Students watching a science demonstration

The Science Communication Project

Home — Academics — Our Centers and Programs — Student Center for Science Engagement — Science Communication Project

The Student Center for Science Engagement offers a semester-long extracurricular program in the Fall and Spring semesters where undergraduate and graduate students prepare presentations, displays, activities, or creative media on a STEM topic of their own choosing. At the end of each semester, students may present their work at an outreach event in the Chicago community. This program supports the ongoing goal of providing skills-building opportunities to NEIU students while promoting science education, community connection, and science literacy in the Chicago area.

Interested in participating? All current NEIU students are encouraged to contact the SCSE directly to get connected. Students may earn a stipend for creating a project depending on funding availability. Students are encouraged to use inspiration and materials from coursework they have completed, but may choose any topic in STEM.

Reach out to our program coordinators: Luke Devereux (l-devereux@neiu.edu) and Laura West (l-west2@neiu.edu) with any questions. 

Project Prompt

Choose any STEM or STEM-related topic of your choice. What do you wish more people knew about this topic? What do you think would get other people interested in learning about it? Decide the scale of the project as you work within your own schedule to craft materials to share this topic with your audience in an engaging, creative, and educational manner.

Program Features

  • Flexible scheduling and minimal mandatory events
  • Workshops on science communication techniques
  • Independent advising sessions with STEM advisors
  • Connections to faculty for topic-specific mentorship
  • Skills-building and volunteer opportunities
  • Stipend payments provided for select students who complete a project depending on funding availability

Previous Outreach Events

  • November 2025 - Museum of Science and Industry, High School RISE Program
  • July 2025 - Chicago Botanic Gardens, High School Science First Program
  • May 2025 - NEIU Creative Activities and Research Symposium
  • December 2024 - Chicago Public Library, Budlong Woods Branch

Former Project Titles

  • “Being Mindful of the Microworld Around Us: Living Alongside the Tiny World with a Restorative Justice Lens”
  • “The Importance of Forest Preserves”
  • “Native Plants of the Midwest”
  • “Zombie Fungus Are Infecting Insects: Should We Be Worried?”
  • “The Mitochondria Connection to Diabetes: Taking a Closer Look Into the Cell”
  • “Snowy Owls: Endangered Animals”
  • “Train Your Brain: The Science of Focus & Motivation”
  • “Playing Rock Paper Scissors Using AI”
  • “The Physiology of Delayed-Release Medications”
  • “Magical Museum: Bring Portraits to Life!”
  • “Introduction to the Scientific Method”
  • "Beneficial Creatures: Spiders and Bats"
  • "Blood Brain Barriers: How do they work?"