What we’re about
Enjoy meeting other science enthusiasts as we visit great science-related sites in Chicagoland. Members suggest, and we schedule, cool events.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- HYBRID - Argonne Outloud ⚡️ AI Empowering the Grid, The Grid Energizing AIArgonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
***** NOTE: THIS IS A THIRD PARTY EVENT! YOU MUST REGISTER WITH ARGONNE TO ATTEND IN PERSON OR ONLINE. NOTE THE VISITOR SECURITY REQUIREMENTS TO ATTEND, AND THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT US CITIZENS.
All can attend the online presentation. *****Hybrid event — attend in person or online
Information & registration:
https://anl.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_esrvjo5hc7yp46aTuesday, September 16, 2025
6:00–7:00 p.m. CTArgonne National Laboratory
TCS Conference Center (Building 240)
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Lemont, IL 60439This event will also be livestreamed
The use of artificial intelligence, or AI, is growing at lightning speed, and we need a tremendous amount of energy to meet the current and future demands AI presents. However, our current electric grid wasn’t built for this kind of demand. Building new power sources carries a hefty price tag. It can also take years.So how do we keep up?
There’s a powerful tool already at our fingertips: AI itself! AI can make the grid smarter, more efficient, and more reliable by predicting when equipment might fail, helping to prevent blackouts during extreme weather events, and keeping the power flowing smoothly, as electricity use goes up and down.
What happens when AI is involved in the grid?
We get a grid that’s more reliable! A better-preserved grid also means AI is self-reinforcing its own existence. A reliable grid enables delivery of the energy needed to fuel AI systems, data centers, and other critical infrastructure, while keeping the lights on for the rest of us.
In this installment of Argonne’s OutLoud Public Lecture Series, our scientists will explore how AI and the grid are working together, and how our research is helping to make our energy future stronger, smarter, and more secure.
Join us for a fascinating conversation on how Argonne’s work is helping the U.S. meet the energy demands of today—and tomorrow.
Featured speakers:
- Sibendu Som (Moderator)
Director, Advanced Propulsion and Power
Director, AI Applications Initiative
Henry Huang
Director, Energy Systems and Infrastructure Assessment
Director, Electricity Grid Program (Interim)- Kibaek Kim
Computational Mathematician
This is a hybrid event. You can attend either in person or virtually. Once the limit for in-person attendees is reached, you are still welcome to attend the event virtually, via livestream.
NOTE: If you are NOT a U.S. citizen, and plan to attend in person, please complete this form first (link opens in a new browser tab) and then return to this page to complete your registration.
- Sibendu Som (Moderator)
- Your Emotional BrainBad Apple - Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL
NOTE: Tickets are Required for this event. $10 **HERE **Space is limited.
How does your brain manage the huge range of human emotions driving everything we do?
Come take a behind-the-scenes tour of your brain!
How are you feeling today? Worried, content, nervous, happy? Think about your work and your boss. Are you confident, panicky, annoyed? Now think about your partner, a loved one, your first childhood crush. Are you giddy, anxious, embarrassed, excited? There is such a huge variety of human emotions and we know they can change shockingly fast. Those emotions drive us to do all sorts of things – in fact, they drive most of what we do – all from just 3 lbs. of gray matter between our ears.
Aren’t you curious to know how your brain manages all that all the time? Join ISC for an exciting tour through the different parts of your emotional brain to learn how they all interact to guide you, and what happens when something goes wrong.For the first in our series of programs on the brain, Dr. Robin Nusslock, of Northwestern University, will lay the groundwork by giving us an intriguing tour of the three main systems of your emotional brain – fear, reward, and regulation – that make us so wonderfully (and sometimes annoyingly!) human, by taking a tour of your emotional brain.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025 at 6:30pm
The Bad Apple, 658 W Belden, Chicago, IL 60614
Tickets $10 HERE
Seating is limited.Robin Nusslock, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University where he directs the Affective & Clinical Neuroscience Lab and serves as Director of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Training.
** Please reserve tickets in advance. An RSVP here on Meetup will NOT hold you a seat.
FAQs
Best route for using public transit?
The Fullerton stop (Red, Brown, and Purple lines) is about 3.5 blocks away at Fullerton & Sheffield. The #8 Halsted bus is just 2 blocks west of The Bad Apple. The #22 Clark and #36 Broadway buses stop 3 blocks east at Clark and Belden. Easy!Will there be food & drink available?
Absolutely! Check out The Bad Apple's menu here: https://www.badapplebar.com/ If you plan to eat, we recommend you arrive before 6pm so you can order and have your food before the talk begins so as to not be disruptive to others.What's the parking situation?
There are some parking garages on Lincoln Av north of Belden. Street parking in the area is mostly metered, so use the ParkChicago app to pay by zone. If on a non-metered street, be sure it isn't restricted to only cars with a certain numbered sticker. We wouldn't want you to get a ticket!Will this be appropriate for kids?
All ages are welcome, just know that the talk's content will be most accessible for those of at least high school age. - NIU 🧪 STEMfest 🔬DeKalb, DeKalb, IL
https://niusteam.niu.edu/programs-events/stem-fest/
## What is STEM Fest?
STEM Fest is a celebration of all things science, technology, engineering and math. This free event is held each year in the fall on the campus of Northern Illinois University and features more than 100 exhibits, speakers, and demonstrations designed to inspire and engage guests of all ages with opportunities for STEM learning. It is one of the largest free family events in northern Illinois.
It takes place in the heart of NIU’s DeKalb central campus in the Holmes Student Center, MLK Commons and Founders Memorial Library. Download our STEM Fest activities and exhibits map to bring along on Saturday.
Parking is available for free in any lot on campus on the day of STEM Fest. (Do not park in any space marked “Reserved.”) A parking map is available here.
