The Tech Prairie STEAM Expo at the Illinois State Fair is an opportunity to showcase Illinois as a leader in STEAM. The STEAM Expo will run during the second half of the Fair, August 17-21, 2022 at the Orr Building in Springfield. This Expo will provide a forum to highlight K-12 and postsecondary education, business, industry, research, and development related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in Illinois with a goal of allowing the community space to engage, interact, and explore with exhibitors from across the state. The Expo will highlight the incredible innovation and emerging career and educational opportunities in STEAM fields throughout the state during the great celebration that is the Illinois State Fair.
The Drone Racing Competition will be held on
Friday, August 19th at the Grandstand at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
- Check back for more information on the Drone Racing Competition to learn more and register.
The eSports Competition will be held at the Orr Building on Saturday, August 20th.
- Check back for more information on the eSports Competition to learn more and register.
2022 Tech Prairie STEAM Expo
Daily Presentations & Highlights
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
10:00am – 6:00pm Interactive exhibits at the Tech Prairie STEAM Expo, Orr Building
10:00am Ribbon cutting opening the STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
11:00am - Google for STEM presentation, STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
1:00pm - Kidzeum presentation, STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
3:00pm - Illinois Innovation Network Innovation Awards, STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
Thursday, August 18, 2022
10:00am – 6:00pm Interactive exhibits at the Tech Prairie STEAM Expo, Orr Building
11:00am - Great Lakes STEAM Underwater Robot presentation with Susan Kelsey, STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
1:00pm – Innovative Entrepreneurs presentation with Julie Hinman, STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
3:00pm - HP Virtual Reality Specialist presentation, STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
Friday, August 19, 2022
10:00am – 6:00pm Interactive exhibits at the Tech Prairie STEAM Expo, Orr Building
8:30am – 3pm Drone racing in the Grandstand sponsored by "Grow Our Own" Minority Participation Program which is supported by the City of Springfield, Sangamon County, and Hanson Professional Services Inc. and organized by the Heart of America FPV. The competition will feature many of the top pilots from around the world taking on the fastest pilots in Illinois!
11:00am - Hunter Kempf, Data Scientist, Z by HP Global Data Science Ambassador, presentation, STEAM Expo, Main Stage, Orr Building
3:00pm – 6:00pm In-person job fair event highlighting state agencies who are currently hiring throughout Illinois, STEAM Expo, Orr Building
Saturday, August 20, 2022
10:00am – 6:00pm Interactive exhibits at the Tech Prairie STEAM Expo, Orr Building
10:00am – 6:00pm eSports Competition, STEAM Expo, Orr Building
Sunday, August 21, 2022
10:00am – 6:00pm Interactive exhibits at the Tech Prairie STEAM Expo, Orr Building
