All posts by newtonstem

Workshops in Space Exploration (WiSE) at Tufts in July

Events, Opportunities, Summer

Science educators and enthusiasts are invited to attend any of a series of Workshops in Space Exploration (WiSE) at Tufts University (directions):

  • July 11, 12, 14, 15:  Exploring the Solar System
  • July 18, 19, 21, 22:  Exploring the Milky Way
  • July 25, 26, 28, 29:  Exploring the Cosmos

The cost is $300 per four-day workshop, with scholarships available to Massachusetts educators.  The workshop presenters, Bill Waller and Danilo Marchesini, are professional astronomers and educators who are dedicated to sharing the wonders of the cosmos with people of all ages and abilities.  Register online.  To get on the mailing list or for more information, emailwilliamhwaller@gmail.com.

MIT EurekaFest Celebrates InvenTeams, June 17-18

Events

EurekaFest is a two-day celebration of invention and engineering sponsored by the Lemelson-MIT Program and highlighting the results of selected high-school InvenTeams from across the country.  (Newton North HS participated in 2013.)

June 17 at MIT Stata Center (32 Vassar Street, Cambridge).  Register here.

June 18 at the Museum of Science.  Museum admission fee applies.

  • 11AM-3PM:  Hands-on activities for all ages
  • 1PM-4:30PM:  High-school “Duck ‘n Hover” wind-powered design competition

Newton LigerBots Host Their FIRST-Ever Worldwide 3D-Printed-Parts Competition and Announce Winners

Accomplishments, Great ideas

The LigerBots — Newton’s high-school FIRST robotics team — ran its first-ever worldwide competition, team1965in which other FIRST teams from around the globe submitted 3D-printed parts that they had created for use in their robots in the last two years.  A panel of LigerBots judged the entries on three criteria: creativity in how teams solved a problem, elegance of the solution, and overall complexity.

First Place:  FRC Team #1965 FireBirds from Boston created team4613a full tread drive, including treads, sprockets, and axles.

Second Place:  FRC Team #4613 Barker Redbacks from Sydney, Australia created a low-cost and lightweight gearbox — and offered to help other teams worldwide by sending them a gearbox.team868

Third Place: FRC Team #868 – TechHOUNDS from Carmel, Indiana created a pair of two-inch Mecanum wheels that were not available otherwise.

And huge congratulations to the LigerBots for creating and running this contest!

Newton Free Library STEAM Programs in June

Opportunities

The Newton Free Library offers a range of STEAM events monthly.  See details about these programs (and online registration) in the Library’s Events Calendar.

The following programs require online registration, which begins three weeks before each event or series:

  • CodeCampKidz:  Grades 7 and 8. Take a “mobile first” approach and build a series of re-usable Bootstrap Tools that you can re-use on your own responsive design projects. See details.  June 1, 8, 15, and 22, 4:30PM in the second-floor Computer Center.
  • Time for STEM:  Ages 15-30 months, with an adult.  June 2, 9, 16, and 23 at 10:30AM.
  • Minecraft Club:  Grades 6-12.  June 2 at 4PM.
  • Introduction to Arduino A:  Ages 18+.  June 2 at 7PM.
  • Introduction to Arduino B:  Ages 18+.  June 9 at 7PM.
  • Teen Tinker Club:  Grades 6-12.  June 16 at 4PM.
  • Intensive Arduino:  Ages 18+.  June 16 at 6:30PM.

And for these programs, you can pick up tickets (first come, first served) at the Children’s Desk 30 minutes before program starts:

  • STEAM Ahead:  Ages 3-5, with an adult.  June 2 at 4PM.
  • littleBits DIY Club:  Ages 9-12.  June 4 at 11AM.
  • Minecraft:  Grades 3-5.  June 9 at 6PM.
  • HexBugs:  Ages 5+, with adult.  June 10 at 3:30PM or 4:15PM.
  • KIBO Robots:  Ages 7-9 and adults.  June 20 at 4PM.

MIT’s Summer HSSP for Grades 7-12+ Registration Open Until June 19

Summer

MIT’s Summer HSSP is a weekend academic program (July 10-August 21) for students entering Grades 7-12 (plus those who just graduated high school).  Courses are run by volunteers on Sundays at various times between 11AM and 5PM.  Registration is now open until June 19 on a lottery basis, with equal consideration given to all applicants registering by that deadline.   The cost is $40 regardless of the number of courses taken, and generous financial aid is available.  For more information, email summer-hssp@mit.edu.  The course catalog contains these 26 STEM courses: Continue reading MIT’s Summer HSSP for Grades 7-12+ Registration Open Until June 19 →

UMass Amherst Summer Transportation Institute for Grades 10-12

Summer

Students entering Grades 10-12 are invited to apply to attend the UMass Amherst Summer Transportation Institute, a free, four-week program (July 6-29) to introduce high-school students to transportation-related careers and related academic studies through talks, team projects, field trips, and other activities.  Students may be commuters (9:30AM-4:30PM) or use the school’s overnight accommodations.  Applications, including a letter of recommendation, transcript, and an essay of up to 400 words, are due June 10.  For more information, contact Dr. Eric Gonzales at Gonzales@umass.edu or 413-577-1952.

Additional Tufts CEEO Summer Programs for Grades 3-8

Summer

Registration has opened for new programs at Tuft’s Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO).  Register ASAP, as space is limited and will be assigned as paid registrations are received.

  • Girls Design and Engineering Workshop, Grades 4-7:  July 18-22.  Explore electronics, human factors, 3D printing, programming, robotics, and user-centered design.
  • Engineering, Earthquakes, and More!, Grades 5-8:   Session 1:  July 18-22 (or Session 2:  August 1-5).  Use the engineering design process to design, build, and test structures to withstand earthquakes.
  • Co-Ed Robotics Session 3, Grades 3-8  July 25-29.  Use LEGO and other materials to complete open-ended design challenges focusing on stability, gearing, weight distribution, momentum, programming, and motors.

Newton South HS Science Open House, May 24

Events

The Newton South HS Science Department will hold its annual Open House on May 24, 4-7PM, featuring:

  • Open classrooms, with displays of student work, including:
    – Family Chemical Poster projects
    – AP Biology biotechnology projects
    – Biotechnology cancer projects and presentations
    – Honors and ACP Biology photosynthesis projects
    – Physics projects
  • Presentations by the NSHS Science Team and the LigerBots Robotics Team
  • Fun with Chemistry demonstrations for kids by our AP Chemistry students
  • Technology and Engineering display
  • Sustainability/Garden display
  • Tours of the Green Trail through the marsh (weather permitting)
  • Science Trivia Bowl
  • Speakers, including:
    – Our Conservation & Environmental Science class
    – Our Modern Global class, highlighting their recent trip to the Galapagos