Monthly Archives: November 2021

The LEAH Project — This STEM Diversity Program Deserves Your Support

The LEAH Project has proven successful in empowering Boston-area youth — low-income, of color, and/or first generation college — to diversify STEM fields and succeed in them. Guided by its parent organization, Health Resources in Action, the LEAH Project offers paid STEM internships, college and career readiness programs, and leadership opportunities to build confidence and provide skills and connections that youth need to thrive. Join NewtonSTEM in supporting the LEAH Project with your donation of any amount.

As one LEAH Youth Leader says,

“LEAH has made me feel strong and capable enough to pursue my dreams in medicine. If it wasn’t for their rigorous Biomedical Research internship, I wouldn’t have thought I was capable of learning biomedical research. Because of LEAH’s guidance and support during online learning, I was able to learn and perform DNA extraction and other molecular biology experiments. The LEAH staff also provided a space for me to meet other youth who share similar interests, whom I am able to laugh and learn with. Most importantly, I grew academically and socially because I was challenged by my teaching assistants in the summer and feel ready enough to teach younger youth and challenge them to learn as much as possible. LEAH has been a wonderful and eye-opening opportunity for me.”

Science Club for Girls Seeks Donations to Expand STEM Success in Underrepresented Communities

Science Club for Girls is a non-profit that does a terrific job fostering excitement, confidence, and literacy in STEM for girls and young women from underrepresented communities in the Boston metro area. This fall, SCFG has expanded by 40% to reach 350 youth with 83 mentors in its Science Clubs — four in-person clubs and 30 virtual. There are still 230 girls on its waiting list, and SCFG aims to raise $50,000 by December 31 to extend its reach to meet this need. Join NewtonSTEM in supporting SCFG with your donation of any amount. We’re aiming to raise $500 — 1% of SCFG’s goal.

Harvard Museums Online: Evolution and Conservation in the Deep Sea, Dec. 2

Harvard Museums of Science and Culture will present a free, live, online event, Evolution and Conservation in the Deep Sea, on December 2 from 6PM to 7:15PM. Advance registration is required. The speaker will be Rus Hoelzel, Professor of Molecular Ecology at Durham University (UK) and a Visiting Fellow in Conservation Biology at Harvard’s Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology.

Newton Boys & Girls Club Offers After-School STEM, Acquires 3D Printer

Newton’s John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club has a widening range of STEM programs for its winter season after-school program from November 29 to January 31. Offerings include Girls Who Code, Kids Who Code, LEGO Robot Workshop, STEM Engineering, STEM Dioramas and Models, STEM Movie Club, Computer Tech, and Teen Robotics (at Newton North HS). All programs require a Club membership, which costs $125 per family (or $50 per high-school student), and financial aid is available to ensure that no one is turned away due to ability to pay.

The Club has recently acquired an amazing Lulzbot TAZ Workhorse 3D Printer donated by the Division of Clinical Informatics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, led by Dr. Yuri Quintana. Thanks also to Nicolas Quintana for disassembling the printer and preparing it for transport to the Club, and to Kevin Osborn for installing the printer at the Club. Kevin will also be training Club staff in its use.

Girl Scouts STEM Expo Seeks Presenters for Workshops & Expo, Apr 30

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts will hold its 10th annual STEM Conference and Expo in Waltham on April 30, in two sessions:  Grades K-5 will be 9AM-12:30PM, and Grades 6-12 will be 1:30PM-6PM. The organizers invite volunteers to apply to offer demonstrations or hands-on activities (5 to 30 minutes each) to engage Girl Scouts in STEM. For more information, contact Eileen Koury at ekoury@gsema.org.