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.
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Science Club for Girls: 10th Annual Catalyst Awards, Nov. 2
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.
Transportation YOU Summit for Girls in Grades 6-12, Nov. 4
WTS Boston will host the Transportation YOU Boston Summit on November 4, 9AM-2PM (10 Park Plaza, 2nd floor, Boston) for girls in Grades 6-12 who are interested in transportation. The event will include workshops (Bridge Design and Inspection, Logistics: How Does Software Get Your Stuff to You?, Roadway Planning Puzzle) and a panel discussion. Participation is free, but spots are limited, so register ASAP by emailing this registration form to Alison.Love@stvinc.com. Lunch is included. For more information, contact Ali Love at that address or Dianne Gunther at Dianne.Gunther@dot.gov. This event is part of the Transportation YOU outreach program — a joint initiative of Women’s Transportation Seminar International and the U.S. Department of Transportation to inspire girls’ interest in transportation careers, provide mentorship, and encourage the taking of STEM courses as stepping stones to careers in transportation.
Register for Science on Saturday (Science of Art) at MIT Lincoln Labs, Oct. 21
Registration is now open for two Saturday-morning sessions of Science on Saturday, on October 21 at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory (244 Wood Street in Lexington). The topic will be The Science of Art, presented by the Lincoln Employee African American Network (LEAN) Employee Resource Group. All children (5-17 years) must be escorted by an adult, and every adult must be escorted by a child or children. Children under 5 are not admitted. Admission is free but each person attending must be registered. Space is limited, so register online soon for either Session 1 (9AM to 10:30AM) or Session 2: 10:45AM to 12:15PM). Register an adult first, then a child, then others. Adults must bring government photo identification. See other rules on the registration pages.
Clay Center Amateur Radio Classes: Sept 27, Oct 20-21, Nov 17-18
The Clay Center Amateur Radio Club — a public outreach STEM program of the Dexter Southfield school — is offering the following classes:
Beginner Level Amateur Radio: A radio Technician Class course for adults — and children (ages 11+) with a parent — to facilitate successful completion of the FCC radio license test, which will be administered in the final class. Children passing the test will receive free membership in the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club, the largest youth-oriented radio club in New England. Six Wednesdays starting September 27, 6:3o-8:45PM at the Clay Center at Dexter Southfield School. Register here via Newton Community Education.
Amateur Radio License Weekends: Two separate courses prepare you for either the FCC Technician license exam or FCC General license exam. Each course runs over one weekend, 6-9PM on Friday evening and 9AM-5PM on Saturday, followed by the corresponding FCC exam at 5PM on Saturday, at the Clay Center at Dexter Southfield School. $65 fee for each course covers exam fee, lunch, snacks, and printed materials. Advance registration and payment required. To register, go to www.cc-arc.org/
- Technician License: A fast-paced, two-day course (October 20-21) to prepare high-school students and adults to take the FCC Technician license exam. Some preliminary reading and study is required, and material will be sent about a week before the course.
- General License: A two-day course (November 17-18) to prepare for the FCC General License exam.
Clay Center: Public Telescope Nights on Tuesdays; Introduction to Astronomy, Oct. 18
Public Telescope Nights: The Clay Center Observatory, on the campus of Dexter Southfield School (20 Newton Street in Brookline; 5th floor), holds Public Telescope Nights 8PM to 9PM on Tuesdays through November (except October 31 and November 21). Go here to pick a date and register in advance. Events are canceled if weather is rainy or overcast: Call 617-454-2795 one hour before the event for a recorded message.
Introduction to Astronomy: The Clay Center Observatory at Dexter Southfield has teamed up with Newton Community Education to offer a course about telescopes, constellations, sky navigation, Earth’s seasons, and phases of the moon. Weather permitting, the class will use the Clay Center’s 25” research-grade telescope and other telescopes — and also explore the fiber-optic-lit Stars Court and the 3D Moon Court. Three Wednesdays starting October 18, 6:30-8:30PM at the Clay Center at Dexter Southfield School. $75 fee. Register here.
STEM Pathways: Dinner and Dialogue, Oct. 11
STEM Pathways — a Boston University/MIT outreach program for synthetic biology — will host its spring Dinner & Dialogue at BU on October 11, 4:30-7PM to “bring together teachers and administrators with the region’s STEM outreach programs, universities, industries, and resources for impact discussions and networking.” The organization seeks input to ensure that high-school graduates have access to synthetic biology programs at Boston University and MIT, and that industry has a workforce that is skilled and technically competent for projected needs. Admission is free, but you must RSVP here by 10PM on October 9. For more information, email connect@stempathways.org.
STEM Pathways High-School Training in Synthetic Biology, Oct. 14 & Nov. 4
STEM Pathways — a Boston University/MIT outreach program for synthetic biology — will offer a one-day training session for high-school students (ages 15+) on two Saturdays — October 14 and November 4 — 10AM-4PM, at Boston University. Students will learn about fundamental synthetic biology tools and concepts like DNA purification, gel electrophoresis, and bacterial transformation in a working synthetic biology lab environment. There is no fee, and lunch will be provided. Registration (including a recommendation letter from a teacher) is required by October 4 for the October 14 session or by October 25 for the November 4 session. For more information, email connect@stempathways.org.
Boys & Girls Club Seeks Teachers for Two After-School STEM Classes
The John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club seeks adults or high-school students to teach two after-school STEM classes, compensated at $15-$20 per hour. Contact Michael Finnegan, Director of Operations, at mfinnegan@newtonbgc.com or 617-630-2066.
- 3-D Printing: For teens. Fridays, 4-5PM at the Boys & Girls Club (675 Watertown Street), October 7 through December 1.
- LEGO Robotics: For Grades 3-5. Tuesdays, 2-3PM at the Education Center (100 Walnut Street), October 3 through November 28.
Thomas Edison Scavenger Hunt, Sept. 25 – Oct. 10
The Edison Innovation Foundation will hold the Thomas Edison Scavenger Hunt starting September 15 and ending October 10. Contestants will find answers on the Edison Innovation Foundation’s social-media platforms to compete for prizes. Rules and questions will be released at the start of the competition.