The Broad Institute in Cambridge offers the Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) invites highly motivated, Boston-area, high-school juniors with a strong interest in science to spend six weeks with Broad scientists to conduct original research projects in areas such as cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, and infectious disease. Students will also explore scientific careers, attend scientific talks, present their research to the Broad community in a scientific poster session, attend a college fair; participate in social events, and meet other students with similar interests. No previous research experience is required. There is no cost to apply or attend, and compensation is available for students demonstrating a financial need. Applications are due January 25. Students who apply may also have their application considered for a new April vacation week program, Broadie for a Week. For more information, see the FAQ page or email Rachel Gesserman at rgesser@broadinstitute.org.
Register for NuVu Summer Programs, Ages 11-18
Registration is now open for summer programs at NuVu Studios in Cambridge, which are each offered in three sessions (July 8-19, July 22-August 2, August 5-16):
- Summer 2019 “Bioinfinity” (Ages 11-13, Grades 6-8)
- NuVu at MIT Design Studios “On The Brink” (Ages 14-18, Grades 9-12, Post-High School)
- NuVu at MIT Design Studios Residential (Ages 14-18, Grades 9-12, Post-High School)
Students may choose among 24 two-week studios, including Soft Robotics, Fantastical Droids, Musical Prosthetics, AI Neural Networks, Bio Design: Synthetic Biology, Beyond Earth, Future Augmented Reality Games, Food Fabrication Lab, and Digital Street Couture. There’s an early-bird discount for registrations before December 31.
New England Sci-Tech: STEM Programs and Maker Space in Natick
New England Sci-Tech is a non-profit STEM education center and maker space on the Natick/Wellesley line (16 Tech Circle in Natick), launched last June. It offers classes and workshops in a wide range of STEM fields, amateur radio licensing, maker lab space, summer and after-school programs, public astronomy nights, educational support for schools and home-schoolers, tutoring, support for science fairs and other student STEM projects, space rentals for birthday parties, and more. Sign up for its mailing lists or become a member (rates of $25 to $75 per month).
LigerBots Host FLL Newton Qualifier; Teams Win Awards
Yesterday the Newton high-school robotics team, the LigerBots, hosted the Newton Qualifier, one of two competitions for FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams held at Newton North HS each year. This tournament featured 23 FLL teams from Greater Boston, including six Newton-based teams: The Day Dragons, Empow Studios, LazerRobotics, Plutonium 238, the Roaming Rovers, and the Supernovas. The Day Dragons won the Champion’s Award, the Roaming Rovers won the Robot Programming Award, and the LazerRobotics won the Inspiration Award. The Roaming Rovers and Day Dragons qualified for the Eastern MA State Championship, which will be hosted by the LigerBots at Newton North HS on December 15, 9AM-3PM.
Accompanying the tournament was a maker fair featuring exhibits from the Newton Free Library, Green Newton, Einstein’s Workshop, Empow Studios, Droid Builders, SharkNinja, Hatch, Johnson String Instrument and well as LigerBots STEAM activities, including button making, paper airplanes, origami, 3D printing, brush bots, PB&J Robot, and binary beads. An even larger maker fair will be featured at the Eastern MA State Champship on December 15, and the public is again invited to this fun, free event. The LigerBots describe the tone of the event as “sports championship / science fair / family reunion / dance party!”
‘Hour of Code’ Coming Up Dec. 3-9! Create Your Event Now
The worldwide project, Hour of Code, introduces programming to millions of people each year as part of Computer Science Education Week, December 3-9. Of the 119,885 Hour of Code events currently registered for this year, Newton has registered events at Angier, Horace Mann, and Memorial Spaulding Elementary Schools, Bigelow Middle School, and Mount Alvernia Academy. The Newton Public Schools is organizing events and linking to curriculum materials appropriate for elementary grades K-1, 2, 3, 4-5, as well as secondary grades at Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Boston Tech Mom has more information.
Register by Nov. 23 for Elementary Science Summit, Nov. 30.
Registration is open through November 23 for the Elementary Science Summit, to be held at the Education Development Center (43 Foundry Avenue, Waltham) on November 30, 8:30AM-3PM. Educators, educational administrators, business leaders, parents, journalists, and philanthropists are invited to discuss the current state of science in New England elementary schools, examples of high-quality elementary science teaching, and action plans for improving science education for all elementary-school students. The fee is $50 and includes lunch. For more information, contact Nancy Ruskin, elemSCI2018@edc.org.
Ivy Seed After-School Coding Programs in Boston
Ivy Seed runs after-school coding programs (and summer programs) in downtown Boston for Grades 1-12. It teaches various levels of programming using Scratch and Python. For more information, email Contact@ivy-seed.com or call 857-990-
Waltham Girl Scouts Seek STEM Volunteers for December Event
The Waltham Girls Scouts organization is planning a city-wide STEM event in early December and seeks partners to help design and run STEM activities for girls in Grades K-12. For more information, contact Carrie Fraga at cfraga1@yahoo.com.
Register by Nov. 13 for Boston BioBlitz Initiative for Girls
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.
Museum of Science Symposium: Our (Super)human Brains, Nov. 14
Boston’s Museum of Science hosts the annual Lee and Nile Albright Symposium, which this year is on Our (Super)human Brains, November 14, 7PM-9PM, in the museum’s Cahners Theatre. It’s recommended for ages 18+ and features two author/speakers: Rachel Herz (neuroscientist and expert in the psychological science of smell) and Joel Salina (brain doctor at Harvard Medical School and Mass General). The program is free (after paying for regular museum admission), and registration is required.