The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University will celebrate NASA’s launch of the James Webb Space Telescope with an in-person event at McAuliffe Center (also livestreamed): The James Webb Space Telescope: We Can See the Beginning, on October 15 at 7PM. Dr. Kathryn Flanagan, Astronomer Emerita at the Space Telescope Science Institute and former Webb mission head, will speak about the largest astrophysics mission in NASA’s history and the science it will return. Before her keynote there will be a short multimedia presentation about the science goals and questions that will be explored by the Webb Telescope.
MSEN Online Panel about Jobs and Careers in Life Sciences, Oct. 18
The MetroWest STEM Education Network will host a free panel discussion, Life Sciences Jobs: Demystifying Career Paths 101, for high-school and college students, educators, and parents, on October 18 at 1PM. Moderated by Alira Health CEO Gabriele Brambilla, the panel will include: Jason Krantz (CEO and Founder of Definitive Healthcare), Amir Handzel (Global Head of Science and Research Engagement at MathWorks), Kenneth Turner (President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center), and Maria Wendt (Head of Biologics Research US & Global Head Digital Biologics Platform at Sanofi). Register here.
MSEN Online Talk about Jobs Related to the Environment , Oct. 21
The MetroWest STEM Education Network will host an online talk, Green Jobs Everywhere: Turning Your Passion for the Environment into an Impactful Career, on October 21 at 4:30PM, for middle-school and high-school students. Brian Coyle of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute, will speak about ways to have enriching careers in science, finance, and education and make positive impacts on the environment. Register here.
Broad Institute Science for All Seasons: More than Just a Powerhouse: Your Mitochondria, Oxygen, and You, Oct. 25
The Broad Institute will host a public, virtual event in its Science for All Seasons series, More than Just a Powerhouse: Your Mitochondria, Oxygen, and You, on October 25, 5PM-6PM. Molecular biologist Vamsi Mootha will describe a new understanding of mitochondrias’ fundamental purpose and discuss what that means for human health. Register here.
K-12 Cool Science Artwork Competition, Submissions Due Dec. 10
Cool Science — a free, public art competition for K-12 students — is now in its 10th year and hosted by UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, University of Kansas, and Kansas City Art Institute. Students are asked to create a visual work of art, following these guidelines and rules, in response to one of these challenge questions:
- What did you learn about extreme weather and climate that you want to teach adults?
- Why is a weakening Polar Vortex causing wild ups and downs in winter temperatures?
- How will our lives change as weather becomes more severe?
Submissions are due December 10. Winning art, in three divisions (Grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12) will be displayed on public busses next fall.
FIRST LEGO League Info Night: STEM+Robotics Opportunities for Ages 4-16, Oct. 9
FIRST Lego League (FLL) is an annual robotics competition in which teams of 2-10 students build a robot, solve engineering challenges, and learn in a friendly competition. FLL has different divisions for ages 4-6, 6-10, and 9-16+.
On Saturday, October 9 at 7:30 pm, there will be a free FLL Info Night hosted by the LigerBots, Newton’s high school robotics team, to introduce FLL to families with students in ages 4-16 who may be interested in STEM and/or robotics. Parents, guardians, students, and potential mentors can learn about how the FLL competition and season run, what is required to participate, and what students can gain from the experience.
Several students on the LigerBots started out participating in FLL. A few of the speakers will be past FLL participants, ready to share experiences and answer questions. Many of the high schoolers would love to help guide and mentor younger students using what they have learned in FLL and with the LigerBots.
Register here for FLL Info Night. For more information, visit the LigerBots FLL page or email cso@ligerbots.com.
Empow Studios: One-Day Holiday Camp, Oct. 11
Empow Studios is offering a One-Day Holiday Camp in its Newton and Lexington locations, 8:30AM-4PM, for the school break on October 11. Options include Video Game Design, Digital Animation, Stop-Motion Animation, 3D Art & Printing, 3D Architecture, Digital Audio Production, and Coding/Programming Fundamentals.
Apply by Sept. 26 for Biogen-MIT Biotech in Action: Virtual Fall Program
Today is the last day to apply for the Biogen-MIT BioTech in Action virtual fall program. It’s a free, 9-week, virtual program for Grades 10-12. Students will use virtual labs, online learning and conferencing software, and online conversations with BioGen and MIT employees to learn about biotechnology and invention, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease. Apply here by September 26. Priority will be given to students from low-income households and groups historically underrepresented in science. The program will have a two-day kickoff 2PM-5PM on October 9-10 and then meet on Saturdays, 2PM-5PM, October 16-December 11 (not November 27).
Newton Free Library Online: Animal Antics, Ages 3-6, Sept. 27
The Newton Free Library will host an online session of its Animal Antics program, for ages 3-6 and their caregivers, on September 27, 10:30AM-11AM. Each session focuses on a different class/order of animals.
New England Aquarium Virtual Lecture: Achieving Drawdown: A Hopeful, Science-Based Approach to Address Climate Change, Sept. 29
The New England Aquarium‘s next public lecture, supported by the Lowell Institute, will be Achieving Drawdown: A Hopeful, Science-Based Approach to Address Climate Change, on September 29, 6:30PM-7:30PM on Zoom. Dr. Jonathan Foley, Executive Director of Project Drawdown, will speak about a set of practical solutions to fix the world’s energy, food, and material systems to help stop climate change. Register here.