We will take our residents on a day trip to Chicago to enjoy some educational events (Mindworks; the Art Institute; and the Willis Tower Skydeck) away from campus.
The goal of this event is to provide innovation- and social justice-related educational experiences (especially Mindworks), aesthetic experiences (especially the Art Institute and Willis Tower), and education in design, architecture, and history (especially Willis Tower Skydeck). This trip fulfills all our IRE learning objectives. I am, however, especially keen on the potential of this trip to foster academic success and community engagement by affording off-campus opportunities for learning and fellowship among ILLC residents.
I have included tickets to the Picasso exhibit at the Art Institute, which promises to be an incredible experience for all. Mindworks is a free event that includes numerous exhibits on behavioral science, implicit bias, and the psychology of persuasion (ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs and for reflecting about social justice from an empirical perspective). Numerous students have never been to the Willis Tower Skydeck, and this trip is perhaps the best way possible for them to have their first experience of one of the great engineering and architectural accomplishments in the world.