All posts by newtonstem

BAE Systems Engineering Career Day, July 24

Events

The BAE Systems Engineering Leadership Development Program (brochure, PDF) will host a summer Engineering Career Day on Friday, July 24 to inspire high-school students’ interest in STEM-related fields by introducing various engineering disciplines.  During this one-day event, students will:

  • Receive information about being an engineer
  • Tour BAE Systems factories
  • Learn about BAE Systems products
  • Enjoy a networking lunch with current engineers
  • Participate in hands-on activities and engineering challenges

For more information or to register, contact Carla Toland at carla.toland@baesystems.com.

3 Middle-School Ambassadors Set to Attend ‘Envision the Future’

Opportunities

IMAG2799Three middle-school girls representing Newton are set to join 45 of their peers from 17 Massachusetts communities at Envision the Future, a residential STEM program at Bridgewater State University, July 20-24, under the auspices of the Southeastern Massachusetts STEM Network.  Shown above are Newton’s ambassadors:  7th Graders Abigail Brooks (Brown MS), Deanne Harris (Oak Hill MS), and Dumebi Okonkwo (Day MS), who were selected based on written applications and interviews.  Last Thursday they met with program supporters in Newton to discuss what they expect to encounter:  Challenging STEM activities, career exploration with STEM professionals, meeting women role models, and connecting with other girls with similar interests.  Attending the discussion were representatives of the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton (which will fund scholarships for the students), NewtonSTEM, and the Newton Free Library, as well as Newton School Committee representatives Margaret Albright and Angela Pitter-Wright.  Representatives of Wellesley Public Schools, which is sending two students to the program, also participated in the discussion.  A key aim of all supporting organizations will be to replicate various STEM-promotion activities of Envision the Future in their communities next year.  Newton and Wellesley were invited to participate based on the sponsors’ interest in replicating these activities in their communities.

Want to Start a FIRST Lego League Team? The LigerBots Can Help

Opportunities, Resources

IMAG2774Last Wednesday evening, coaches and student leaders of the LigerBots high-school robotics team held an information session for a standing-room-only crowd of Newton parents (and kids) who want to start (or join) a FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics team.  FLL teams, consisting of 2 to 10 students in Grades 4-8, supported by 2 adult coaches, compete in the fall season by a) building and programming a LEGO robot to complete assigned missions and b) researching and presenting results for a project based on the FLL theme for the year.  This year’s theme is Trash Trek.  Most teams fill up quickly, so parents looking for teams for their children should consider coaching.  Technical expertise is not required, and there is considerable help available from LigerBots high-school students (who are eager to cultivate interest in FIRST among younger students) and from other FLL coaches, many of whom are in an online discussion group.  If you’d like to learn more about coaching an FLL team, or if you’d like to connect with other FLL teams in Newton, visit ligerbots.org/fll.php or email fll@ligerbots.com or fll@newtonstem.org.

Chuck Hurwitz Retires from LigerBots, the FIRST Team He Founded

Accomplishments

The Newton TAB reports that Chuck Hurwitz has retired from the his position as head coach of Newton’s award-winning Ligerbots, the FIRST FRC team he created in 2009, spanning both Newton high schools.  He continued to lead the team after he retired as head of the Newton South HS Science Department in 2012.  He now remains on the board of the Latino STEM Alliance and remains committed to helping underprivileged students create FIRST Robotics teams.  Congratulations and many thanks to Coach Hurwitz!

BU’s U-Design Summer STEM for Middle Schoolers, July 13-17

Opportunities, Summer

Boston University’s U-Design summer STEM program has openings for students in Grades 7-9 in two of its workshops — Robo-Alley and Flight School 101 — running July 13-27, 8:30AM-4PM, at BU’s College of Engineering.  Workshops of up to 20 students will explore design, experimentation, and invention.  Cost is $425 and limited scholarships may be available for those in need.  Register online.  For more information, call 617-353-6919 or e-mail u-design@bu.edu.

Southeastern Mass. STEM Resource Fair at Bridgewater, July 24

Events

The Southeastern Mass. STEM Network will hold its third annual STEM Resource Fair on July 24 at Bridgewater State University (Rondileau Campus Center, 19 Park Avenue, Bridgewater).  Parents, educators, and representatives of business, government, and community organizations are invited.  The fair includes exhibits of STEM education resources as well as presentations by participants in the Envision the Future STEM program for middle-school girls.  (Three girls from Newton will be attend Envision the Future.)  Free online registration opens on July 1.