Prairie Research Institute - All Events

Friday, August 14, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Saturday, August 15, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Sunday, August 16, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Monday, August 17, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

• Warblers, Sparrows, and Thrushes, Oh My!

  Time

  7:00 pm

  Location

  801 N Country Fair Dr, Ste D, Champaign, IL, United States, Illinois 61821

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

• Opening for Illinois Archaeology: The Deep Roots of the Prairie State, A Traveling Exhibit

  Time

  6:00 - 7:00 pm

  Location

  206 S Market St, Marion, IL 62959

  • Exhibition

  

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Thursday, August 20, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Friday, August 21, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Saturday, August 22, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Sunday, August 23, 2026

• Discover Illinois Archaeology at the Illinois State Fair with the IAAA

  Recurring

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Conservation World

  • Exhibition

  

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

• Machine Learning With Natural History Collections

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Forbes Natural History Building, Room 1005

  Join Field Museum researchers Bruno de Medeiros, assistant curator of insects, and Elizabeth Postema, postdoctoral research scientist, for a free, hands-on workshop.

  • Professional Development

  

Saturday, August 29, 2026

• America 250: Celebrating Science and Innovation

  Time

  10:30 am - 12:00 pm

  Location

  Prisco Community Center

  • Lecture

  

• Bats in the Spotlight: Presentation and Night Hike

  Registration

  Register now!

  Time

  6:30 - 8:30 pm

  Location

  Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center, Oglesby, Illinois

  Join us for a fun evening learning about bats and then embark on a night hike with ultrasonic bat detecting equipment!

  • Informational

  

Monday, August 31, 2026

• International Symposium on Energy, Carbon, and Industrial Systems

  Time

  8:30 am

  Location

  I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center

  This two-day symposium brings together researchers, industry leaders, project developers, and policymakers to discuss energy systems, carbon capture and utilization, AI-driven energy demand, carbon markets, and financing pathways for energy-carbon projects. Interested participants may request an invitation on the event page.

  • Conference/Workshop

  

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

• Archaeology in STEAM

  Time

  5:00 - 6:00 pm

  Location

  408 W Main St, Collinsville, IL 62234

  • Informational

  

Saturday, September 5, 2026

• Archaeology Day

  Time

  10:00 am - 12:00 pm

  Location

  112 S Kansas St, Edwardsville, IL 62025

  • Informational

  

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

• Historics and Heirlooms

  Time

  5:00 - 6:00 pm

  Location

  408 W Main St Collinsville, IL 62234

  • Informational

  

Sunday, September 13, 2026

• Archaeological Awareness Day

  Time

  12:00 - 4:00 pm

  Location

  Powers-Walker House, Glacial Park Conservation Area, Ringwood

  • Exhibition

  

Saturday, September 19, 2026

• Traveling Science Center at Northern Illinois University's STEM Fest

  Time

  10:00 am - 3:00 pm

  Location

  600 Lucinda Ave, DeKalb, IL 60115

  • Festival/Celebration

  

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

• Archaeology of Illinois

  Time

  7:00 pm

  Location

  Glen Ellyn Historical Society

  • Lecture

  

Thursday, September 24, 2026

• Illinois Natural History Survey Research and Partners Open House

  Time

  All Day

  Location

  Forbes Natural History Building

  • Reception/Open House

  

Saturday, September 26, 2026

• Central Illinois Bat Festival

  Time

  1:00 - 8:00 pm

  Location

  Anita Purves Nature Center

  Celebrate backyard bugs and bats at the free Central Illinois Bat Festival, featuring expert talks, guided hikes, family activities, vendors, food trucks, a costume contest, and an evening bat acoustic walk with a live ecologcation demonstration.

  • Festival/Celebration

  

• Central Illinois Bat Festival

  Time

  1:00 - 8:00 pm

  Location

  Anita Purves Nature Center

  ​Join us at the third annual Central Illinois Bat Festival — a free two-part celebration of bats, bugs, and science! This year, we’re celebrating backyard bugs and bats!

  • Exhibition