Brandeis Fall Splash is taking place on Sunday, November 3 from 10AM-3PM at the Olin Sang American Civilization Center on the Brandeis campus (map). Middle and high school students can take fascinating classes taught by Brandeis undergraduate and graduate students in topics ranging from cosmetics techniques to the Greek-Persian War. The program is free and comes with lunch. Register here.
Acton-Boxborough Online Math Competition, Nov. 16-17
The Acton-Boxborough Math Competition is holding a free online math contest for middle school students held November 16-17. The test will consist of fifteen problems ranging in difficulty. The problems will be posted on Saturday morning at 10AM, and submission are due on Sunday night at 11:30PM. No pre-registration is required. Learn more here.
Clark University Splash, Nov. 17
Clark University Splash offers classes for students in grades 5-12 taught by Clark University student including lectures, discussions, hands-on experiments, and lessons in the arts. It will take place on Sunday, November 17 from 9:30AM-2PM at Clark University’s Tilton and Jonas Clark Buildings. Register here.
Massachusetts STEM Week, Oct. 21-25
October 21-25 is Massachusetts STEM Week. Events scheduled for the MetroWest area include:
- Tuesday October 22, 10AM: Backyard and Beyond: Working in the Garden at the Discovery Museum in Acton
- Tuesday, October 22, 3:30PM: Vinci STEAM Robotics Workshop at the Needham Free Library, Grades 3-7
- Wednesday, October 23, 1PM: Early Career STEM Alumni Panel hosted by Mass Bay Community College on Webex (details)
- Wednesday, October 23, 3:30PM: See Yourself in the Green Workforce: Expl
ore, Share & Network! at Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University - Wednesday, October 23, 6:30PM: Carlson Lecture – Greenlan
d Ice Cores Tell Tales of Past Sea Level Change at Simons Theatre, New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston or via live stream with pre-registratio n. - Friday, October 25 at 4:30PM and 6PM: FREE Public Planetarium Film: Atlas of a Changing Earth
Webinars for High Schoolers: Intellectual Property — What is it? Who is it for?
Lemelson-MIT is presenting three webinars for high-school students to explore Intellectual Property (IP) — how to protect ideas. The webinars are useful for debate clubs to learn more about this year’s national debate topic on IP but are open to all. Register here.
- Orientation to the intellectual property system: September 11 (recording available here)
- Hot topics regarding U.S. IP laws & careers in IP: October 24, 8:30PM-10:30PM ET
- Deep dive into arguments for/against strengthening U.S. intellectual property protections: November 20, 8PM-9:15PM ET. This Includes individualized coaching and Q&A for teams who pre-register.
Northeastern University Splash, Nov. 9
Registration is now open for Northeastern University Splash, a daylong event offering workshops for students in grades 8-12 run by undergraduate students. Class topics include robotics, film, medicine, comedy, and philosophy. The event will take place on Saturday, November 9 in Ryder Hall on Northeastern’s campus and is free, with lunch and merchandise included. Students can register here.
Boston College Splash, Nov. 23
Boston College Splash is a daylong event offering courses for students in grades 6-12 taught by undergraduate and graduate students. Students can choose from courses covering a vast array of topics, including forensic science, global public health issues, and the history of ice cream. The program will take place on Saturday, November 23 in Stokes South Hall on Boston College’s main campus. Students can register here.
National Fossil Day at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Oct. 13
The Harvard Museum of Natural History (26 Oxford Street, Cambridge) is celebrating National Fossil Day on Sunday, October 13, 1-4PM. Harvard paleontologists will present their research and favorite fossils through short talks and table-top presentations. All ages are welcome, and regular museum admission rates apply. Free event parking is available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.
The following talks are recommended for ages 10 and up.
- 1:30-2PM – So You Found a Fossil… What Next?
- 2:15-2:45PM – Beyond Bones: The Secrets of Soft-Tissue Fossils
- 3-3:30PM – Tardigrades Through Time
There will also be a Fossil Story Time, recommended for ages 3-9.
NASA TechRise Student Challenge: Submissions due Nov. 1
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge is a national contest to design an experiment to be tested on a NASA-sponsored high-altitude balloon. Teams must include at least four students in grades 6-12 and one school employee. Sixty winning teams will each be given $1500 to build the experiment, support from mentors, and a spot for their experiment on a flight. Submissions are due on November 1, and winners will be announced January 21.
Massachusetts STEM Week, Oct. 21-25
Massachusetts STEM Week — an annual statewide celebration of STEM consisting of free community events and design challenges — takes place October 21-25. This year’s events include planetarium shows, a STEM fair, career panels, kids-friendly activities, and more. The week’s design challenges are:
- Extreme Zoo Makeover: A STEM Approach to Habitat Design (Grades 5-8)
- STEM Goes Green: The STEM Challenge (Elementary and Middle School Students)
- “I Am STEM” Lesson Library: Problem-Solving in Books (Grades PK-7)
- Engineering Plastic Filters (Ages 8-12)
- Carbon Busters: Redesigning Schools to be Energy-Efficient (Grades K-12)