All posts by Henry Goldstein

Data Jam Competition for Grades 5-12

The Northeast U.S. Ecosystems Data Jam is a contest dedicated to engaging students in data science and ecology. Students will analyze local data sets collected by professional scientists and create an original work to convey their interpretations. Possible media include graphics, songs, videos, computer games, plays, books, and more. Early-bird schoolyard registration ends October 15, and all pre-registration is due January 15. 

Congressional App Challenge: Submissions Due Oct. 24

Founded in 2013, the Congressional App Challenge is a prestigious national competition for middle and high school students to design original apps. Each congressional district selects a winning app to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and online, with Rep. Jake Auchincloss selecting the winner of district MA04, which includes Newton. Apps can be built using any programming language for any platform, with no limits on theme or topic. Last year’s local winner developed Handshake, an app dedicated to live interpretation of ASL and English during conversations between hearing and deaf individuals. Submissions are due October 24 at 12PM. Register here.

Newton Robotics Teams perform at Boston’s Robot Block Party

At the 7th Annual MassRobotics Robot Block Party on September 28, visitors witnessed innovative robot demonstrations and hands-on interactions, learned from experts in the field through presentations and a college and career fair, and played robotics games. With the highest student participation yet, over a dozen FIRST high school robotics teams demonstrated their robots at the event, including the Newton-based, internationally competing Lazer Robotics FIRST Tech Challenge team and the student-run LigerBots FIRST Robotics Competition team of Newton North High School and Newton South High School.

Jerry Gong, captain of Lazer Robotics and sophomore at Newton South High School, wrote: “The MassRobotics robot block party was one of the most inspiring and popular outreach events we’ve ever attended… Specifically, the focus on tech-related companies made the experience quite eye-opening for the team. To see what we’ve learned as a high school robotics team over the past years being applied in real-world industries is truly inspiring. All the skills that we’ve learned through building, designing, and testing our robots are the same set of skills that professional industries use to operate on a day-to-day basis. 

“I also felt that this event was an excellent representation of the strong FIRST robotics community in Massachusetts. Representing FTC, FRC, and even VEX robotics, this event represented high school robotics programs on a scale larger than any… FIRST robotics has inspired… the career paths of many [but doesn’t get much representation], and events like this truly put into perspective how much impact the world of high school robotics has on today’s generation. To know that the many hours of work that goes into our shared passion of creating robots is eventually what will change the world is truly inspiring.”

Eason, a sophomore at Newton North High School and member of LigerBots, was similarly impressed by the Robot Block Party: “This event is truly inspiring. This is the most interactive and interesting event I’ve ever attended. Throughout the event, I talked to many companies and colleges. The opportunities presented are endless. Dozens of high-tech companies and colleges offer internship and educational programs for high schoolers. In addition, I loved the presence of numerous robotics teams. This [event is] hosted [not only] by tech companies but also by high schoolers. It gives a more welcoming vibe for kids of younger ages.”

The Robot Block Party offered a unique glimpse into the vast field of robotics and an impactful opportunity for students interested in STEM. The event will return next year with even more to experience.

Cambridge Science Festival (Sept. 23-29)

The Cambridge Science Festival, an annual week-long community celebration of STEM, will return this year September 23-29. Featuring activities, workshops, tours, debates, contests, talks, and more, the festival attracts over 50,000 visitors of all ages and backgrounds each year. The Festival Guide lists dozens of events for each day, including a demonstration of quantum mechanics through juggling (9/23 4-5PM), a panel on democracy in the age of AI (9/24 7-9PM), interactive talks with neuroscientists (9/25 2-5PM), a biotechnological escape room (9/26 1-9PM), exciting science demonstrations (9/27 3:30-4:30PM), a kayaking educational tour of the Charles River (9/28 1-6PM), and an electromagnetic art workshop (9/29 12-4PM). Admission is free.

NSHS Science Team offers Summer Science Program for Grades 6-10, Jul. 29-Aug. 30

The Newton Summer Science Program offers a series of week-long STEM courses taught by student members of the Newton South High School Science Team to inspire middle school students to explore engaging topics in science beyond the school curriculum. Additionally, the program offers courses in grades 9-10 math and science for high school students to begin the school year feeling prepared.

Online courses will be taught free of charge, and in-person courses at Newton North and Newton South High Schools cost $20 (which goes to Newton Community Education to pay for space and registration costs). 

See the full schedule and full course syllabus, then register here.

The NSHS Science Team also gratefully accepts donations (recommended: $15 per one-week course) that will support the team throughout the school year, to pay for competition fees and study materials. Checks may be written to Newton South High School with “Science Team” in the memo line, mailed to:
NSHS Science Team c/o Gerald Ng
Newton South High School
140 Brandeis Rd.
Newton, MA  02459

Harvard Museums of Science & Culture offer Week-Long Courses for Grades 4-6, Jul. 29-Aug. 9

The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture are offering weeklong half-day courses for students entering grades 4-6. A few openings remain for Grab Your Sketchbook (July 29-August 2), in which students will draw animals from diverse locations, and Invertebrate Investigators (August 5-August 9), a course dedicated to exploring the world of insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates. Courses cost $210 for museum members and $235 for non-members, and will take place Monday-Friday, 9:30AM-12:00PM. Register here.