Tickets are still available for the free Public Expo at the conclusion of the MIT Media Lab’s Reality Virtually Hackathon.  This hackathon (for which participant registration is now closed) will be held October 6-9 to gather 400 “interdisciplinary minds to explore the application of virtual reality and augmented reality technologies for building new experiences” in the areas of healthcare/medicine, entertainment, sports, architecture, gaming, and retail. The Public Expo will be held October 9, 1-5PM, to showcase the results of the hackathon, followed by an awards ceremony, 5-6PM. Register here for the Public Expo.

The Newton Free Library will host the following STEM events in October:

• October 5:  Scratch Club, 7-8PM, Grades 3-4. Space is limited.  Pick up tickets 15 minutes beforehand at the Children’s Desk.
• October 16:  Crazy 8s Math Club, 4-5PM, Grades K-2. Space is limited.  Register now for all 7 sessions (October 16, 23, 30; November 6, 13, 20, 27).
• October 17:  Programming with Alice, 4:30-5:30PM, Grades 5-7. Register now.
• October 24:  Programming with Alice, 4:30-5:30PM, Grades 5-7.  Registration opens on October 3 at 9AM.
• October 25:  Engineering Club, 7-8PM, Grades 5-7.  Registration opens on October 4 for all 4 sessions (October 25, November 29, December 20, and January 24).
• October 28:  Planetarium. Four programs in an inflatable planetarium set up in Druker Auditorium. Sign up for each 30 minutes before each program.
  1:15PM – In My Backyard (Grades K-2)
  2PM – In My Backyard (Grades K-2)
  2:45PM – Oasis in Space (Grades 3+)
  3:30PM – Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity (Grades 6+)

Register by October 2 for Project Lead the Way‘s free STEM professional development conference on October 13, 8:00AM-3PM, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Salisbury Laboratories (directions). Administrators, principals, teachers, school counselors, and business professionals are invited to learn about K-12 curricular programs in engineering, computer science, and biomedical science. For more information, email pltw@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5198.

MIT’s Edgerton Center holds free Science on Saturday programs approximately monthly during the school year for elementary, middle, and high school students — as well as their parents and teachers.  Each is a fun, one-hour, interactive presentation beginning at 10AM in MIT’s Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge.  Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees also receive same-day admission to the MIT Museum at half-price. No pre-registration is necessary but seating is limited and first-come, first-seated.  The next program will be October 14: Biotechnology. For more information, contact Dr. Todd H. Rider, Mad Scientist in Residence, at thor@mit.edu.

Boston Tech Mom (“a parent’s guide to raising a future techie”) is a great resource for all things STEM around Boston — including her monthly posts about free or low-cost STEM Events for Kids in Boston. Here’s her October list of STEM events.

Science Club for Girls invites everyone to the 10th annual Catalyst Awards Celebration on November 2 , 6-8PM at District Hall (75 Northern Avenue in Boston).  This event recognizes those who are strategic, innovative, and effective in promoting STEM, and this year’s honorees are Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, Shirley Leung, and Dr. Pendred Noyce.  Tickets are $125, which gives you an inspiring/informative evening AND supports SCFG’s amazing programs to offer underrepresented girls the confidence, knowledge, and experience they need to pursue careers in STEM.  Celebrate SCFG’s diversity, depth of programming, personal and leadership development, community network, and results.