The NIU STEAM organization is hosting a discussion on anatomy and synthetic biology 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Fatty’s Pub and Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway, to celebrate the 200-year history of Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein.” Admission is free, and food and drink will be available to purchase.

This event is part of a broader monthly series of events called STEM Café, in which the organization hopes to share cutting-edge research with the public in an informal restaurant setting.

The discussion will feature five speakers, each of them touching on the past, present and future of dead bodies and body parts. Local historian Clint Cargile will be discussing how “scientific quests for knowledge led to grave robbing and murder in Dekalb County,” according to the event’s official Facebook page.

Anatomy instructor Dan Olson, who is also director of NIU’s Anatomy Laboratory, and local funeral director Sam Finch will be speaking on the NIU anatomy laboratory and the role cadavers play not only in educating students, but also in advancing modern medicine. They will also inform listeners on how they can donate their bodies to science post-mortem.

Instructor of biological science Mary McGill and assistant professor of mechanical engineering Sahar Vahabzahdeh will be speaking about the collaborations in the fields of synthetic biology and mechanical engineering to grow and design synthetic body parts, which can be used to more ethically study human bodies and advance medicine.

Event coordinator Judith Dymond said anybody can attend and get something from the discussion.

“This event is for everyone,” Dymond said. “We feel like more people should know about the collaborations in synthetic biology and mechanical engineering and the amazing things that are coming from it.”

Dymond also said her favorite part of STEM Café events are the questions and comments posed by the audience. The event provides an opportunity for attendees to ask questions about all things death-related.

“These events attract experts from a lot of different fields, so the question and answer portion and the audience comments can be just as informative and entertaining as the speakers’ presentations,” Dymond said.