Learn about innovation in the fields of toy design and candy making!<br/><br/>Have you ever thought about a challenge or problem and wondered how you might create a new product or develop a new way of doing something to address that problem? Join us for a night of innovation and entrepreneurship at the next Teen Café. Michael and Heather Acerra, inventors of Lux Blox, will share their inspiration for inventing a new STEM learning toy as well as their journey from idea to product and ultimately, market.<br/><br/>We’ll also hear about innovation in foods from TaAqua Campbell, Platform Innovation Manager at Ferrara. TaAqua will share her experience with advancements in science related to food processing, manufacturing, quality and safety.<br/><br/>At our monthly Teen STEM Cafés, we have short talks about STEM fields, related STEM activities and FREE Pizza from Hy-Vee! Family members are welcome.
NIU STEAM’s annual STEM Fest will be held Oct. 15. STEM Fest is a festival dedicated to the fields of technology, engineering, science and mathematics. The event will be held in the MLK Commons, Founders Memorial Library, the Holmes Student Center and Anderson Hall. There is no cost for attending this event. STEM Fest will.
Learn about the past, present and future of the Chicago candy industry and the art and science of candy making in this lively panel discussion. <br/><br/>Award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Lahey will show clips and discuss the making of his documentary Shelf Life: The Story of Lanzi Candy, which recently aired on WTTW, Ch. 11. The film explores his Italian immigrant grandfather Elmo Lanzi’s 60 years of candy making, how Chicago became the “Candy Capital of the World” and the quest of a local entrepreneur to bring back Lanzi Candy. <br/><br/>Chef Alain Roby, a certified Master Chef of Pastry and Sugar Artistry, will discuss the art and science of chocolate making and his journey to owning and operating All Chocolate Kitchen in Geneva, Illinois. He’ll explain the process of constructing his Guinness World Record-winning candy creations – including the world’s tallest chocolate sculpture and the world’s longest candy cane. <br/><br