Scientists, Technologists, and Artists Generating Exploration
STAGE — Scientists, Technologists, and Artists Generating Exploration — is a Center within the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME). At the heart of STAGE’s mission is the belief that creativity and discovery thrive at the intersection of disciplines. By bringing together artists, scientists, and technologists, the Center fosters a space where experimental ideas can take shape, leading to innovative approaches in both scientific communication and artistic creation. This multidisciplinary environment encourages collaboration that challenges traditional boundaries, ultimately generating work that not only entertains but also enlightens, sparking curiosity and deeper appreciation for science in audiences of all backgrounds.
STAGE’s distinct research focuses on creating and developing new theatre, film, games, and other artistic endeavors inspired by science and technology. STAGE harnesses the power of storytelling, emotional engagement, and entertainment to translate complex scientific ideas into relatable human experience, promoting understanding of the sciences in the public arena through new forms of artistic expression.
STAGE harnesses the power of storytelling, emotional engagement, and entertainment to translate complex scientific ideas into relatable human experience, promoting understanding of the sciences in the public arena through new forms of artistic expression.
Current Projects
Explore Recent STAGE News & Events
Isep Hosts STAGE Center in Paris
In partnership with UNESCO, Isep (the Paris Institute of Digital Technology) hosted the STAGE Center on their Paris campus and brought the Quantum Casino to local university and elementary students....
Quantum Games Return to Japan
This October, the STAGE Center returned to Sendai, Japan to support Tohoku University's 118th Homecoming Day festivities. Three STAGE participants joined the Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and...
STAGE Center Exhibit Opens at O’Hare International Airport
The STAGE Center, in collaboration with IBM and United Airlines, installed an interactive quantum computing exhibit at O'Hare International Airport on Thursday, September 25th. The exhibit offers a...
STAGE at the Illinois State Fair
The STAGE Center team was featured in Governor JB Pritzker's tent at this year's Illinois State Fair. A group of interdisciplinary students facilitated the Quantum Carnival as part of their quantum...
Tohoku Open Campus 2025
On July 30th and 31st, students from the STAGE Center and Tohoku University presented the Quantum Games in Sendai, Japan as part of Tohoku's annual "Open Campus Days" event. Bringing in around...
Podcast Spotlight: Bringing Quantum Science to Life On Stage
In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, host Veronica Combs interviews Nancy Kawalek, a Professor and Distinguished Fellow in the Arts, Science, and Technology at the University of Chicago’s...





