Summer STEM Programs

Posted on January 19, 2012 by newtonstem in Resources

NewtonSTEM’s Family Resources page lists 21 STEM-related summer programs for kids.  The newest entry is for the Museum of Science’s series of one-week courses for students entering grades 1-8.  If you know of any other summer programs — or have corrections to our listings — please email info@newtonstem.org.  Other resources include programs for after-school, weekends, and school breaks, as well as Newton Public Schools programs and online resources.

Boston Globe Forum: Building the Talent Pipeline, Jan. 25

Posted on January 15, 2012 by newtonstem in Events

The Boston Globe will host a free, interactive forum on the effects of STEM education on the workforce talent pipeline, January 25, 8:15AM-9:30AM at the Microsoft NERD Center, 1st Floor Conference Room, 1 Memorial Drive, Cambridge.  Register for free online.  Panelists include:

  • Jennifer Chaves, Distinguished Scientist & Managing Director, Microsoft Research New England
  • Dr. Yvonne Spicer, Vice President of Advocacy & Educational Partnerships, Museum of Science
  • Marcy Reed, President, National Grid Massachusetts
  • Jondavid “JD” Chesloff, Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Roundtable
  • David Cedrone, Executive Director, Massachusetts Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
  • Moderator: Shirley Leung, Business Editor, The Boston Globe
  • Featured Speaker: Chris Mayer, Publisher, The Boston Globe

This forum is part of Building a Better Commonwealth’s series, “Talent: The Foundation of our Future.”

Google Launches Worldwide Science Fair 2012

Posted on January 15, 2012 by newtonstem in Events

Google, in partnership with CERN, The LEGO Group, National Geographic, and Scientific American, has launched the second annual Google Science Fair — the world’s largest online science competition.  Students aged 13 – 18 from around the world are invited to ask questions and answer them through science experiments.  They then have a chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences, scholarships, and real-life work opportunities.  Follow the Google Science Fair page on Google+ for updates, tips, and inspiration, and check out videos on the Google Science Fair channel on YouTube, including one on how to enter.  Projects are due by April 1.   Here are the official rules (PDF).

Last year, more than 10,000 students from 91 countries entered.  Here’s a video of a presentation by the three young women who won last year.

NNHS and NSHS Teams to MA Science Olympiad, March 17

Posted on January 15, 2012 by newtonstem in Events

Both Newton North HS and Newton South HS are sending teams to the Massachusetts Division C state-wide competition for the national Science Olympiad, to be held March 17 at Framingham State College.  Are any Newton middle schools sending teams to the Division B competition, on the same date, at Assumption College in Worcester?

Mass State Science & Engineering Fair Dates & Registration

Posted on December 18, 2011 by newtonstem in Events, Opportunities

The Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair is for students from all Massachusetts public, private/parochial, and home schools.  Each school may send two outstanding student projects directly to the State Fair — one individual project and/or one team project (2 or 3 students per team).  Winners from each school Science Fair can also qualify for a Regional Fair, and the winners of the Regional Fairs may also enter the State Fair. Continue reading →

New NPS Deputy Superintendent is Strong on STEM

Posted on December 17, 2011 by newtonstem in Recommendations

Dr. Ann Koufman-Frederick has joined Newton Public Schools as the system’s first Deputy Superintendent for Teaching & Learning.  We’re fortunate to have an educator with a strong background and interest in STEM in this new position overseeing Newton’s K-12 curriculum and professional development.  Here’s a bit of her background in STEM: Continue reading →

Grant Opportunity: Clean Energy Education & Workforce Development

Posted on December 16, 2011 by newtonstem in Opportunities, Resources

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center released a Workforce Development Request for Qualifications (PDF) on December 12: “Workforce Capacity Building and Youth Pipeline Opportunities.”  It seeks proposals that, in the aggregate, will: Continue reading →

Eric Olson’s Recommendations for a STEMmy Holiday

Posted on December 9, 2011 by newtonstem in Resources

Brandeis Professor Eric Olson offers these ideas for holiday activities:

Make an Electric Motor: Start with this YouTube video because it
explains (briefly) how it works, and then consider following the instructions in this video or this one, which has a much shorter parts list.

Experiment with a Mini Wind Turbine: The PicoTurbine company started with this windmill kit and branched out to numerous other renewable energy kits.

Watch NASA Videos about Curiosity: NASA has published two amazing videos about Curiosity, the rover that’s on its way to Mars — one on the launch and one on a simulation of its landing on Mars after less than 9 months traveling at 57,000 MPH.

More STEM Gifts and Activities for the Holidays

Posted on December 9, 2011 by newtonstem in Resources

Newton teacher Sarah Nitsche recommends these websites for great STEM-related holiday gift ideas:

  • GreatSchools.org has videos about their Best STEM Toys for ages 3-5, ages 6-8, and ages 9+.
  • STEMfinity.com is an online store selling hands-on kits in a range of STEM fields for grades pre-K through 12.

And Worcester Polytechnic Institute maintains an online list of STEM resources for educators, parents, and K-12 students — for use during holiday breaks or anytime.

Holiday Recommendations for Elementary-School STEM Books

Posted on December 8, 2011 by newtonstem in Recommendations

Many thanks to Horace Mann school librarian Patti Karam for compiling the following holiday booklist of twelve STEM-related recommendations for elementary-school students, in response to our request for ideas for STEM holiday gifts. (Note:  The ones marked OSTB are Outstanding Science Trade Books noted by the National Science Teachers Association, which maintains a broad catalog of recommendations at www.nsta.org/recommends/)  Here’s Patti Karam’s booklist: Continue reading →