Northern Illinois Science Educators is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization, founded in 2014, striving to provide professional development and sharing opportunities for science educators.

With the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in Illinois, science teachers and administrators are facing significant changes to curriculum, instruction, and assessment. There is a great need for science teachers to be able to share resources and materials unique to northern Illinois.

The primary focus of the Northern Illinois Science Educators (NISE) is to work with science educators in urban/suburban areas in and around Chicago. The focus of NISE is to provide professional development opportunities for pre-kindergarten to post-secondary science educators in northern Illinois through workshops and conferences. Additionally, the leadership of the Northern Illinois Science Educators will disseminate news and information related to K-16 science education through our electronic newsletters and website.

The Northern Illinois Science Educators welcomes all teachers to participate in our professional development opportunities. The leadership of the organization will come from the high population areas in northern Illinois counties including Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and Will. It is the goal of the organization that any participant who works in one of these regions should not have to travel more than 75 miles to reach an event or service offering.

The inaugural board of directors seeks also to establish partnerships with science and engineering corporations in the northern Illinois counties who are interested in supporting science and engineering education from kindergarten through college and beyond in Illinois.