All posts by newtonstem

Challenger Center’s Annual STEM Education Conference, Aug. 11

Events, Opportunities

On August 11, the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center will host a STEM education conference for educators, community leaders, and the public:  Inspiring the Future: STEM Education through the Lens of Space Exploration.  It will be held 8:30AM-4:30PM at the McCarthy Forum at Framingham State University (100 State Street in Framingham), followed by an open house at the McAuliffe Center on the same campus.  The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $53.74 before July 1 or $64.29 thereafter.  The program includes:

  • A Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approach to Space Exploration
  • Sports on the Moon
  • The Future of Space Exploration and its Impact on STEM Education
  • Open House at McAuliffe Center

Project Learning Tree Workshops for Teachers

Opportunities

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs sponsors Project Learning Tree, and award-winning environmental-education program of the American Forest Foundation offering professional-development courses for teachers.  Contact Gini Traub (413-584-6788, gini.traub@state.ma.us) to register or inquire about these workshops:

  • PreK-K Curriculum:  June 4, 10AM-1:30PM, in Uxbridge.  $15.  Register by May 28.
  • K-8 Curriculum:  June 9, 10AM-2PM, in North Easton.  $20.  Register by June 2.

NSHS Technovation Team — TechnoLIONS — Wins Awards

Accomplishments
TechnoLIONS Hannah Cole, Maya Modi, Isabel Bulman, and Gretchen Zhang
NSHS TechnoLIONS Hannah Cole, Maya Modi, Isabel Bulman, and Gretchen Zhang

The Technovation Challenge is a worldwide, technology computer-science entrepreneurship competition for teams of middle- or high-school girls.  This year, sparked by a notice in NewtonSTEM, two Technovation teams were formed at Newton South HS, and one of those teams — the TechnoLIONS — entered the global competition.  Last week, at a pitch session at MicrosoftNERD, the TechnoLIONS won the second-place award among 50 teams competing statewide.  The TechnoLIONS will now take their app, Homework Helper, to compete in the national finals in San Francisco in July.

Inspired by another notice in NewtonSTEM, the TechnoLIONS also competed in the Dream It. Code It. Win It. competition at Cooper Union in New York City, where they won the High School Student Competition, the FIVERR Career Award, and a Career Day with Jocelyn Scherer, Founder and CEO of Bionolux Labs — who is, coincidentally, a Newton resident.  Congratulations, TechnoLIONS!

Apply to MassBioEd for Life-Science Lab Supplies by May 16

Resources

Public high school teachers and their schools may apply to MassBioEd for grants of up to $12,000 for life-sciences laboratory equipment and consumables for the next school year. The aim of the program is to provide students with authentic, hands-on science experience.  Grants are paired with professional development, in-school mentoring, and student experiential learning events at local colleges and companies. Apply for the BioTeach Training and Equipment Grant by May 16.  For further information, email Dr. Michelle Mischke (michelle.mischke@massbio.org).

Science Club for Girls: Research Interns’ Presentations, May 17

Events

The Science Club for Girls STEM research interns will celebrate the end of their internship year with a free presentation and party, Tuesday, May 17, 5:30-7:30PM at the MIT Museum (265 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge), and the public is invited.   The event will include their professional-grade posters, presentations, mingling with interns and their research mentors, an interactive panel discussion, a party, and lots of inspiration.  RSVP here.  Donations are welcome, but not required.  A gift of $110 supports a full stipend for one intern for one semester.  Come to the event to see the return on that investment!

Student Space Station Experiments: Inquire by May 27

Opportunities

The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education will hold another competition for student-designed microgravity experiments to be conducted on the International Space Station (ISS).  This program has been featured in Scientific American.  Students in Grades 5-16 are eligible to design and propose experiements, but communities sponsoring entries from Grades 5-12 should plan to engage as many as 300 students in the program. Participating communities with approved entries will be provided a microgravity mini-laboratory to host one experiment, plus all launch services to reach the ISS in Spring 2017 and return for analysis.  Communities must express interest by May 27 and commit funding by August 29 start a 9-week design/proposal phase, September 6 through November 4.  Winning experiments will be selected by December 15 for launch in the Spring.

EcoTarium’s Tree Canopy Walkway Opens Weekends, May 28

Opportunities

The Worcester EcoTarium’s Tree Canopy walkway, will re-open for the summer season, starting with weekends on May 28, weather permitting.  Kids and adults move through a series of platforms and rope bridges suspended high in the trees to explore life in the tree canopy (see photos)– and then zip-line down to the ground.  It’s open to children 5-11 years old when accompanied by an adult, as well as to children 12 and up with or without an adult.  Space is limited.  Purchase tickets at the museum.  The cost is $10 plus museum admission ($8 for members).  Check the website for preparation, safety information, and a liability-release form.

Epiic Solutions: One-Week Summer Experiences in Innovation for Teens

Opportunities

Applications are due by June 1 for Epiic Solutions‘ series of one-week, team-based, summer innovation experiences for high-school students with partners in Boston:

  • Food Fighters: June 20 – 24
  • Arts & Culture: June 27 – July 1
  • Fempreneur: July 11 – 15
  • College Quest I: July 18 – 22
  • Environment & CleanTech: July 25 – 29
  • Health & Fitness: August 1 – 5
  • College Quest II: August 8 – 12
  • Technovation: August 15 -19