LISI Events

Common Bonds: The Science of Welding

Saturday, August 8 | 9 a.m.

Welding is the invisible backbone of McHenry County’s landscape, supporting everything from agricultural equipment to iron bridges and outdoor sculptures. The science behind this in-demand trade relies on coaxing two separate pieces of metal to join into a single solid object.

In this Liebman Institute for Science Innovation (LISI) program, MCC Welding and Chemistry faculty will guide you through live lab explorations and using professional tools to fabricate your own custom keepsake.

Looking ahead, we’ll explore the strange world of ‘cold welding’ in outer space, where clean metal plates instantly fuse together upon contact without any heat or tools at all.

Natural Dyes: The Science of Color

Saturday, August 1 | 9 a.m.

Candy, laundry detergents, and school lunches are leaving artificial dyes behind. In this program, we will learn the difference between laboratory-made and natural dyes and explore the science behind the FDA initiative to phase out artificial dyes. Participants will bring home silk gift-wrapping cloths they dye and print on with local leaves, flowers, or mushrooms. Looking ahead, we’ll learn how engineers and biologists are partnering to grow vibrant colors directly into foods and fabrics using specialized living bacteria, eliminating the need for chemical dye baths.

Demystifying Drones

Saturday, July 11 | 1 p.m.
Fee: $38/person

Test your pilot skills with drone challenges guided by local experts, then discover how drones are used across McHenry County through live outdoor demonstrations, including:

• RC planes
• Search-and-rescue technology
• State police drone operations
• An up-close look at large agricultural drones

You’ll also have the chance to ask questions and learn more about the safety, privacy, and practical considerations surrounding drone technology. Light lunch and snacks provided.

Open to ages 18+ | Tickets: $38/person

Presented in partnership with the Chain O’ Lakes Eagles RC Flying Club and assisted by experienced club members.

Music, Meditation, and Moon Gazing

Friday, May 22 | 6:45 p.m.
Fee: $23.18/person

Join us for a night unlike any other—where wine and wonder flow, music fills the air, and the universe opens before your eyes.

• 6:45 p.m. Music, Wine, Moon Mingling
  Relax with wine and cheese, celestial music, and casual mingling with the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
• 7:30 p.m. Inner Peace Meets Outer Space
  Merge the interstellar intensity of the Artemis II space flight with the grounding practice of mindfulness. Social scientist Magdalena Farc will help us find where inner peace meets outer space under MCC’s state-of-the-art planetarium dome.
• 8:30 p.m. Live Planetarium Sky Show
  After a short break for another glass of wine, we will return to the Planetarium for a Live Sky Show with Astronomer Paul Hamill. We will tour the current night sky, with a special focus on the moon and imagery from the Artemis II mission.
• 9 p.m. Telescope Viewing and Dessert
  Gather at the outdoor Compass Rose for celestial viewing through MCC’s advanced digital telescopes. Enjoy starry skies and decadent desserts as the universe above unfolds. This date was specially selected for the best view of the moon.

Open to ages 21+ | Tickets: $28.13/person

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Probable: The Science of AI and Passion of Poets

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 6:30 p.m.
Fee: $26/person

A poet-guided, AI-assisted night of remixing love poems.

Let the algorithm break the ice!

Couples of all kinds—friends, new connections, or long-time loves—are invited to a playful, science-curious date night where poetry meets probability. Those flying solo and larger groups are also welcome!

Guided by renowned local Dr. Darius Jackson, a member of FourPoets OneMic, and MCC AI and IT Security expert Bonnie Johnson (AAISM), the evening begins with famously awkward love poems fed into Artificial Intelligence (AI). Watch as they’re resampled and delivered back with surprising bravado. From there, we turn to genuinely great love poems, exploring what makes them work—and what happens when an algorithm tries to predict beauty, tenderness, or spark.

Along the way, we’ll discuss the science behind AI, including:

• How does an algorithm generate novelty?
• What’s the difference between originality and probability-driven surprise?
• Why can a machine sound so confident about feelings it doesn’t have?

With romantic drinks and hors d’oeuvres in hand, attendees will use AI’s fearless first drafts as a springboard to create their own love poems. No pressure or required sharing. The AI goes first and you decide what to keep, revise, or laugh away.

Everyone will leave with a printed keepsake of their poetry, a tangible reminder of an evening spent experimenting with language, intimacy, and a bit of borrowed digital courage.

Open to ages 21+ | Tickets: $26/person

Sip, Stretch, and Yoga: Where Science Meets the Mat

Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 1–3 p.m.
Fee: $33.85 per person

Get ready to stretch your body and your brain — where anatomy meets movement and science gets bendy! No yoga experience (or stretch pants) required.

This event blends a yoga class with a live anatomy demonstration as our instructor—suited up in a muscle-mapping bodysuit—guides participants through poses while a scientist reveals which muscles are firing behind the scenes. Mimosas, mocktails, and brunch bites will fuel the fun.

Together, we’ll turn a familiar wellness practice into a fun, fascinating exploration of the body in motion, with zero pressure to be flexible or fancy. You may even win a T-shirt, tote bag, or free yoga classes in our local-business-supported raffle.

Participants will enjoy:

• Playful, community-powered science vibes
• Post-class treats (mimosas, mocktails, brunch bites)
• A free raffle featuring science and wellness goodies from local businesses
• A photo board for splendid selfies, celebrating your leveled-up yoga knowledge

Perfect for the yoga-curious, the science enthusiasts, and anyone who loves learning, laughing, and a good stretch.