NIU STEAM Café
The Science of Prairie Restoration
Sept. 8, 2026
Lucha Cantina (1641 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, IL)

Cost: $5 for the general public, $3 for NIU alumni and students.

Speakers:

Liz Wiener, environmental educator, Wild Roots Nature Center at Severson Dells.

Courtney Gallaher, director of campus sustainability, Northern Illinois University.

Illinois earned its nickname, the “Prairie State,” from the sweeping grasslands that once covered most of our state. Before widespread agriculture and urban expansion, prairie ecosystems shaped the culture, ecology and identity of our region. Prairie restoration projects are helping to bring back these native prairie ecosystems. At this STEAM Café, learn about large-scale restoration projects, and how you can create a small-scale prairie restoration in your own backyard.

Environmental educator Liz Wiener will discuss prairie restoration projects in the Severson Dells area, including the restoration of the former Eliot Golf Course in Rockford. She’ll also explain the benefits of prairie restoration and provide tips for incorporating native prairie plants at home.

NIU Director of Campus Sustainability Courtney Gallaher will discuss NIU’s efforts to restore habitat on its DeKalb campus, including an upcoming prairie restoration on the “North 40” area of campus.

About the speakers

Liz Wiener has a B.S. degree in environmental education and an M.S. in experiential education. She has been a nature educator for over 20 years in a variety of settings, including residential camps, day programs and zoos. She has been at Wild Roots Nature Center at Severson Dells since 2023. 

Courtney Gallaher, Ph.D. is the director of Campus Sustainability at Northern Illinois University. She oversees major sustainability initiatives and partnerships at the university. A broadly trained human-environment geographer, Gallaher has experience researching and teaching a range of interdisciplinary global issues, including sustainable food/agricultural systems, water management and environmental justice. Prior to her current role, she was a jointly appointed associate professor in the Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment and the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality. Gallaher holds a bachelor’s degree in soil and environmental science from UW-Madison and two degrees from Michigan State University: a master’s deegree in crop and soil science and a Ph.D. in geography. She has also completed training in gender and environmental justice.

Cost is $5 for the general public, $3 for NIU alumni and students. Get your tickets today.