The Technological Institute of Northwestern University is home to the performance space of ETOPiA as well as the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. It is located at 2145 Sheridan Rd. in Evanston on the Northwestern University campus, with free evening and weekend parking across the street, and accessible with the CTA Purple Line, Noyes Street stop.
ETOPiA: The Engineering Transdisciplinary Outreach Project in the Arts uses performance arts staged in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to inspire a cross-disciplinary dialogue about the role of science and technology in society. This annual event highlights the pursuit and application of knowledge by individuals whose historical and personal circumstances span from tragic to epic. In its inaugural year 2008, ETOPiA produced the play Copenhagen and opened the doors of the Technological Institute of Northwestern to an audience of almost a thousand community members, high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty from the greater university neighborhood. ETOPiA strives to generate awareness among students of all ages and disciplines about the interdependence of the different fields of study, and the services, responsibilities, and obligations of engineers and scientists in today's society.
To broaden outreach, admission is free to all, and special performances are scheduled for the benefit of area high schools. Support for this year's production comes from various Northwestern institutions, such the Materials Research Center, the International Institute for Nanotechnology, and The Graduate School. ETOPiA succeeds through direct involvement of Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students who assist in the organization and execution of the event.
Previous productions include Copenhagen, and Manya: A Living History of Marie Curie.
