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The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) hosted the second annual Tech Prairie STEAM Expo at 2022's Illinois State Fair. The Expo will allow fairgoers to engage, interact, and explore incredible innovation and emerging career opportunities related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields.
The incorporation of STEAM throughout Illinois in K-12 education, postsecondary education, research, and businesses, will be highlighted at the STEAM Expo. Highlights will include drone racing, eSports competitions, interactive exhibits, and presentations from over 40 organizations throughout Illinois. The STEAM Expo was open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM August 17 - 21, 2022 in the Orr Building on the west side of the fairgrounds near Conservation World.
Daily Presentations & Highlights
| Wednesday, August 17, 2022 |
|
| 10 AM – 6 PM | Interactive Exhibits |
| 10 AM | Ribbon Cutting opening |
| 11 AM | Google for STEM Education Presentation |
| 1 PM | Kidzeum Presentation |
| 3 PM | Illinois Innovation Network Innovation Awards |
| Thursday, August 18, 2022 | |
| 10 AM – 6 PM | Interactive Exhibits |
| 11 AM | Great Lakes STEAM Underwater Robot Presentation |
| 1 PM | HP Presentation |
| 3 PM | |
| Friday, August 19, 2022 | |
| 10 AM – 6 PM | Interactive Exhibits |
| 8:30 AM – 3 PM | Drone Racing in the GrandStand |
| 11 AM | HP Global Data Science Ambassador Presentation |
| 3 PM - 6 PM | Job Fair featuring State Agencies |
| Saturday, August 20, 2022 | |
| 10 AM – 6 PM | Interactive Exhibits |
| 10 AM – 4 PM | eSports Competition |
| Sunday, August 21, 2022 | |
| 10 AM – 6 PM | Interactive Exhibits |
Exhibitor Highlights
- LabEscape
A science-based escape room with interactive puzzles and challenges from the University of Illinois Urbana Department of Physics. - Digital Agriculture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Highlights of their work with their autonomous farm, artificial intelligence, and programmable plants.
- Learning Technology Center An interactive “STEAM Playground” that includes robotics, 3D printing, computer science, virtual reality in education, and drones. For those who complete their passport, you may receive a 3-D butter cow!
- Drone Racing
Will be held in the Grandstand on Friday, August 19th sponsored by Grow Our Own. Organized by Heart of America FPV, racing will begin at 8:30AM with the final races beginning at 1:00PM. - 2022 eSports Land of Lincoln Championship Sponsored by NIC/ Tyler Technologies using machines provided by HP will be a one-day, in-person event on Saturday, August 21st in the Orr building.
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Center Starlab Planetarium Capable of projecting the night sky, showing the movement of stars and planets, and demonstrating moon phases.