About


Mission

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology’s (C2ST) mission is to inspire and engage all segments of society about science and technology and their contributions to society.

Since the inception of the Chicago Council on Science and Technology in 2007, our organization has worked to engage with the Chicagoland community on vital STEM issues. Pursuing that goal hasn’t always been straightforward or easy, and has required the work of dedicated people from day one. 

Since our founding, C2ST has held events and programs all over the Chicago area. We believe that in doing so we have created a flexible and dynamic learning environment for novices, enthusiasts, and professionals from all walks of life. In addition to the dozens of free programs–on all manner of STEM topics–we host every year we have a growing online presence that ensures the information from those programs extends beyond the borders of Chicago.

Our programs span the gamut from large TED talk-style presentations to booths at community events and street corners, to our Speakeasies hosted at local bars and restaurants, to our Science in the Parks and Inclusiveness in STEM series, to tours at world-renowned institutions, to multi-week programs done in collaboration with other nonprofits and organizations. 

In the past 15 years, we have held over 330 programs with 230 partner organizations featuring over 710 experts for audiences of all ages. Through our YouTube channel, C2ST TV, our newsletter, our social media channels, and our blog content, anyone with an internet connection is able to access relevant and reliable information, anywhere on the planet.

C2ST Code of  Conduct

We are dedicated to providing a professional and inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. Please be respectful of diversity in individuals and in cultures at our events.

 

 

 

 

“C2ST serves as a vital resource to our community for perpetuating knowledge about the importance of science and technology in our daily lives. It is easy to take for granted special medications, diagnostic tests, cell phones, alternative sources of energy and more – but decades of research have been devoted to these advancements that allow us to enjoy the fruits of dedicated scientists. Now, we have a responsibility to train the next generation of innovators, and C2ST plays a major role in this noble goal.”

-Mary J.C. Hendrix, President, Shepherd University


Board of Directors

Alan Schriesheim, President C2ST
Director Emeritus
Argonne National Laboratory

Jay Walsh, Board Chair C2ST
Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation
University of Illinois System

Gastone G. Celesia, Ex-Officio Board Member
Professor Emeritus
Loyola University

Holly Copeland
Director, Public Affairs & Corporate Social Responsibility
Amgen Inc.

Doina Cosma-Roman
VP and TA Head, Specialty Development
AbbVie

Raj Echambadi
President
Illinois Institute of Technology

Salma Ghanem
Provost
DePaul University

Yvonne Harris
Vice President for Research & Innovation Partnerships
Northern Illinois University

Mary J.C. Hendrix
President
Shepherd University, WV

Chevy Humphrey
President & Chief Executive Officer
Museum of Science and Industry

Paul Kearns
Director
Argonne National Laboratory

Erin Adams
Vice Provost for Research
University of Chicago

Charles Knapp
VP of Conservation and Research
John G. Shedd Aquarium

Dorothy Kozlowski, Board Representative
Vincent de Paul Professor,
Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Program
DePaul University

Robert J. Kriss
Senior Counsel, Mayer Brown

Thorsten Lumbsch
Vice President, Science and Education
Curator, Lichenized Fungi
The Field Museum of Natural History

Sandra Mangurian
President
ARCS Foundation, Inc., Illinois Chapter

Walter Massey
President Emeritus,
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
City Colleges of Chicago,
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Jon D. Miller, Co-Founder
Director International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan

Patrick C. Seed, Board Representative
President & Chief Research Officer
Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute

Thomas P. Shanley
President & Chief Executive Officer
Lurie Children’s Hospital

Arch Shaw
President & Chief Executive Officer
Arch Investors Ltd

Julian Siggers
President & Chief Executive Officer
The Field Museum of Natural History

Rebecca Thompson
Director
Fermilab

Kay Torshen
President
Torshen Capital Management, LLC

Ralph Wanger
Chairman
RW Investments

Patricia Ward, Board Representative
Director, Science Exhibitions and Partnerships
Museum of Science and Industry

Christopher White
Dean, College of Aviation Science and Technology
Lewis University

Kristine M. Young
Partner, Intellectual Property
Mayer Brown LLP

Lee Zachos, Board Representative 
Chief of Staff
Argonne National Laboratory


Auxiliary Board

Jen Alvares, Co-President
Associate Director, Global Marketing Programs, Bionano Genomics

Nathan Uibel, Co-President
Designer III, Perkins & Will

Dr. Sheela Vemu
Assistant Professor Waubonsee Community College

Felix P. Lu
Director of Corporate Engagement University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

Evan Fry, DMD
West Aurora Family Dental LLC

Barbara Maldonado, MS IMC
In-House Agency Client Services Manager Caterpillar, Inc.


C2ST Artist In Residence

Jordan Holmes
Musician and Spoken Word Artist

Shonna Pryor
Visual Art and Mixed Media

C2ST Educator Fellow


C2ST Staff

Nicole Bucio

Nicole Bucio

Program and Grants Manager
Kylie Kosulic

Kylie Kosulic

Manager of Programs and Internships