Beckman Institute Open House
Hands-on learning at the Beckman Institute
The Beckman Institute Open House is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 10, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026. 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.]
Parking and bus information
Free parking is available in the B4 parking deck just east of the Beckman Institute, as well as in the B22 surface parking lot at University and Goodwin avenues in Urbana. Free bus parking is available at Kirby and Oak streets in Champaign, near the State Farm Center. Bus drop-off for the Beckman Institute Open House is at the intersection of Clark Street and University Avenue in Champaign.
Hands-on learning at the Beckman Institute
The Beckman Institute Open House is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 10, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026. 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.]
Parking and bus information
Free parking is available in the B4 parking deck just east of the Beckman Institute, as well as in the B22 surface parking lot at University and Goodwin avenues in Urbana. Free bus parking is available at Kirby and Oak streets in Champaign, near the State Farm Center. Bus drop-off for the Beckman Institute Open House is at the intersection of Clark Street and University Avenue in Champaign.
See a list of our exhibits
Plan your visit using our list of exhibits. You can filter by kid-friendly activities and then by research area. The color of each exibit on list matches the zone where you can find it when you arrive for open house.
See a list of our exhibits
Plan your visit using our list of exhibits. You can filter by kid-friendly activities and then by research area. The color of each exibit on list matches the zone where you can find it when you arrive for open house.
Eat at Ted's Café
Ted's Café will be open both Friday and Saturday for the Beckman Institute Open House. It will offer a $5 lunch meal that includes either a hot dog or slice of pizza. Each meal also comes with a bag of chips or a bottle of water. The café also serves coffee, snacks and soft drinks.
Eat at Ted's Café
Ted's Café will be open both Friday and Saturday for the Beckman Institute Open House. It will offer a $5 lunch meal that includes either a hot dog or slice of pizza. Each meal also comes with a bag of chips or a bottle of water. The café also serves coffee, snacks and soft drinks.
Information for teachers
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. Registration is not required, but we highly encourage it.
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. Registration is not required, but we highly encourage it.
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology