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Nerd Alert! Google's 'Geek Street' To Bring Gizmos to Daley Plaza

 A scene from a Geek Street festival in New York.
A scene from a Geek Street festival in New York.
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Google

DALEY PLAZA — A new street festival is coming to Chicago, but instead of hot dogs and cover bands, it's bringing robots and 3D printers.

Google has teamed up with City Hall and several local museums and universities to develop its first-ever "Geek Street" festival in Chicago. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., and is meant to stir scientific curiosity in Chicago's children. 

"We know that exposure to computer science can lead to some of the most rewarding jobs in the world, so we as a tech industry have a responsibility to allow kids to be creators of technology and not just consumers," said Rob Biederman, head of public affairs in Google's Chicago office.

Highlights of the fest include Northern Illinois University's booth, which will allow guests to design jewelry and manufacture their pieces via 3D printers. The Museum of Science and Industry will bring the star of its popular "Robot Revolution" exhibit, and Google will be on hand to introduce basic coding activities, among other things. 

Geek Street arrives here after making a 2013 debut in New York. Biederman said Google chose Chicago as the festival's second location because it houses more than 600 employees here. He also said he believed, along with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, that the city was emerging as a global tech hub. Getting local children interested in so-called STEAM (science, tech, engineering, art, and math) disciplines would continue that momentum. 

Dave Matthews says the event hopes to interest kids in STEAM fields:

"Chicago is proud to host the Google Geek Street festival, which unites the city’s prestigious museums, universities, tech hubs and clubs to provide students with unique opportunities that will engage and inspire the next generation of STEAM leaders and innovators who will move Chicago forward," Emanuel said in a statement. 

The event is open to children of all ages, and the Chicago Park District will bus in children from summer camps all over the city to participate. Click here to find the full list of institutions participating and their activities. 

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