Jr. Tech will sponsor its Girls STEM Summit online, in two half-day sessions (8:30AM-noon) on April 3 and 10. It’s open for all persons in Grades 8-12 who identify as female, non-binary, or other gender identity or expression to explore STEM fields and career choices. Participants will meet female STEM experts, attend career-track sessions and an inspirational keynote, learn about STEM fields, and how to apply to colleges with STEM degree programs. The cost is $65 per student. Registration is available for individuals or groups.

Bedford HS is moving its annual Women of Science Scholarship Competition online. It will be held on April 14, 2:30PM-6:15PM, and is open to teams of female students in junior and senior high school. They will compete in four online events that are based on areas of biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, math, and physics. Register closes on March 10. To register or to receive more information, email Michael Griffin at michael_griffin@bedfordps.org or Heather Kurzman at heather_kurzman@bedfordps.org

TechGirlz, a nonprofit program of CompTIA, will host the following free, online workshops in January. Register at these links:

• Think Like a Digital Designer: Unplugged: January 12, 12:30PM – 2:30PM. Learn the design thinking behind the cool features of your favorite apps.
• Introduction to JavaScript: January 13, 10:30AM- 12:30PM. Learn how to make your website pop.
• Make a Website Using WordPress: January 14, 12:30PM – 2:30PM. Build your own website without code.
• Web Concepts: January 15, 2:30PM – 4:30PM. Learn how websites work, are built, and how to become a web developer.
• Using Computer Simulations to Help Solve Complex Problems: January 17, 12PM – 2PM. Stop the spread of an epidemic using a computer simulated model.
• Cybersecurity Basics: How to Manage Cyber Risks: January 19, 2:30PM – 4:30PM. Be a cyber investigator and defend against hackers by finding security risks.
• Make a Website Using HTML/CSS: January 19, 4:30PM – 6:30PM. Don’t just look at websites, build them.
• Internet Safety: How to Stay Safe Online: January 21, 6:30PM – 8:30PM. Educate yourself in the digital version of self-defense.
• Introduction to Javascript: January 22, 6:30PM – 8:30PM. Learn how to make a website pop.
• Computer Programming with C++: January 23, 12:30PM – 2:30PM. Go on a programmer scavenger hunt.

Empow Studios will host a free webinar for parents — Learning to Code: Why It’s Good for Your Child’s Brain — on January 19 at 5PM to discuss popular programming languages, how learning to code helps brain development, and links between coding and creativity. Register here.

Mass Audubon’s Habitat and the Belmont Public Library will host a free, online nature program for all ages, Tracks and Bones and Other Surprising Winter Finds, on January 20, 3:30-4:30PM. Register at that link. Capacity is limited to 50.

The incoming Biden-Harris administration will host two virtual town halls for the public to provide input about the nation’s STEM needs, under the theme, The World Continues to Change: A Unique Opportunity to Influence What’s Next for STEM. Melissa Moritz from the Biden Science Policy Team and Erik Nikolaus Martin, director of the Biden Day One Team, will host town halls 1PM-2PM on January 5 and January 7. Parents, students, teachers, government officials, and leaders from business, industry, and non-profits are encouraged to click those links to register and join the conversation. The town halls will be organized by TIES, the founder and leader of the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice. You can also submit your questions and thoughts online.

Q-munity, a student-run non-profit focused on educating students about quantum computing, will host a free online tech conference, Q-Munity Vision, on February 6-7, to introduce middle-school, high-school, and early-college students to emerging technology such as AI, blockchain, and quantum computing. The event will launch the Vision Challenge, in which teams of 1-5 students have two months to compete for a $1,000 prize for the best presentation of a real-world problem with a potential solution using emerging technologies. Register here for the conference.

Harvard Alumni Travel hosts periodic, free, online Travel Talks with professors, open to the general public.  The next one, Travel Talks with David A. Aguilar: A Tale of Two Poles, on January 14 at 4PM, explores the unique ecosystems of the Earth’s poles and indicators of climate change. Space is limited and available first-come/first-served, so register now.

The Massachusetts Audubon Society is offering:

• In-person/outdoor activities including bird walks and visits to wildlife sanctuaries across the state;
• Massachusetts Wildlife Success Stories (online) Thursdays starting January 7, 7PM-8PM to learn how populations dwindled and recovered for 8 native wildlife species, including Wood Ducks, Black Bears, Bald Eagles, and Eastern Spadefoot Toads; and
• Winter Neighborhood Naturalist Series (online) Wednesdays starting January 13, 7PM-9PM to enhance outdoor observation skills.