportunities in Iowa. FREE and open to the public, STEM Festivals are great family events.
Public Programs
Observatory Tours
Botanical Center
The UNI Botanical Center is open to the public for self-tours on most Monday-Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed for maintenance some Friday afternoons).
Planetarium
Visit the Observatory or Planetarium during one of the Earth & Environmental Science Department's many public programs throughout the academic year. Check the website for dates, times, and information about the shows.
Campus Preserve System
The UNI Biological Preserves are open from dawn to dusk. Both of these Biology Department facilities provide UNI students with class and research opportunities and provide recreational opportunities for the general public.
Public Lectures
Wilson Lecture
The Leland Wilson Lecture is named after the first department head of the UNI chemistry and biochemistry department. This fall event brings a professional chemist to campus to present about their research. Topics range from food science to the search for life on Mars.
Begeman Lecture
The Begeman Lecture is an annual spring lecture hosted by the UNI physics department. Past lectures have included topics as varied as understanding Alzheimer's, the science of optics and the properties of microfluidics.
Recommended STEM Websites & Resources
There are unlimited ways for undergraduates at the University of Northern Iowa to prepare for careers in STEM fields. It is never to early to begin exploring possibilities for your own future. We encourage young Iowans to do so by participating in the opportunities above.
If you are considering a STEM career, then check out the undergraduate programs that UNI has to offer. Overwhelmed by the choices? Campus visits can play an important role in finding a university that is a right fit for you. These visits include an opportunity to talk with faculty and admissions counselors who want to match YOU with the program that fits your interests and goals. Schedule a campus visit here.
About STEM Careers
O*NET STEM Career Search - provides detailed information about hundreds of STEM fields. Green careers and growing careers are easy to identify (green leaf, yellow sun). Learn about the every day tasks, technology and tools used, required knowledge and skills, and much more about each career. O*NET is a great site to begin a career search; each career is linked to related careers and is described in detail. O*NET's data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
Explore Citizen Science
Many activities and strategies can help you prepare for a STEM career including participating in STEM related extra-curricular activities like FIRST Robotics, Science Olympiad and Physics Competition. Taking mathematics, computer science, engineering and science classes can help you discover your own interests and talents. Visiting college campuses and participating in job-shadows can help you find the right fit for you.
One of the most fun ways to build your STEM skills is to participate in a Citizen Science project. Citizen Science is when community members of all ages partner with scientists to collect data and learn more about a science issue together. Because citizen science teams are hundreds or thousands of people working together, these projects can address projects that other science teams can not. UNI has a long history of supporting Citizen Science as a partner of the GLOBE Program. Check out the GLOBE Observer App or search for another citizen science project that matches your interests.
There are unlimited ways for undergraduates at the University of Northern Iowa to prepare for careers in STEM fields. It is never to early to begin exploring possibilities for your own future. We encourage young Iowans to do so by participating in the opportunities above.
If you are considering a STEM career, then check out the undergraduate programs that UNI has to offer. Overwhelmed by the choices? Campus visits can play an important role in finding a university that is a right fit for you. These visits include an opportunity to talk with faculty and admissions counselors who want to match YOU with the program that fits your interests and goals. Schedule a campus visit here.
About STEM Careers
O*NET STEM Career Search - provides detailed information about hundreds of STEM fields. Green careers and growing careers are easy to identify (green leaf, yellow sun). Learn about the every day tasks, technology and tools used, required knowledge and skills, and much more about each career. O*NET is a great site to begin a career search; each career is linked to related careers and is described in detail. O*NET's data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
Explore Citizen Science
Many activities and strategies can help you prepare for a STEM career including participating in STEM related extra-curricular activities like FIRST Robotics, Science Olympiad and Physics Competition. Taking mathematics, computer science, engineering and science classes can help you discover your own interests and talents. Visiting college campuses and participating in job-shadows can help you find the right fit for you.
One of the most fun ways to build your STEM skills is to participate in a Citizen Science project. Citizen Science is when community members of all ages partner with scientists to collect data and learn more about a science issue together. Because citizen science teams are hundreds or thousands of people working together, these projects can address projects that other science teams can not. UNI has a long history of supporting Citizen Science as a partner of the GLOBE Program. Check out the GLOBE Observer App or search for another citizen science project that matches your interests.