Science & Us is a one-day event for high-school students of all interests to create their own STEM communications projects to explain a STEM topic of their choosing in an exciting and understandable way. A team of expert mentors will help students write articles, create animations, and make podcasts. Following last June’s successful event at BU, this one will be held at MIT (Building 3, at 33 Mass. Ave, Room 270) on December 8, 9:30AM-4:30PM. Apply by November 17, in collaboration with Communicating Science at MIT. It’s aimed at Grades 9-12, but middle-schoolers may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, and undergraduates and older may apply to volunteer. The event has been created by Boston-area high-school students who are fascinated not only by STEM but also by communicating well with the general public. You can make a donation to help them continue offering such events.

Our high-school robotics team, the LigerBots, hosts the annual Newton Qualifier FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competition, this year on November 17, 9AM-3PM, at Newton North HS.  It’s free and open to the public and a blast to see.  About 25 FLL teams in Grades 4-8 will compete, using LEGO robots that they have designed, built, and programmed for this year’s competitive game. The event will also feature the FLL teams’ presentations on their solutions to real-world problems related to this year’s theme, “Into Orbit.” There will also be a maker fair with hands-on STEM activities, as well as demonstrations of robots built by older grade levels of FIRST.

And on December 15, the LigerBots will host a similar event, the FIRST LEGO League Eastern MA State Championship, with about 48 FLL teams from eastern Massachusetts.

MAHacks is a hackathon produced by high schoolers for high schoolers. Following three earlier events, MAHacks IV will be held on December 1-2 at Wordstream in Prudential Center, Boston. High-school students may apply, and middle-school students may be accepted on a case-by-case basis (email theo@mahacks.com). Adults are not admitted, except as mentors (apply here to be a mentor) or sponsors (apply here to be a sponsor).

New England Sci-Tech, a non-profit STEM educational organization, hosts public telescope nights on Tuesdays (November 6 & 13, 7-9PM) and Fridays (November 9 & 16, 6:30-9PM). Use Starblast telescopes to hunt sky objects, and (if staff is available) touch a rock from outer space (70 lb meteorite!), weigh yourself on the moon and planets, or operate the Mars robotic arm to pick up rocks. It’s free for all ages, and a donation of $10 per family is suggested. For more information or to arrange group visits, call  508-720-4179.

Tufts University’s Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) will hold a workshop for Grades 6-8 on Making Musical Wind Instruments on November 10, 9AM-12PM. No musical experience is required. Registration costs $50.

The Studio of Engaging Math will host a Math Festival and Open House on November 11, 11AM-2PM at 320 Washington St, Ste 301, in Brighton. Kids 4 to 14 years old and their parents are invited to play games of logic and strategy, solve challenging puzzles, and learn about the Studio’s curriculum.

The Ocean Literacy Summit will be held November 15-16 at Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center and the University of Massachusetts/Boston. The schedule includes two days of workshops, field trips, presentations, and networking. Registration covering both days costs $75 for students and $175 for others, or $100 for one day.

The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University opens its planetarium for free public presentations on the third Friday of each month (except April), and will offer new topics each month within one of three series:  Family Night, Late Nite Skies, and Stellar Nursery. Space is limited, and for guaranteed seating you must pre-register and arrive 15 minutes before show time (directions and parking). Registration links will be available here one week before each show.

November 16:  Undiscovered Worlds: The Search for Life Beyond Our Sun (7PM). Registration opens November 9.

December 14:  Holiday Skies (5:30PM and 6:30PM). Family show. Registration opens on December 7.

Although the lottery registration for MIT’s Splash program is over, registration remains open through November 10 on a first-come/first-served basis. Splash runs each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving — this year, on November 17-18 (10AM-9PM on Saturday, and 9AM-6PM on Sunday).  Splash gives students in Grades 9-12 the opportunity to take a wide range of mini-courses (including these in Science, Computers & Programming, Engineering, and Mathematics) as well as participate in walk-in activities.  More info in this Boston Tech Mom post and this NewtonSTEM post.

In the documentary film, Earthrise, the Apollo 8 astronauts tell of their experiences in 1968, including their capture one of the most iconic and widely reproduced and distributed images in history. This film will be shown on November 29 (7-9PM) at the McCarthy Center Forum of Framingham State University (100 State Street, Framingham).