Catalyst Conversations: Advancing Science on a Liberal Arts Campus

Catalyst Conversations: Advancing Science on a Liberal Arts Campus

Q&A WITH STEPHEN SCHUTT President of Lake Forest College In this issue of Catalyst, we sit down with Lake Forest College President Stephen Schutt. Lake Forest College is one of ISTC’s newest members and a place of growing excellence in research, science education, and entrepreneurship. It’s not unusual for students at the four-year liberal arts school to […]

Catalyst Conversations: NIU & Discover Launch Exciting Campus Initiative

Catalyst Conversations: NIU & Discover Launch Exciting Campus Initiative

Q&A WITH GERALD C. BLAZEY, Ph.D Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships;  Northern Illinois University In this issue of Catalyst, we sit down with Northern Illinois University Vice President Gerald C. Blazey, Ph.D, to discuss NIU and Discover Financial Services’ new campus collaborative innovation opportunity, Discover Campus Innovator Program, launching this fall.   Tell us about […]

Employers Guiding STEM Talent: 2nd Annual Employer Summit Recap

Employers Guiding STEM Talent: 2nd Annual Employer Summit Recap

On June 12th, the Illinois Science & Technology Institute (ISTI) and NIU’s Education Systems Center hosted our 2nd STEM Employer Summit focused on STEM talent pipeline development and building effective learning partnerships in Illinois. Employers and stakeholders discussed best practices for impactful talent development models through K-20 mentorship, internships, and college apprenticeships. Speakers shared their […]

How Corporate-High School Partnerships Cultivate Illinois Innovation

How Corporate-High School Partnerships Cultivate Illinois Innovation

BY ISTC Board Chair Shelley Stern Grach, Director, Civic Engagement for Microsoft Chicago For the past five years, Microsoft has participated in ISTI’s STEM Challenge program to authentically engage with Chicago Public School students by presenting a technology challenge that allows students to develop their own innovations under the guidance of Microsoft mentors. Microsoft deepened its […]

Illinois’ Leading Role in the Next Big Tech Disruption

Illinois’ Leading Role in the Next Big Tech Disruption

By Andreas Cangellaris, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Engineering and Incoming Provost University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Computer scientists and engineers have always been comfortable with disruption. Where others see a threat, we see a promise. Where others wonder what will become of the world, we define what the world can become. Think of […]

The Startup Act: What Is It And How It Would Help Illinois

The Startup Act: What Is It And How It Would Help Illinois

In Partnership with SSTI, October 2017 In late September, Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) along with Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) re-introduced the Startup Act to grow innovation and foster economic growth nationally.  This month, Catalyst is partnering with SSTI – a national, nonprofit that advances science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship –  […]