Category Archives: Opportunities

Newton North PTSO Science Fundraiser; Parent Meeting on Hands-On Learning in Biology, Dec. 6

Events, Opportunities

This year’s annual Newton North HS PTSO fundraiser for Educational Excellence is focusing on funding new equipment for hands-on learning in biology and upper-year electives. On December 6, 7:15-8:45PM, the NNHS Science Department invites parents to learn about the school’s science programs with a hands-on activity, Q&A with Science Department chair Heather Haines, and brief remarks by Zeke Alvarez-Saavedra, co-founder of miniPCR–the DNA Discovery System. You may contribute here to the PTSO’s fundraiser.

Mass. Audubon Program: Young Leaders for Climate Justice

Opportunities

The Massachusetts Audubon Society is inviting teams of 3 to 12 high-school students to participate in Young Leaders for Climate Justice. Teams will attend a Climate Learning Intensive Program on January 26, create and implement action projects, and meet again to present their projects at Mass Audobon’s Climate Summit on May 18. Teams must apply by December 21. The fee is $300 per team, and financial assistance is available. For more information, email dfteens@massaudubon.org. Existing teen groups and clubs — as well as ad-hoc teams — are encouraged to apply, as long as they have an adult sponsor.

Update from Science Club for Girls

Accomplishments, Opportunities

Science Club for Girls has been focusing on developing a strategic plan and a more robust development model to support expansion of its services. Its mission is to “foster excitement, confidence and literacy in STEM for girls from underrepresented communities by providing free, experiential programs and by maximizing meaningful interactions with women mentors in STEM.”

  • This fall, SCFG is running 12 clubs in three locations in Cambridge: Amigos School, King Open School, and Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House. Each club has three or more mentors who are women undergraduates, graduate students, or STEM professionals.
  • SCFG also has 15 Junior Mentors who are girls in Grades 8-12 — most of whom have been involved with SCFG since Kindergarten — to maintain institutional memory, traditions, and excitement.
  • SCFG is currently conducting a search for a new Executive Director.
  • This summer, SCFG raised $239,000 from individual donors, foundations, corporations and government sources.  You can donate here to continue the work of this organization.

Register by Nov. 13 for Boston BioBlitz Initiative for Girls

Opportunities

Boston BioBlitz Initiative for Girls (BBIG) is a STEM program for girls (ages 12-15) held on 13 Saturdays, 10:30AM-2PM between November 17 and May 4 at Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo. It’s full of biodiversity and citizen-science activities in classroom and outdoors, as well as field trips to local urban wildlife areas. Participants will learn to use wildlife observing platforms such as iNaturalist and DataQuest — and will take leadership roles in the Boston Area Nature Challenge next April. The cost for the entire program is $20. Apply by November 13. For more information, contact Emily Miller at 617-989-3742 or emiller@zoonewengland.com.

Middle Schools: Register by Oct. 31 for Harvard Science Olympiad, Feb. 10

Events, Opportunities

The Harvard Undergraduate Science Olympiad will host its first Division B (middle school) invitational Science Olympiad on February 10. Middle schools must register teams by 11:59PM on October 31. Space is limited, and registration does not guarantee participation. Schools may register up to two teams, and each school’s first team will have priority over any school’s second team. Successful registrations will be confirmed within one week and a fee of $200 per team will be due two weeks after registration is confirmed. Each team must have two adult coaches, at least one of which must supervise an event at the tournament. Email div.b@harvardscioly.org for more information.

Apply by Oct. 23 for STEM Pathways: One-Day Training in Synthetic Biology for Grades 10-12, Nov. 3

Events, Opportunities

This Tuesday is the deadline to apply for a one-day Training Session in Synthetic Biology in a real, synthetic biology environment. It’s offered to students entering Grades 10-12 (ages 16 and older) by STEM Pathways — the synthetic biology outreach program of the Living Computing Project — and the DAMP (Design | Automation | Manufacturing | Prototyping) Lab.  It will be held 10AM-4PM on November 3 on the Boston University campus. Apply online by 8PM on October 23. Include the name, email, and phone number of a teacher, mentor, or coach as a reference. For more information, email connect@stempathways.org, or call Rohin at 617-299-0816.