All posts by newtonstem

Grades 7-12: Sign Up for Brandeis Splash!, Nov. 12

Events, Opportunities

Students in Grades 7-12 are invited to sign up for Brandeis University Splash! — a day of engaging courses taught by Brandeis undergraduates.  This year Splash! will be held on Saturday, November 12, from noon to 5PM on the Brandeis campus in Waltham. Courses are free, and an optional donation of $5 to $10 is appreciated. Students must check-in with a parent/guardian and this signed waiver. For more information, email essbrandeis@gmail.com. Among the wide-ranging courses offered are these STEM-oriented courses:

  • Introduction to Programming/Computer Science in Python
  • Introduction to Computer Programming in Java
  • Introduction to 3D Animation
  • An Introduction to Set Theory and Functions
  • Lying with Statistics and the Z-Test
  • 3D Design for 3D Printing
  • Conceptualizing Public Health: Influenza Vaccine Design
  • Chemistry of Baking
  • Crash Course to DNA
  • Immortality, Mind Control, and Zombies (in Biology)
  • Mind and Medicine
  • The Beginning and End of Our Universe
  • The Power of Posture: What they Didn’t Teach When You Learned about Puberty
  • Theoretical Neuroscience
  • The Heart: The Engine of Life

Newton Free Library: STEM Events in November

Events

The Newton Free Library offers these STEM-related events in

3rd Annual Civic Tech Challenge Hackathon, Nov. 5

Events, Opportunities

Generation Citizen brings together middle- and high-school students in several cities to work on civic tech innovations to address local issues.  Part of each region’s Civic Tech Challenge program is a one-day hackathon in which the students work with local professionals to augment their case when advocating for action.  Boston’s Civic Tech Challenge Hackaton will be held on November 5, 9AM-6PM, at Microsoft NERD (1 Cambridge Center in Cambridge). Professionals and college/graduate students in the areas of software development, digital marketing, graphic design, and data analysis are invited to register and volunteer to work with the middle- and high-school students for the day.  Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided.  Projects are in these tracks:

  • Data Visualizations to Influence Change
  • Information Communication Technologies for Mass Coordination and Civic Empowerment
  • Digital Storytelling to Raise Awareness

Girls Day at MIT Museum for Ages 10+, Nov. 5

Events, Opportunities

The MIT Museum hosts Girls Day twice a year:  November 5 and March 4.  Students ages 10 and older will meet women from MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department and the Society of Women Engineers.  The price of museum admission includes these activities for the day:

  • Secret Lives of Roboticists, 11AM-1PM
  • Robot Build Challenge with the Community Charter School of Cambridge Robotics Club, 2-4PM
  • Naija Beta Documentary, 1-4PM, about Nigerian-American MIT students teaching technology through a competitive robotics camps in Lagos, Nigeria.
  • Hands-on Activities, Noon-4PM

Studio of Engaging Math: Open House, Nov. 6, Plus New Workshops

Events

The Studio of Engaging Math, an after-school program for Grades K-8 in Brighton, has two announcements:

  • Open House for prospective students and their parents on Sunday, November 6, 11AM-2PM.  Play Math Hunt, win prizes, and explore 3D modeling, engineering, logic, and strategy games.
  • A series of one-hour Math Games workshops for ages 4-6 in November and December. Math games, logic puzzles, and more. $20 per session. Space is limited, so register soon.

EcoTarium: Free Admission for Teachers in November

Opportunities

To celebrate Educator Month, the EcoTarium (222 Harrington Way in Worcester) is offering free admission and free planetarium shows to teachers (and an accompanying friend) throughout November.  Teachers and their friends are also invited to the EcoTarium’s November Social Science evening event — after hours and child-free — on November 17, 5:30-7:30.  And field trips booked in November for November or January will have group admission charges discounted by 50%.  New education programs include Build Your World (Grades preK-3), The Art of Science Observation (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12), City Hot Zones (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12), and Asteroid: Mission Extreme (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12).

High-School Students: Register by Oct. 28 for MIT Splash, Nov. 19-20

Events, Opportunities

MIT’s Splash program runs each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving — this year, on November 19-20 (10AM-9PM on Saturday, and 9AM-6PM on Sunday).  Splash gives students in Grades 9-12 the opportunity to take a wide range of over mini-courses and participate in walk-in activities.  BostonTechMom has an insightful post recommending MIT Splash.  This year, over 300 courses will be offered in the areas of Science, Computers & Programming, Engineering, and Mathematics — plus other stuff. The cost is $40 regardless of the number of courses taken, and generous financial aid is available.

The first phase of registration is now open until October 28 for students to specify their preferences for classes.  Classes will then be filled by lottery, treating equally all those who register anytime in the first phase of registration.  Lottery results will be available by November 3. MIT notes, “To get a full schedule, we recommend ranking at least 3 classes and starring at least 10 classes per time block. All class choices will be entered into the lottery. This is not first-come first-served; classes will be assigned after student registration is closed, so take your time.”

Some classes may be available for those registering later, in a subsequent phase of registration.  See the Program Details page.  There’s also a free Parent’s Program with campus tours and discussion of issues of interest to parents (see last year’s schedule), with no need for registration.  For more information, email splash@mit.edu.