The Tech Together hackathon will be held virtually this year, November 6-8, with the theme “Dear Future Me.” It’s “Boston’s largest student-run hackathon open to all female, femme, and non-binary individuals.” Those who identify as male may volunteer but not participate as hackers. For 36 hours from 6PM Friday to 11AM Sunday, there will be technical projects for teams and individuals, workshops, talks, networking opportunities. It’s free, and optional donations will be accepted for any of three organizations:  Black Tech Mecca, Reclaim the Block, and TechTogether. Register here.

MIT Splash will be held virtually November 14-15, during which students in Grades 9-12 take mini-courses taught by MIT undergraduates (10AM-9PM on Saturday and 9AM-6PM on Sunday). The open lottery course registration is now open until October 27, after which remaining space will be filled first-come/first-served. (Tip: To maximize the number of full blocks in your schedule, rank at least 3 classes and star at least 10 classes.) The cost is $40 regardless of the number of courses taken, and financial aid is available. This year’s catalog includes over 250 courses in Computers and Programming, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, and other subjects. For more information, email splash@mit.edu.

Tufts University’s Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) and White Mountain Science will hold a free, online coffee hour on October 22 at 4:30PM for parents to discuss ideas and resources about learning during COVID-19. Register here. And you can join CEEO’s Facebook group for parents.

During October 20-30, the Engineering Department of UMass Amherst will hold Women in Engineering and Computing Days — a series of free online talks, challenges, panels, and drop-in hours for all high-school students to learn about engineering and computing at the school and to connect with undergraduate and graduate student members of the Society for Women Engineers. Events will be live on Zoom, after which recordings will be available on the Hopin.to platform. Register here for all events, including three optional challenges, and to get the Zoom link. Or email engindiversity@umass.edu for the Zoom link. (An introduction to the Hopin.to platform will be offered via the Zoom link on October 19 at 1PM and 6PM.)

The John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club will hold its annual meeting online on October 15, 8AM-8:45AM. It’s free and open to the public. Tune in to learn about Gamesroom Engineering, STEM in the Learning Center, Curiosity Club, and 3D Printing.

Boston’s Museum of Science will celebrate National Chemistry Week, October 19-23, with a series of free, online presentations under the theme, Sticking with Chemistry.  Register here.

Science in Action

• Making a “Greener” Glue: October 19, 10AM. Grades K-8
• Sticking with Bioplastics: October 19, 1PM. Grades 9-12
• Like Dissolves Like: October 20, 1PM, Grades 9-12
• Chemistry in College: October 21, 1PM, Grades 9-12
• The Science of Slime!: October 21, 3PM. Grades 9-12

Live Animals

• Sticky Feet: October 22, 1PM, all ages

Big Science Show

• Chemistry is Fun! with Bassam Shakhashiri: October 23, 1PM, all ages

The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University will offer the following live online astronomy presentations during STEM Week:

• Solar System Explorers: For elementary students. October 19, 4:30PM. Register here.
• The Star Factory: For middle-school students. October 20, 4:30PM. Register here.
• Your Place in the Universe: For high-school students. October 23, 3:30PM. Register here.

The MetroWest STEM Education Network is hosting an online speaker series, See Yourself in STEM, with talks during Massachusetts STEM Week for high-school students, college students, educators, parents, and the public:

• Technology, Seems Neutral, But Is It? Assimilationism vs. Intersectional Antiracism in Technology Design:  October 21, 4:30-5:30PM. Register here.
• BIPOC See Yourself in STEM + Mentorship – Navigating the Road to Success: October 23, 12PM-1PM. Register here.

The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University will kick off a new season of its free, virtual planetarium events for families (ages 6+) with an online presentation, Mars Mania. On October 16 at 7PM, former NASA astronaut and current MIT professor Dr. Jeff Hoffman will talk about Mars — three days after Mars reaches opposition (shortest possible distance from earth). Dr. Hoffman will talk about the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, currently on its way to Mars and carrying MOXIE, an instrument developed in collaboration with his department at MIT. View the presentation on Zoom (registration required) or the Christa McAuliffe YouTube channel.  (This live presentation is separate from the AstroNights LIVE: Exploring Mars presentation recorded in August.)