QCESC - Quad City Engineering and Science Council

10/20/2026

Know a school with a STEM idea that needs a little funding? Help us get this opportunity to them!

QCESC STEM Grant applications are open through October 31. Schools, public libraries, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving students ages 4–18 in grades PK–12 may request grants under $2,500.

Funds can support STEM hands-on learning that sparks curiosity, builds problem-solving skills, and brings STEM ideas to life.

This opportunity reaches well beyond the immediate Quad Cities:

ILLINOIS: Carroll, Henry, Knox, Lee, Mercer, Rock Island, and Whiteside counties.
IOWA: Clinton, Louisa, Muscatine, and Scott counties.

Please share this with teachers, school administrators, librarians, and organizations working with students. Your connection could help a worthwhile idea reach the people who can put it into action.

Find the details and application at:
https://www.qcesc.org/grants

Thank you to the societies, businesses, and individuals who help fund these opportunities. Want to help more students explore, create, and discover? Contact [email protected] about supporting the STEM Grant program.

10/08/2026

LAST DAY TO REGISTER — OCTOBER 8!

There's still time to register for the SAME Rock Island Post and ASCE Quad Cities Chapter Annual Engineering Symposium, October 15–16!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9nf9e2m

With five technical tracks covering Municipal, General Civil, Structural, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering, there's something for professionals across multiple disciplines. Topics include AI in engineering, infrastructure design, flood protection, emerging technologies, and more.

Attendees can also look forward to the 515 Walnut skyscraper keynote, Gateway Bridge project tour, engineering ethics panel, and networking at Iron Tee.

Don't miss this opportunity to earn PDHs, explore innovative projects, and connect with engineering professionals from across the region.

Registration closes TODAY!

09/27/2026

Thanks QCESC for supporting the 29th Quad City Marathon❣️

09/22/2026

There are some impressive STEM resources right here in the Quad Cities. The bigger question is: How do we use them together?

At QCESC's September STEM Night Out, Black Hawk College opened its doors and gave attendees an opportunity to explore STEM programs and facilities and hear from faculty about the quality of instruction, research opportunities, and equipment available to students.

Their pride was evident — and deserved. But an evening like this isn't just about touring a facility. It's about understanding what exists in our community and then asking what we can build from it.

Our attendees represented education, business, professional societies, and community organizations. Imagine the possibilities when those groups know what resources are available to one another and begin finding ways to connect them.

Could a company partner with a faculty member or program? Could a professional society introduce students to people working in a field they're studying? Could a school connect students with equipment, research, or expertise it doesn't have on its own? Could an organization bring a challenge or opportunity that gives students a chance to apply what they're learning?

How could your company, society, organization, or school take advantage of resources like these — and what could you contribute in return?

That's how we strengthen the Quad Cities STEM ecosystem: not by building everything from scratch, but by connecting the people, programs, expertise, and opportunities that are already here — and identifying what's still missing.

Thank you to Black Hawk College for giving us an opportunity to start more of those conversations.

📷 Photos from the evening:
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Black Hawk College

09/22/2026

A good opportunity for women involved in IEEE!

Conferences give us a chance to learn, but sometimes what stays with us even longer are the connections we make — meeting peers, sharing ideas and finding people who understand both the opportunities and challenges in our fields.

But attending isn't always easy when you're also responsible for caring for others. This grant can help remove one of those barriers by providing up to $1,000 in support for caregiving expenses.

Sometimes creating opportunity isn't about asking people to do more — it's about removing a barrier so they can participate.

Thank you to IEEE for recognizing that access to professional opportunities can look different for everyone.

Schedule Application Submission Begins: 8 September 2026 12:00 AM EDT Submission Deadline: 29 September 2026 11:59 PM EDT Click Here to Submit Your Application The IEEE WIE Family Cares Grant Program was established to promote and enable attendance at IEEE conferences, especially by persons whose fi...

09/22/2026

This coming Thursday, September 24th. Clouds will be less then the last few days so enjoy some space viewing. There's more than just stars.

Enjoy a fun night under the stars next Thursday, September 17, for the whole family! Learn about the Popular Astronomy Club - Quad Cities, check out the night sky using their telescopes and mobile observatory, and pick up a space-themed take & make craft for kids. Meet us in Faye's Field, right across from the library, between 7 and 8:30 p.m.

09/22/2026

🤖🌟 What a way to kick off the BIOGLOW™ season!

Thank you to the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge teams who joined us Saturday for the 12th Annual Quad Cities FIRST LEGO League Challenge Kickoff at the Putnam Museum and Science Center!

