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The NASA Way
A roundup of 71 North updates
71 NORTH
February 25, 2025
The NASA Way
This week at 71 North, we bring together cutting-edge technology, hands-on learning, and collaboration through TechTacos and Pizza Hack—featuring a special partnership with NASA Glenn Research Center and an exciting AI/ML challenge for Huskie Hackers!
Tech for Good
🚀 This Tuesday, TechTacos is Tech for Good teaming up with the College of Business (COB)/De La Vega Innovation Lab and NASA Glenn Research Center.
Special Guest: Renee Eveland, Technology Manager at NASA Glenn, will join us virtually to discuss their patent portfolio and how commercialization transforms innovations into real-world impact.
• Learn how NASA patents can become businesses that benefit society.
Pizza Hack
Ready to turn movement into art? 🎨
This Friday, Pizza Hack is back with an interactive AI/ML Computer Vision Project—where your body becomes the brush!
Track Movement: Use a webcam & OpenCV + MediaPipe to follow your hand, wrist, or head.
Draw in Real Time: Move your tracked body part to create shapes and letters on the screen.
Erase with a Gesture: Close your hand to clear the screen.
Challenge Mode: Try writing "Huskie Hackers" or drawing cool shapes!
🕑 When: Friday, February 28, 2025 | 2-4 PM
🎟 Open to all students & campus members!
Register and enjoy free pizza! 🍕
- No prior AI/ML experience needed!
- Hands-on learning with AI/ML & CV.
If you want love and abundance in your life, give it away.
HuskieVerse Featured Experience Available through February, “MLK: Now Is The Time” by TIME Studios is an immersive VR experience examining the ongoing relevance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. There are multiple opportunities to explore virtual reality each week. Visit the HuskieVerse booking page to reserve your spot. |  “MLK: Now Is The Time” by TIME Studios is an immersive VR experience examining the ongoing relevance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. |
This Week at 71 North
Tuesday:
8:30 - 11:00 AM Morning Writing Group: Facilitated by Dr. Anna Klis, this interdisciplinary group invites you to start your day with coffee and creativity.
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Office Hour with Richard Mocarski • Stop by during lunch to connect with NIU’s Vice President of Research (BYOL).
12:30 - 2:00 PM: The Gateway Podcast • Biagio, Amin and Russ in session.
2:00 - 3:00 PM: LEAP from Project to Product Management • Meetup.
3:30 - 6:00 PM: CISSL Presents: A Language and Literacy Podcast
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM: NICCS Day - A time to discuss and workshop topics connected with the Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS).
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: TechTaco - Tech for Good edition
Wednesday:
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: Huskie Hackers - An engaged and passionate community of the next generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs participating in MLH Official Hackathons.
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: HuskieVerse - VR Exploration
4:00 - 6:00 PM: NIU Makers Club - Where creativity meets craft. The club is a hands-on experience that promises fun and learning in equal measure.
5:30 - 6:30 PM: CAUSE Social Entrepreneurship - Engage in meaningful discussions and activities focused on driving social change through entrepreneurial action.
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM: Appy Hour Podcast - All things apps.
Thursday:
3:00 - 5:00 PM Huskie Hackers
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: HuskieVerse - VR Exploration
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Innovation Club - A student-led organization welcoming creative thinkers from all corners of campus who are interested in making the world a better place.
Friday:
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Vespa Mode - A collaborative project to develop a simulator for riding a vintage Vespa in virtual reality. Vespa Mode is part of the Huskieverse program.
12:00 - 1:30 PM: CISSL Presents: A Language and Literacy Podcast
2:00 - 4:00 PM Huskie Hackers - Pizza Hack Version learn more and join in!
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM: HuskieVerse - VR Exploration
Monday:
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Breakthrough Business Community Academy - Opportunity DeKalb Business Community Academy.
Looking Ahead:
• Random Hack of Kindness (RHoK): This semester, RHoK will focus on impactful, feasible solutions for the Huskie Food Pantry.
• HealthIER Series: This series, which continues our collaboration with the College of Health and Human Sciences, will emphasize interdisciplinary research in health sciences and focus on NIH R15/R16 proposals.
Looking Back:
• TechTacos with Miguel Williams: showed us how to code our tacos with Python and Turtle.
