Girls Who Code Information Session at Newton Library, Sept. 20

Events, Opportunities

Girls in Grades 6-12 and their parents are invited to an information session about the Newton’s Girls Who Code club on September 20, 7-8PM in the Newton Free Library’s Druker Auditorium. Girls Who Code (GWC) is a national nonprofit organization to inspire, educate, and equip girls with the computing skills to pursue 21st-century opportunities. At the info session, you can learn about GWC, what to expect for the year, how to register, what the schedule looks like, and more. Registration is required for the information session. Registration for GWC will open later, as explained at the info session.

Registration Opens Sept. 12 for Mass. STEM Summit, Nov. 14

Events

Registration will open on September 12 for the Massachusetts STEM Summit, to be held on November 14, 8AM-4PM at DCU Center in Worcester.  See lists of the sessions, speakers, and exhibits. The registration fee of $50 (rising to $60 on October 29) will be waived for full-time students. Register early, as this event usually sells out. For more information, contact Dana Bienkowski at 774-455-7372 or
StemSummitInfo@donahue.umassp.edu.

Welcome Back! How to Catch Up Quickly with NewtonSTEM

Recommendations

Whether or not you have been away for part of the summer, you can always catch up at NewtonSTEM.org.  Events are usually posted as early as possible, and in general, posts are not repeated for the same event.  This means that events can be “lost in the shuffle” if they were posted with a lot of lead time.  The NewtonSTEM weekly newsletter includes all new posts written in the previous week, but it does not include all posts relevant to the upcoming week.  In order to keep current on upcoming events, you may want to:

  • Review the “Earlier Announcements” list at the end of each newsletter.
  • Review the NewtonSTEM calendar for upcoming events.  (The description of each event includes a link to the NewtonSTEM post about it.)
  • Use the Search box in the right-hand column of the NewtonSTEM site.
  • Click on Categories of interest in the list in the right-hand column of the site.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please write to info@newtonstem.org.

500 Women Scientists: Boston Launch Event, Sept. 5

Events

A new worldwide organization, 500 Women Scientists, will hold a launch event on September 5, 6-8PM, at Boston University’s BUild Lab (730 Commonwealth Ave., Boston) to start its Boston-based pod. (No, you do not have to be one of the first 500 to sign up!) 500 Women Scientists aims to “build an inclusive scientific community dedicated to training a more diverse group of future leaders in science and to use the language of science to bridge divides and enhance global diplomacy.” The Boston launch event will feature lightning talks, a panel discussion, and networking. Tickets are available for a $10 donation to Science Club for Girls, a Cambridge-based non-profit fostering confidence, sisterhood, and STEM literacy in young girls in underrepresented communities.

MetroWest STEM Education Network Meeting, Sept. 12

Events

All are welcome to attend the next quarterly meeting of the MetroWest STEM Education Network will be held on September 12, 8:15-10:30AM at Framingham State University. Topics include MSEN’s recent joining of the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice, the forming of the MSEN Advisory Committee, and community updates about local STEM activities. This free event includes a light breakfast and time for networking. Register here for the meeting — and to get a free parking pass that you’ll need for the FSU campus.

Truth Values: One Girl’s Romp through M.I.T.’s Male Math Maze, Sept. 12-23

Events

Central Square Theater in Cambridge will present a one-woman show, Truth Values: One Girl’s Romp through M.I.T.’s Male Math Maze, September 12-23. In it, Gioia De Cari recounts her adventures as a female Ph.D math student at MIT in a humorous exploration of the world of elite mathematics and the challenges women face in math and science. This short video summarizes several reviews of the play with words such as: Appealing, nimble-witted, energetic, intimate, hilarious, hilarious, riveting, full of joy, transformative, tour de force, magical, refreshing, wry, insightful, genuine, authentic, a must-see. Buy tickets online. Half-price deals are available.

LigerBots Open House for Prospective Team Members, Sept. 17

Events, Opportunities

The LigerBots — Newton’s award-winning FIRST robotics team spanning Newton North and Newton South High Schools — will hold an open house for prospective team members on September 17, 6:30-8:30PM at the Newton South HS wood shop (Room 9170, next to the auditorium). The LigerBots are “more than robots,” with activities as diverse as engineering, running a business, programming, marketing, photography, writing, public speaking, and 3D printing. At the open house, high-school students can learn about the team, meet team members and mentors, drive a robot, use power tools, do engineering challenge games, create marketing materials, and eat dessert! For more information, email info@ligerbots.org.

Museum of Science: Astronomy After Hours, Fridays Sept-Oct.

Events

Boston’s Museum of Science hosts a free drop-in activity, Astronomy After Hours, for Grades PreK-12 and adults. Weather permitting, it takes place in the Gilliland Observatory on the roof of the Museum’s parking garage (map). If the sky is clear, you can view stars and planets, and if it’s cloudy there will be tours and hands-on activities inside the observatory. It’s on Fridays in September (8-10:30PM) and October (7:30-9:30PM), returning again in mid-April through June, and on both Thursdays and Fridays in July and August. This popular program can get crowded, particularly in summer, and in this case time for attendees may be limited to about 20 minutes. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled end of the program to ensure a place in line. For more information and the impact of weather on the evening’s program (updated by 5:30PM on days of the program), call 617-589-0267.

Science by Connections: Database of Mass. STEM Programs

Resources

The Museum Institute for Teaching Science maintains Science by Connections, an online, searchable database of STEM programs in Massachusetts suitable for school field trips and in-school activities for students, as well as professional development for teachers.  You can search by grade level, field of STEM, geographic region, Common Core literacy and math standard, Science and Technology/Engineering standard, and/or program provider. Providers, schools, and other interested parties are encouraged to contact the Science by Connections staff with questions, requests, or suggestions.