Federal research grants are in the news lately, caught up in public battles over ideology and academic freedom. But what exactly are these federal grants? What kinds of research do they fund? And how do they help drive innovation?

Find out at the next NIU STEM Café with Dara Little, NIU Associate Vice President for Research in the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships and Dr. Nick Pohlman, Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

The speakers will take the audience behind the scenes of the grant application process, exploring eligibility criteria, proposal writing, budget planning and all the rules and regulations that govern federal grants. They'll also share examples of some of the federally funded research projects taking place at NIU and their real world impacts.