We hope everyone had fun and left energized, inspired and ready for an exciting season of creativity, teamwork, engineering and discovery. 💡🧪🤖

A special THANK YOU to the many people and organizations who made the morning possible:

🔬 Putnam Museum — our long-time QCESC partner and an incredible home for STEM learning and exploration.

🎓 Iowa State University College of Engineering staff who serve as the Program Delivery Partner for FIRST LEGO League across Iowa.

🙌 Our amazing event volunteers and planning team — your time, energy and behind-the-scenes work make this experience possible.

🎤 Alex Christiansen, our emcee and FIRST alum — you did an amazing job! Alex has gone from FIRST student to FIRST volunteer including now coaching FLL, FTC and FRC teams. What a great example of !

🤖 And a huge shout-out to the FTC and FRC teams who led our four breakout sessions and brought displays to share their knowledge, experience and passion for robotics with the next generation of FIRST students.

Most importantly — thank you to our 15 participating teams! We can't wait to see what you create, build, program and discover during BIOGLOW™. 🌱🤖

Let's get this season started! 🚀

09/18/2026

One last invitation before tomorrow’s FIRST LEGO League Kickoff!

If you’ve wondered whether FLL might be right for your students, school, organization or family, come watch, participate and see what it is all about. This is a great opportunity to meet people involved in FIRST, explore the new BIOGLOW™ season and test the waters for next year.

Last-minute team registrations are still welcome, too!

Saturday, September 19
8:00 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
Putnam Museum & Science Center
FREE to attend

See the shared link for registration details. No need to register if just observing.

Sometimes the best way to discover whether an opportunity is right for you is simply to step through the door and take a look.

A FIRST LEGO League Kickoff may center on robots, but it runs on people.

Volunteers help create the welcoming, organized and encouraging environment that allows teams to focus on learning, asking questions and beginning the BIOGLOW™ season with confidence.

The 13th Annual Quad Cities FIRST LEGO League Challenge Kickoff is coming Saturday, September 19, to the Putnam Museum & Science Center—and QCESC is looking for volunteers to help make the morning possible.

You don’t need to build or program a robot to support the students who do. If you believe in teamwork, creativity, problem-solving and giving young people opportunities to explore STEM, we would love to have you join us.

Saturday, September 19
8:00 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
Putnam Museum & Science Center

Volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_87eZrKFv1kizv5yOGYAupoZyOcjZjn8JC2YdpNyQ0XgvkQ/viewform

FLL teams must register by Tuesday, September 15, and display opportunities are also available. See the website to register and more details:
https://www.qcesc.org/fllkickoff
Can you give a few hours to help students begin their season strong?

09/17/2026

Haven’t signed up yet? There’s still time to join us for STEM Night Out tonight!

Tour Black Hawk College programs in their STEM programs—and then connect with educators, businesses, professionals, and community organizations during interest-based roundtable conversations.

📅 Tonight—Thursday, September 17
🕠 5:30–8:00 PM
📍 Black Hawk College, Building 2, Room 220
6600 34th Avenue, Moline
It's free and their will be pizza

Come explore, make connections, and help us create more STEM opportunities throughout the Quad Cities!

Register here: https://forms.gle/L2BCJBT61rWhpZLz5.

Join the QCESC and Black Hawk College for a free, STEM Night Out on September 17th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Explore BHC's Chemistry and Biology programs, learn how these sciences drive local Quad Cities industries, and network with regional professionals. This event features a special student spotlight...

09/15/2026

How do businesses, educators, professional societies, and students connect through STEM?

That is what QCESC’s STEM Night Out is designed to explore.

Join us Thursday at Black Hawk College to learn about programs and career connections involving chemistry, biology, healthcare, forensic science, law enforcement, esports, and more.

We’ll also hear from BHC student Emmanuel Gutierrez, whose independent chemistry research led to a presentation at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Chicago. His experience is one example of what can happen when education, technology, mentorship, and opportunity come together.

Thursday, September 17
5:30–8:00 p.m.
Black Hawk College

Whether you represent a business, school, college, professional society, community organization—or are simply interested in STEM—you are invited to learn, share, and make new connections.

Register here:
https://forms.gle/ohRMg5GPbYBXfHUa9

Please share this invitation with others who may be interested!

Join the QCESC and Black Hawk College for a free, STEM Night Out on September 17th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Explore BHC's Chemistry and Biology programs, learn how these sciences drive local Quad Cities industries, and network with regional professionals. This event features a special student spotlight...