STEM Fest

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. While the term was coined in 2001 by administrators at the National Science Foundation, it was a 2005 report titled Rising Above the Gathering Storm from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine that pointed out the ongoing need for advanced science and technology jobs to maintain a prosperous economy and tackle pressing world problems.

And STEM Fest is the fun place to discover hands-on activities, engaging demonstrations, and timely information that will help our future Scientists, Technologists, Engineers, and Mathematicians strive for those very goals.

For a list of featured exhibitors at STEM Fest, visit STEM Fest 2026.

To help the library estimate attendance, registration is recommended at STEM Fest 2026 Registration.

Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (CARE) will be there as an exhibitor so make sure to stop by and chat with us! We are a local, 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit group, staffed entirely by volunteers, that has worked under the shadow of heavy industry for over a quarter of a century to protect Will County’s natural environment. And STEM Fest is a wonderful opportunity for young people to consider a career or future work in the environmental field.

Some of our current projects include removing toxic coal ash repositories in Will County, investigating the environmental impacts of data centers rapidly appearing in our communities and all over Illinois, advocating for the regulation of PFAS, and encouraging actions to help reduce/eliminate single-use plastic.

More information

1. Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. National Academies Press, 2007. National Academies Press, https://doi.org/10.17226/11463.

2. STEM | Description, Development, & Facts | Britannica. 16 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/STEM-education.