Beckman Institute Open House
Hands-on learning at the Beckman Institute
The Beckman Institute Open House is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 4, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025. It offers a fun, interactive look at the interdisciplinary research happening at the Beckman Institute. It happens at the same time as Engineering Open House each year.
About open house
Extraordinary science can change the lives of ordinary people. That’s the philosophy at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, where researchers from more than 40 scientific areas work together to ask and answer big questions — about human health and medical imaging, cleaner energy and greener plastics, and even artificial intelligence and bioinspired robots.
The Beckman Institute Open House is an opportunity for Champaign-Urbana community members to encounter the science, meet the people, and experience the impact of world-changing discovery. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to engage with more than 30 exhibits, participate in hands-on demos, complete the science scavenger hunt, and take a commemorative photo at the selfie station. This event is free and open to the public.
Pre-register your classroom for a field trip
Dozens of schools visit our open house as a field trip. They enjoy our unique, hands-on STEM experiences for K-12 students. Pre-registration is not required, but we highly encourage it.
Classrooms that preregister will be entered into a drawing for a gift card from The Literary to purchase STEM books for your classroom library. Double entry will be given to those classes that come Friday afternoon.
Join us for the 2025 SmithGroup Lecture
STEM NOLA founder Calvin Mackie will give the 2025 SmithGroup Lecture at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in the Beckman Auditorium. A kid-friendly reception will follow and so will a preview of the Beckman Institute Open House. We'd love to have you join us!