Junction, a non-residential summer STEM program for high-school students offered by  MIT’s Educational Studies Program (ESP), will be different this year.  In past years, it was a six-week program of college-level courses taught by undergraduates.  Starting this year, it will be a two-week intensive program (August 10-21) in which 42 selected high-school students will:

• Propose, design and carry out an independent study project of their choosing, working closely with an undergraduate mentor in that field (see bios of mentors),
• Participate in hands-on, college-level afternoon seminars in a variety of fields, and
• Be part of a tight community of students and mentors.

High-school students should read the mentor biographies and apply online between April 15 and April 28 by responding to essay questions and submitting a proposal for an independent-study project with one of the mentors.  Accepted students will be notified by mid-May and will communicate with mentors weekly until August 10 to refine proposals and begin research, in preparation for their two weeks together.  The cost is $600, and need-based financial aid is available.  For more information, email junction@mit.edu.

The deadline has been extended to 9AM on Monday, April 13 for middle-school girls to apply to represent Newton at Envision the Future, a one-week summer STEM program run by the Southeastern STEM Network at Bridgewater State University, July 20-24.  Three girls will be selected as Newton’s ambassadors to attend the program, and on their return, to spread the word — through presentations, articles, etc. — about what they learn from the program.  The sponsoring organizations (John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club, NewtonSTEM, Newton Free Library, and Newton Community Education) will replicate one or more of the program’s STEM-promoting practices in Newton next year.

Interested middle-school girls should apply online by 9AM on April 13 and also have a parent/guardian sign and submit the Parent/Guardian Approval Form (PDF) by that deadline.  Finalists will be invited for interviews in April, and participants will be selected by May 8.  The cost paid by each selected participant’s family is $50 (after a $500 scholarship award paid by the Boys & Girls Club).  The selected participants must meet the following requirements:

• Participant is a girl residing in Newton who will be 11 to 13 years old as of July 20, 2015.
• Parent/guardian has signed and submitted the Parent/Guardian Approval Form and  has paid a non-refundable $50 fee by May 22, 2015.
• Participant’s family is a member of Newton Boys & Girls Club as of May 22, 2015.  (Club membership fee is $125 per family per year.  Join online.  Financial assistance is available for any selected participant for whom this would be a hardship.)

For further information, contact Dawn Proia (dproia@newtonbgc.com) or Bruce Henderson (info@newtonstem.org).

Newton Community Education’s Camp Invention will return this summer for Grades 1-6, at Newton South HS.  Formerly named Club Invention, this year Camp Invention offers two one-week programs:

Week 1 (“Create”), July 6-10:  The physics of motion applied to prototypes of roller coasters and other amusement park rides; eco-friendly solutions to the pollution problems of the imaginary “Sludge City”; designing a spacecraft to return from a crash-landing on a strange planet; taking apart objects from home; building new inventions.

Week 2 (“Illuminate:), July 13-17:   Freestyle racing kart to traverse an obstacle course; designing prototypes; investigating magnified objects and circuits; designing life-saving devices, super-structure mega-towers, and space rockets; taking apart electronics from home to re-engineer a new video game.

Both weeks run 9AM-3:30PM (or 8:30AM-5:30PM) and include outdoor games.  Kids will be grouped by age.  Bring snack and lunch.  Register online or by calling 617-559-6999.

The Whitehead Institute in Cambridge, in collaboration with Science from Scientists, offers its one-week CampBio program for students entering Grades 7-8.  It includes classroom sessions, lab presentations, hands-on activities, and discussions with scientists.  The same program (9AM-3PM) is repeated July 20-24, August 10-14, and August 24-28, and registration is open on a first-come basis to 25 students for each session.  The cost is $550 and lunch is provided.  For more information, contact Amy Tremblay at tremblay@wi.mit.edu.

The Boston University Photonics laboratory, supported by the the National Science Foundation, is awarding 6-week paid fellowships for secondary-school STEM teachers to learn about nanotechnology and nanomanufacturing, July 6-August 14.  Apply by April 6.

As announced last week, the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton is participating in the Envision the Future program with the support of NewtonSTEM, the Newton Free Library, Newton Community Education, and the Southeastern STEM Network.  The first step is to send three Newton middle-school girls as ambassadors to Envision the Future‘s one-week summer STEM program at Bridgewater State University, July 20-24.  On their return, these student ambassadors will be called on to spread the word — through presentations, articles, etc. — about what they learn from the program.  The sponsoring organizations will replicate one or more of the program’s STEM-promoting practices in Newton next year.

Interested middle-school girls should apply online by 9AM on April 6 and also have a parent/guardian sign and submit the Parent/Guardian Approval Form (PDF) by that deadline.  Continue reading Middle-School Girls: Apply by April 6 for Envision the Future, July 20-24 →

MassBay Community College in Wellesley will offer its Summer Bridge STEM program, July 6-17 from 9AM to 3:30PM.  Students will choose either a) one of two for-credit courses (3D CAD Technology or Digital Imaging) or b) a series of four 2.5-day, noncredit workshops (Artbotics, Coding with Scratch, Raspberry Pi, Mobile Apps with App Inventor).  Register online.  The $100 fee is due at registration.  For more information, call 781-239-2586 or email ssreedhar@massbay.edu.

Tech Savvy is a one-week summer STEM program for girls entering Grades 7-8 next fall.  It’s run July 20-24, 9AM-4PM, by the Boston Girls STEM Collaborative.  Each day starts and ends at BU’s Photonics Center and includes activities at a different university:  Northeastern, Wentworth, BU, UMass Boston, or Harvard.  The cost ($200, or $40 for those with demonstrated financial need) covers all activities, transportation, and lunch.  Online registration is open.  Those who are accepted will be asked to submit signed waivers and payment.  For more information, email techsavvy@bostongirlsstem.org.

Registration is open for Boston University’s Artemis Project, a five-week computer-science summer program for girls entering 9th grade next fall.  No prior computer experience is required.  Participants learn computer languages (Scratch, AppInventor, HTML, CSS, Python, etc.) and are introduced to robotics, cryptography, artificial intelligence, and circuits.  Guest speakers and field trips provide insight into how computer science is applied in the real world.  The Artemis Project is led by BU undergraduate women studying Computer Science and Engineering, guided by Cynthia Brossman, Director of BU’s Learning Resource Network.  It runs June 30-August 1.  Lunch is provided.  There is no tuition, but there is a nonrefundable registration fee of $100.  Applications, including an essay and two recommendations, are due May 1.  For more information, email artemis@bu.edu.

Summer Pathways is a 7-day residential program for girls entering Grades 11-12 who show promise and/or interest in STEM.  During July 10-17, participants live on the BU campus; explore opportunities in STEM fields; meet with students and faculty in all disciplines; visit laboratories, companies, and museums; listen to career panels; and spend one night as part of the crew of a schooner whale-watching.  The fee of $675 includes all costs, and financial assistance is available for demonstrated need.  Applications, including two recommendations from teachers, are due May 1.  For more information, contact Cynthia Brossman at cab@bu.edu or 617-353-7021.