Sixteen women scientist and engineers — representing a range of STEM fields and careers — will participate in the free Big Dream event for middle- and high-school girls on Saturday, November 14, 2PM-4:30PM at the Newton Free Library.  The entire group will view a new documentary, Big Dream, which tells the stories of seven young women from around the world as they face challenges in pursuit of their STEM dreams.  After the film, mentors and students will discuss issues the film raises, and there will be time for discussions — in conversations and in small groups — for students to ask questions and to learn about the mentors’ lives and careers.

The event is free, but students must register ahead of time.  It’s sponsored by the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club, the Newton Free Library, and NewtonSTEM.  Ice cream will be provided by the generosity of Cabot’s.  [Download poster here.]  For more information, contact Liz Rowland at 617-796-1380 or teens@newtonfreelibrary.net.

The 16 STEM mentors participating (* including 11 Newton residents) are:

• Pat D’Amore, Ph.D., MBA, FARVO, Director of Research, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear; Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology,Harvard Medical School   *
• Cecilia d’Oliveira, Associate Dean of Digital Learning, MIT
• Farnaz Haghseta, MIT engineer; Lead of Sapient’s Women’s Leadership Network *
• Neena Haider, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; Genetics Researcher, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear
• Yasmin Kroll, Development Director, Science from Scientists; former Research Associate and Lab Manager, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute  *
• Bela Labovitch, Senior Director of Technology, inVentive Health – Adheris Health *
• Galit Lahav, Ph.D., Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School  *
• Emily Little, Girls Who Code instructor; Software Engineer, Fiksu
• Cindy Park-Windhol, Ph.D., Ophthalmology Research Fellow, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear  *
• Angela Pitter, CEO, LiveWire Collaborative; former Program Manager (Enterprise Software, Quality, Training), Hewlett-Packard *
• Linda Rinearson, retired, former Director of Engineering – Air Force and Information Systems, GTE/General Dynamics  *
• Ayellet Segrè, Ph.D., Computational Biologist, Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT  *
• Janet Smith, Ph.D., Research Scientist (Biochemistry and Bioinformatics), MIT *
• Linda Thayer, IP Attorney and Partner, Finnegan, LLP, Electrical and Computer Technology Group, Robotics Group *
• Colleen Treacy, Research Specialist, Nano-C; Event Staff, Science from Scientists
• Jinling Yang, Ph.D., Ophthalmology Research Fellow, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear *

The Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers annual conference will be held November 5-6 at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough.  The program includes two keynotes, 91 workshops, two sessions for sharing best practices, and an exhibit hall.   Registration costs $130 for members, $150 for non-members, or $50 for retired or students (all rates minus $50 for one day) and covers breakfast and lunch.

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (60 Garden Street in Cambridge) will host its monthly Observatory Night on November 19 at 7:30PM on the topic of Rediscovering Pluto.  The lecture is intended for high-school and older audiences but children are welcome.  Admission is free, no reservations are necessary, and seating is limited.  For more information, email  pubaffairs@cfa.harvard.edu.