Last week, the Newton LigerBots high-school robotics team launched its “Awesome Mentorship Project 2877” to match high-school student mentors with elementary students by common interests for weekly online mentoring sessions. Based on the great reception seen in the interest forms sent in by parents of elementary students, the LigerBots see high demand for this program and seek additional high-school student mentors for it. High-school students are invited to apply via this form. All mentors are vetted and trained by the LigerBots. Each mentor-student pair will spend an hour each week over a video call doing science experiments, tutoring in school subjects, or simply drawing and chatting — whatever the elementary student needs. Another example of the LigerBots serving the Newton community! #MoreThanRobots
Category Archives: Opportunities
Science and Us: Online Community of HS Students Interested in Science Communication
Science and Us is a youth-led organization for high-school students to explore science communication, media, and policy through Makeathons to explain technical topics to the general public. In the past, it has held in-person Makeathons at Boston University, Harvard, and MIT. Science and Us is now building an online community via the online platform Discord and welcomes new members to make friends, create projects, and receive expert feedback. Students can apply here to join. Adults can email team@scienceandus.org to apply to be mentors.
iRobot Education Offers Free Online Coding Platform
iRobot Education has launched iRobot Coding, a free online platform for all levels of learners, from pre-readers to higher education. It offers three progressive levels of learning and coding along with lessons and activities to pursue. Try it here. This is one of several iRobot learning tools available for students, educators, professionals, and communities.
MassBioEd Seeks Career Ambassadors in Life Sciences
MassBioEd seeks to recruit more life-sciences professionals into its Career Ambassadors program to share their career experience and enthusiasm for life sciences.
Makers: Join MASC to Help Make Face Masks
Makers Against the Spread of COVID-19 (MASC) seeks people with sewing machines and/or 3D printers to help produce reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) — specifically face masks — for hospitals in the greater Boston area. Email matthew.frumento@gmail.com to help. MASC is sponsored in part by You-Do-It Electronics.
Edge on Science Co-Sponsors “Our Planet Our Purpose” Challenge
Edge on Science is co-sponsoring the Ashoka ChangeMakers sustainability challenge, Our Planet Our Purpose. Teams of at least two students (with the lead being 14-18 years old) will each propose a solution to an environmental challenges. Sign up for the challenge here. Although the submission form indicates that each student-led project must be in operation for at least three months, this is not required. The founder of Edge on Science, John Aviste (315-773-5673 or javiste@edgeonscience.com), will be available to mentor teams. Entries must be submitted by May 14 and will be publicly available between that date and the date on which 25 winners will be announced. Each winning team will receive $1000 in seed funding and admission to the ChangeMaker Summit — two days of mentorship, coaching, and skill building.
Khan Academy Co-Sponsors Breakthrough Junior Challenge Contest
Khan Academy is co-sponsoring the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, in which students in ages 13-18 create videos (3 minutes or less) to explain a challenging concept in physics, mathematics, or the life sciences in an engaging, illuminating, and creative way. This year, the videos may also be about the science or math behind the causes, impacts, and potential solutions of the COVID-19 health crisis. Substantial awards are available to the winning student and that student’s teacher and school. Last year’s finalist videos are here. The dealine for entries is June 25.
N.E. Chess School Offers Real-time, Online Chess Classes
The New England Chess School offers real-time, online classes for youth in ages 5-14, in six progressive levels, emphasizing not just the game but life skills. Each one-hour class starts with 15 minutes learning a new concept from certified chess coaches, then 10 minutes class discussion of chess puzzles, followed by 30 minutes of simultaneous chess games between students and teachers. In-person classes will return when the time is right.
MetroWest STEM Education Network: At-Home Resources
The MetroWest STEM Education Network has created a web portal of resources for at-home STEM exploration. It offers this survey to solicit input on other STEM education resources to include. There’s also a STEM Family Survey to help guide the selection of resources to be provided in the future.
Science From Scientists: At-Home STEM Resources & a Challenge
Science from Scientists, which provides in-school STEM enrichment to teach and inspire students in Grades K-8, offers a range of at-home STEM learning activities in Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry, Engineering, Earth Science, Life Science, Physics, Scientific Practices, and Technology. At that site you can sign up for email notices of future activities and learn how to enter the monthly STEM At Home Challenge.