Empow Studios offers one-day camps focused on designing, coding, and other STEM skills during school vacations. Upcoming dates include December 27, 28, 29, and 30.
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LigerBots host another successful FLL Qualifier competition and STEAM Expo
The sound of the MC announcing the matches over the background music, a sea of colorful custom T-Shirts, and LEGOs scattered throughout the school: This was the scene of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Newton Qualifier last Saturday at Newton North High School. The FLL Qualifier, run by Newton’s dual-high-school robotics team, the LigerBots, was back almost in full swing after the pandemic broke the momentum a couple years ago. During this event, LigerBots members from Newton North High School and Newton South High School shared their passion for robotics with elementary and middle school aged students from eighteen teams throughout the state.
Running alongside the Newton FLL Qualifier, the annual LigerBots STEAM Expo was a success for the over one hundred kids attending! The many exhibitors included the Massachusetts National Guard, Green Newton, and Johnson String as well as these high school clubs and teams: NNHS Programming Club, NNHS STEMentors, NSHS Science Team, and NSHS Women in STEM. In addition, the LigerBots hosted eight STEM activities and demonstrations resulting in the making of approximately 100 Binary Bracelets, 100 Balloon Cars, 100 origami double pyramids and tangrams, 50 cups of slime, and 20 Solar ovens — and the awarding of over 100 buttons.
The event ended with an Awards ceremony and a Dance party! Awards in several categories were given out, with the top ones going to the Goofy Gyros (Champion’s Award Winner) from Ashland, Mechanical Madness (Champion’s Award Runner-up) from North Attleboro, Team Arrow from Canton, the Green Gearticks from Lincoln, and the Exploding Bananas from Lexington. We had five teams from Newton, and of these, The Cookie Coders won 2nd place in the Core Values judging and Team Voltage won the Rising All-Star award.
— LigerBots Davis (NNHS Junior) and Charlotte (NSHS Sophomore)
McAuliffe Center: Stargazing and Planetarium Show, Dec. 2
The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University will host a free evening of stargazing and observation on December 2, 5PM-6:30PM (weather permitting), in FSU’s O’Connor parking lot by Maynard Road in Framingham. The International Space Station will pass by 5:44PM – 5:50PM. For more information, email cmc@framingham.edu.
BSCES Model Bridge Competition, Grades 5-12, Feb. 4
The Boston Society of Civil Engineers will host its annual Model Bridge Competition on February 4 both remotely and (once again!) in-person at Wentworth Institute. Awards are based on bridge aesthetics and appearance as well as load-carrying ability. Teams are 2-3 students each, and educators register them here by December 23. See Engineer Your Future for information about volunteering and/or donating to support the competition.
STEM programs at the Newton Free Library
The Newton Free Library is offering the following STEM-related programs. Registration is required and opens 14 days prior to each event.
- 3D Modeling with TinkerCAD: November 29, 7PM-8PM, Grades 5-12, virtual program.
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Little Lab Coats: December 19, 4PM-4:45PM, ages 6-9.
N.E. Sci-Tech Amateur Radio: Webinar on use of Safecast to monitor radiation in Ukraine, Nov. 15
The Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) at New England Sci-Tech and the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society will jointly host a webinar on November 15 at 7PM on the use of Safecast‘s crowdsourced environmental monitoring and bGieie radiation detectors to map radiation in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, occupation of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and attack on the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The link for the webinar will be sent in the weekly STARS newsletter early on the morning of November 15. To get the link, sign up for the newsletter here before Tuesday, checking “STARS – Amateur Radio Club” on the form.
LigerBots host FIRST LEGO League tournament and STEAM Expo, Nov. 19
Newton’s high-school robotics team, the LigerBots, will host a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Qualifier Competition at Newton North High School on November 19. The public is invited noon to 5PM to view the competition, meet the teams, see what the excitement is about, and participate in hands-on activities in the accompanying STEAM Expo.
Register for Science on Saturday (Water Worlds: The Search for Life in Space) at MIT Lincoln Labs, Dec. 3
Registration is now open for a hybrid session of Science on Saturday on December 3 at 3PM at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory (244 Wood Street in Lexington) and online via Zoom (link provided on that site before the event). The topic will be Water Worlds: The Search for Life in Space, presented by Lincoln Laboratory’s Sarah Willis. Learn about how water and life are intertwined, the search for extraterrestrial life within our solar system, and where life might be found elsewhere in the galaxy.
For in-person attendance, all children (5-17 years) must be escorted by an adult, and every adult must be a certified teacher or 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. Register online. Adults attending in-person must bring government photo identification. See other rules on the registration pages.
Hale Education’s Family Scavenger Hunt, Nov. 25
Hale Education is hosting its 7th annual Family Scavenger Hunt at Hale Reservation (80 Carby Road, Westwood) on November 25, 8AM-4PM. Join the self-guided adventure at any time to hike scenic trails, complete fun activities, learn about the outdoors, and find prizes. It’s free through sponsorship by Dedham Savings and Roche Bros. Registration is not required by but RSVP via Facebook is requested.
Grade 11: Apply for Research Science Institute by Dec. 2
The Research Science Institute is a summer STEM program for 80 accomplished students currently in Grade 11 to combine the study in scientific theory at MIT with off-campus work in science and technology research. The program starts with a week of intensive STEM classes, followed by a five-week research internship and a final week of written and oral presentations. The program is free and sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education and MIT. Applications — including essays, two recommendations, high-school transcripts, and test scores — are due December 2 for next summer.