Category Archives: Opportunities

‘Think Big’ STEM Inspiration/Networking Event for Grades 6-12, Mar. 3

The Newton Free Library, in partnership with the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club and NewtonSTEM, will host Think Big at the Library on March 3, 2PM-4PM.  It’s a free event for students in Grades 6-12 to meet and talk in small groups with 10-20 professionals in a variety of STEM careers such as software engineering, medical research and practice, nano-structural manufacturing, life-sciences venture capital, architecture, and chemistry. Find out what they do, how they got there, and what STEM opportunities might be a good fit for you. Cabot’s Ice Cream will provide refreshments, and the LigerBots will assist and be available for students to learn about their robotics club. Space is limited, and registration is required.

The Library, Boys & Girls Club, and NewtonSTEM hosted a similar event for girls two years ago. This year’s event is open to all genders. To maximize capacity for students, adults will not be admitted.

Sign Up by Feb. 13 for MIT’s Spring HSSP, Saturdays, Grades 7-12

MIT’s Spring HSSP is a six-week academic program for Grades 7-12, held at MIT on Saturdays, February 24 to April 7 (except March 17), noon to 3PM.  All online registrations completed by February 13 will be considered equally in the course-assignment lottery, and registrations after that will be taken first-come/first-served until February 20.  The cost is $40 per student (regardless of the number of courses taken) and generous, need-based financial aid is available. Email spring-hssp@mit.edu for more information.  The Spring HSSP course catalog covers many academic and non-academic topics, including these STEM offerings:

  • Creating Mobile Apps with MIT App Inventor
  • Inference and Optimization: An Introduction to Modern Machine Learning
  • Learning about the Cloud through MIT App Inventor
  • Learning To Code through Battlecode
  • Science Journalism
  • A Tour of Set Theory
  • Three Dimensional Geometry
  • Relational Databases Before There Were Such Things
  • A Tour of Cool Mathematics
  • Math and Science Lecture Series
  • Secrets of the Immune System
  • How Do You Generate Electricity from Water?
  • Memory and Mind Control: An Introduction to Neuroscience
  • Thermo!
  • Grammar as Science
  • Science Through Experiments: Hands-on Fun
  • Special Relativity
  • The Science of Nutrition: A Microscopic to Macroscopic Exploration

Genes in Space: Contest for Grades 7-12, Experimental Designs Due Apr. 20

Genes in Space invites students in Grades 7-12 to a contest to design DNA experiments for space. Five finalist teams will receive mentoring by Harvard/MIT scientists and present at the International Space Station R&D Conference for a chance at the national award.  Winners will attend Space Biology Camp and send their experiment into space. Applications are due April 20.  The contest is free and does not require equipment.  Proposals will be judged solely on their creative and scientific merit.

MIT Museum Seeks Summer Teachers-in-Residence

The MIT Museum is seeking middle- or high-school STEM educators as Teachers-in-Residence to teach established science and technology workshops in an informal education environment, in collaboration with the Museum’s work Education & Public Programs team. Teachers will also develop and implement an independent project that augments current workshops at the MIT Museum. They will also gain a behind-the-scene perspective of the Museum, explore current science and technology research at MIT, share their classroom expertise with Museum staff, and serve as a liaison between the Museum and their schools. These positions are temporary, full-time, July 2-August 10 (plus 1-2 days prior for orientation and training). To apply, send resume and cover letter to edsearch@mit.edu.

Newton Community Ed: Early-Release Science Days

Newton Community Education is partnering with Wicked Cool for Kids to offer Early Release Science Days for Grades 1-4 at Horace Mann, Underwood, Cabot at Carr, and Bowen elementary schools on days when Newton Public Schools are released early. The cost is $65 per session, and you can save $15 by registering for all three sessions.

  • Wednesday, February 7Squishy Circuits:  Combine make-your-own play-dough with electronics to build circuits. Concoct colored conductive and insulating dough, and integrate batteries and LEDs to make creations with light-up components.
  • Thursday, March 8Slime Time:  Create six amazing slime samples. Make glow-in-the-dark slime and super smelly putty. Whip up some polka-dot slime and concoct color explosion goop. Finish up with undersea slime and a bouncy-ball formula.
  • Thursday, May 3 Space Base:  Travel into deep space and construct a human habitat. Determine what you’ll need to terraform a planet. Decide how you’ll grow food, where to live, and how to communicate with Earth. Construct buildings and landscapes for the survival of humankind.

Marine Genomics & Career Workshop for Girls in Nahant, Feb. 20-21

Girls in Grades 10-12 are invited Northeastern University’s free Marine Genomics and Career Workshop at the university’s Marine Science Center in Nahant, February 20-21.  It’s an opportunity to explore the ocean, science, and math while meeting scientists, educators, and new friends. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until February 2 or until the workshop is filled. Preference will be given to girls from economically disadvantaged families. There’s a daily shuttle from Boston to the Center. For more information, contact Val Perini at v.perini@northeastern.edu or 781-581-7370 x373.

NSHS Biomedical Research Club Seeks Hosts for Internships

The Newton South Biomedical Research Club seeks adults in local academic or commercial science research institutions to sponsor one or ore Newton South HS students in their labs for summer or school-year internships. Alternatively, the club welcomes such individuals to visit the school to speak about their research with students.  Interested individuals are invited to email name/title/contact info, area of research, specific interest in this program (research intern/lecture), and availability (summer intern/school year intern/other) to NSHS parent Rhoda Alani alani@bu.edu.

MIT OMEGA Scholarships for Grades 11-12 Making Intergenerational Connections

Applications are now open until March 31 for New England high-school juniors and seniors to apply for OMEGA scholarships sponsored by the MIT AgeLab and AARP. Three OMEGA college scholarships are available (offering $1000 to the student plus $1000 to his/her high school) to recognize efforts of young adults in creating multi-generational connections in their communities. For more information, contact omegamit@mit.edu or 617-253-1894.