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2020 Science and Technology Week

STATE Your Future

The College of Applied Science & Technology, along with Illinois State University is proud to host Margot Lee Shetterly on April 14, 2020, as our keynote speaker.

April 13-17, 2020

Science and Technology Week celebrates advancements in the field of science and technology, as well as the hardworking, dedicated students and professionals who make those advancements possible. Past keynote speakers include:

Temple Grandin – animal scientist
Tim Gunn – television host and Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne Inc.
Charlie Trotter – chef
Bill Nye – science guy
Brian Greene – theoretical physicist
….and more!

Schedule of Events

  • Hidden Figures movie screening – Monday, April 13, 6:00 p.m., Normal Theater — CANCELLED
  • Keynote Speaker – Margot Lee Shetterly – Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m., Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center — CANCELLED
  • Impact Event – Wednesday, April 17, Times Vary — CANCELLED
  • Academy of Achievement – Thursday, April 16, 8:30 a.m., Hancock Stadium Club Room — CANCELLED
  • Women in Leadership – Friday, April 17, 8:30 a.m., Hancock Stadium Club — CANCELLED

Monday, April 13, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. – Normal Theater (CANCELLED)

Hidden Figures movie screening

Join us as we watch Hidden Figures, the true story of the black women mathematicians at NASA who helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae, the movie showcases a visionary trio of women that crossed all racial and gender lines and inspired generations.

  • Free and open to the public  

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. – Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center (CANCELLED)

Keynote Address Margot Lee Shetterly

Shetterly’s Hidden Figures—a #1 NYT bestseller and inspiration for a #1 movie in America—is the true story of the black women mathematicians at NASA who helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. In talks, Shetterly celebrates these unsung heroes, teasing out issues of race, gender, science, and innovation against the backdrop of WWII and the Civil Rights Era.

Writer, researcher, and entrepreneur Margot Lee Shetterly is the author of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, which was a top book of 2016 for both TIME and Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today bestseller, and a #1 (instant) New York Times bestseller. 

The film adaptation of her book—which became the number one movie in America—stars Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.

It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and Octavia Spencer was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. To The New York Times, the film introduces viewers to “real people you might wish you had known more about earlier … [who] can fill you with outrage at the persistence of injustice and gratitude toward those who had the grit to stand up against it.” A television show is also in the works.

Shetterly is also the founder of the Human Computer Project, a digital archive telling the stories all of NASA’s “Human Computers,” women from all backgrounds whose work tipped the balance in favor of the United States in WWII, the Cold War, and the Space Race. Shetterly’s father was among the early generation of black NASA engineers and scientists, and she had direct access to NASA executives and the women featured in the book. She grew up around the historically black Hampton University, where some of the women in Hidden Figures studied. Her research has been supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. She is currently a scholar-in-residence at the University of Virginia, with joint appointments at the McIntire School of Commerce and the School of Engineering.

  • This event is free and open to the public
  • A book signing will immediately follow the lecture

Wednesday, April 17, 2020, Times Vary (CANCELLED)

Impact Event

Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. – Hancock Stadium Club Room (CANCELLED)

Academy of Achievement Induction Ceremony

Celebrate CAST alumni during their induction to the Academy of Achievement. The Academy brings together alumni who are “thought leaders” in their fields and who serve as an inspiration to others with similar career paths.

  • Coffee hour, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (free and open to the public)
  • Induction ceremony, 9:30 a.m. (free and open to the public)
  • Brunch, 10:30 a.m. (invitation only)

Friday, April 17, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. – Hancock Stadium Club Room (CANCELLED)

Women in Leadership

Did you know that 7 out of 8 CAST departments graduate female students into male-dominated fields? Join us to have conversations about career success with successful CAST alumni. Keynote speaker is Dr. Cara Rabe-Hemp, associate dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology.

  • $15 per student
  • $30 per professional
  • Register here
  • Register by Friday, April 10, 2020 at CAST.IllinoisState.edu.

Contact: Chinny Francis at cefran1@ilstu.edu with any questions or requests for accommodations.

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