Women in Technology International will present a panel discussion and networking event, Tackling the STEM Skills Gap in Boston, on November 16, 5:30-8:30PM at Regis College (Fine Arts Center, 235 Wellesley Street in Weston).  STEM enthusiasts, educators, business leaders and strategists, and those in talent development and recruitment are invited to explore best practices in corporate/educational collaboration and workforce training. $25 ($15 for WITI members).  Register online. Speakers include:

• Chandana Gopal, Research Manager for IDC Business Analytics software;
• Parna Sarkar-Basu, head of marketing for all-flash storage company Kaminario, Boston Network Executive Advisor for WITI, and co-founder of South Shore Science Festival;
• Brandy Freitas, Teen Program Manager at Science Club for Girls and former James Mills Pierce Fellow in biophysics at Harvard; and
• Anne M. Powers, Associate Dean of STEM and Education and Professor of Biology at Regis College.

The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University opens its planetarium for free public presentations on the third Friday of each month (except April), with two one-hour shows:  5:30PM and 6:30PM.  This month, on November 18, the show will be Back to the Moon for Good.  The 5:30PM family-oriented show is sold out, but you can still register for the 6:30PM show for the general public.  For future shows, registration opens two weeks prior to each event via links on this page listing upcoming events.

MIT’s Edgerton Center holds free Science on Saturday programs approximately monthly during the school year for elementary, middle, and high school students — as well as their parents and teachers.  Each is a fun, one-hour, interactive presentation beginning at 10AM in MIT’s Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge.  Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. No pre-registration is necessary but seating is limited and first-come, first-seated.  The upcoming programs are:

• December 3: Physics
• February 4, 2017:  Your Developing Brain
• March 4, 2017: Chemistry
• April 1, 2017: How the Internet Works

To celebrate Computer Science Education Week, Hubspot (2 Canal Park in Cambridge) will show the movie, Code Girl, on December 5, 6-9PM.  The film portrays high-school girls around the world as they break into technology and programming. Drinks, dinner, and mingling start at 6PM, with the movie at 6:30PM.  Register for free. For more information, email ejames@hubspot.com.

The Wellesley College chapter of Science Club for Girls invites families to its fourth annual Science Fest on November 13, 2-4PM at the Science Center on the Wellesley campus. Students in Grades K-8 will have the opportunity to interact with various STEM departments and organizations on the Wellesley campus.  For more information, see their Facebook page or email idalessa@wellesley.edu or msarang@wellesley.edu.