All posts by newtonstem

Highland Street Foundation: Free Fun Fridays at Museums This Summer

Events, Opportunities

The Highland Street Foundation is bringing back Free Fun Fridays, during which it provides support for 85 selected museums and cultural venues open to everyone for free on specified Fridays. Here are the STEM-oriented Free Fun Fridays on the schedule this summer:

New ‘Wicked Smart’ Exhibit at Museum of Science Highlights Local Innovation

Opportunities

Last week, Boston’s Museum of Science unveiled a new permanent exhibit, Wicked Smart, to showcase innovations developed in Massachusetts.  It’s in the Blue Wing and is included in regular admission to the museum.  On display are:  Particle Mirror interactive special effects, RoboBees flying micro-robots, Freedom Chair off-road wheelchair, Daktari CD4 blood cell counter for HIV/AIDS patients, G3PD 3-D printed glass, and Cheetah 2 autonomous running and jumping robot.

LigerBots Intro Night for Students & Their Parents, June 12

Events, Opportunities

The LigerBots — Newton’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team spanning both high schools — will host Intro Night on June 12, 6:30-8:30PM at Newton South HS (in the Wood Shop, Room 9170, to the right of the auditorium) for prospective team members and their parents to learn about FRC and the engineering, business, and community outreach activities of the team. Attendees can drive the LigerBots robot, use design software and power tools, make marketing materials, participate in engineering-challenge games, and eat dessert!

Thomas Edison Invention Challenge, Due June 19

Events, Opportunities

The Edison Innovation Foundation is sponsoring an Invention Challenge, with entries due June 19. Use any or all of the following to create something new and unique:  a fork, 10 inches of string, a small bar of soap, a corkscrew, a plastic drinking cup, and/or any small, portable kitchen item of your choosing.  Email a drawing or photo of your invention, with a few words of description, to info@thomasedison.org by June 19. Four winners will receive gift cards of $100, $75, $50, and $25.

Amateur Radio Relay League Field Day at Dexter Southfield, June 24-25

Events

The Clay Center Amateur Radio Club — a public outreach STEM program of the Dexter Southfield school — will host the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL), Field Day on June 24 (3-6PM) and June 25 (9AM-Noon) at the Clay Center Observatory, on the Dexter Southfield campus (20 Newton Street in Brookline; 5th floor).  The ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air operating event in Amateur Radio, involving tens of thousands of amateur radio operators from across the country and lots of public demonstrations.  It’s free and open to the public, and you do not need a radio license to participate. If you’re bringing a group of more than five people, please email Bob Phinney to let him know.

Register for Destination Imagination 2017-18

Opportunities

Registration is now open for Newton’s Destination Imagination program for the 2017-18 school year.  It’s a volunteer-run STEAM program for Grades K-12. Teams of 2-7 students form in September and address various design challenges (see preview) throughout the year in preparation for regional tournaments in the early spring and potentially state and global competitions in May. Details are in this webinar. The registration fee of $135 is reduced to $95 for those volunteering to co-manage a team.

Clay Center Observatory: Public Telescope Nights This Summer

Events

The Clay Center Observatory, on the campus of Dexter Southfield School (20 Newton Street in Brookline; 5th floor), will hold Public Telescope Nights 8PM to 9PM on these Tuesdays:  July 11, 18, 25 and August 1 and 8.  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.  The Clay Center offers a range of Outreach Programs for community groups.  Check the Center’s calendar for future events.

Jr. Tech STEM Programs on Cape Cod This Summer

Opportunities

Jr.Tech will offer these STEM co-ed camps on Cape Code this summer: