All posts by newtonstem

TechGirlz: Free, Online Workshops in January

Events, Virtual/Online

TechGirlz, a nonprofit program of CompTIA, will host the following free, online workshops in January. Register at these links:

Sign Up for CS Recitations Competitions: JavaScript Feb. 26, Python Mar. 5

Events

CS Recititations invites all students to sign up for one or both of its upcoming in-person competitions — JavaScript or Python — at its school at 5 Michigan Drive in Natick. Each is a live, fun, in-person coding competition with clever coding problems, in two age groups: Junior (up through Grade 7) and Senior (Grades 8-12). For each group in each competition, first-place wins $50, and first and second places win badges and certificates. Registration for either competition is free for current CSR students and alumni, or $25 for non-affiliated students.

Karel JavaScript Competition:  February 26 at 3:30PM or 5PM or 6:30PM. Online practice materials, competition rules, and access to an online coding environment will be available about one month before the event.

Python 3 Competition:  March 5 at 3:30PM or 5PM or 6:30PM. The Junior group focuses on functions and control structures, and the Senior group adds in data structures, as well. Online practice materials, competition rules, and access to an online coding environment will be available about two weeks before the event.

Two Federal Town Halls on STEM Needs, Jan. 5 & 7

Events, Virtual/Online

The incoming Biden-Harris administration will host two virtual town halls for the public to provide input about the nation’s STEM needs, under the theme, The World Continues to Change: A Unique Opportunity to Influence What’s Next for STEM. Melissa Moritz from the Biden Science Policy Team and Erik Nikolaus Martin, director of the Biden Day One Team, will host town halls 1PM-2PM on January 5 and January 7. Parents, students, teachers, government officials, and leaders from business, industry, and non-profits are encouraged to click those links to register and join the conversation. The town halls will be organized by TIES, the founder and leader of the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice. You can also submit your questions and thoughts online.

Q-munity Vision: Online Tech Conference, Feb. 6-7

Events, Virtual/Online

Q-munity, a student-run non-profit focused on educating students about quantum computing, will host a free online tech conference, Q-Munity Vision, on February 6-7, to introduce middle-school, high-school, and early-college students to emerging technology such as AI, blockchain, and quantum computing. The event will launch the Vision Challenge, in which teams of 1-5 students have two months to compete for a $1,000 prize for the best presentation of a real-world problem with a potential solution using emerging technologies. Register here for the conference.

MIT Museum: Hands-On Science for Families, at Home

Opportunities, Resources

The MIT Museum is offering a series of Hands-On Science for Families programs to be done at home by families (ages 11+). Each program runs for three consecutive weeks and includes three one-hour virtual sessions with an MIT Museum Educator, all the supplies needed for projects and challenge activities, and online access for discussion and questions while working on projects between sessions. There’s a maximum of 8 families per program. The Imaging Science program just completed, and these two remain open:

  • (Circuit) Board Game Design:  Designing a game, programming a microcontroller, and testing it with other families.  February 3-23 with live sessions 7PM-8PM on February 3, 10, and 17. Register by January 25. $70 per family.
  • Crashing and Folding — Lunar Lander Challenge: Build a prototype lunar lander with origami, paper circuits, and mechanical engineering.  March 31 – Apr. 20 with live sessions 7PM-8PM on March 31, April 7, and 14. Register by March 22. $70 per family.

In addition, the museum recommends online resources for STEAM Activities at Home, drawing on the museum, the MIT Media Lab, and the Cambridge Science Festival.