WBUR CitySpace Online: Leveling the Playing Field in STEM, Mar. 23

WBUR’s CitySpace will present a free, virtual panel discussion, Leveling the Playing Field in STEM, on March 23 at 6PM. On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti will lead a conversation about ways to repair disparities in education, youth enrichment programming, recruitment, and promotion that cause Black and Latinx Americans to be underrepresented in STEM. Register here. Sponsored by Olin College of Engineering. Panelists include:

  • Tarika Barrett – CEO, Girls Who Code
  • Nigel Jacob – co-chair, Boston Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics
  • Adrian Mims – founder and national director, The Calculus Project
  • Karl Reid – senior vice provost and chief inclusion officer, Northeastern University

FSU McAuliffe Center Online: Global Warming Demystified, Apr. 22

The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University will present a free webinar, Global Warming Demystified, on April 22 at 5:30PM as the keynote of Science on State Street — Planet Earth Edition. It’s aimed at high-school students and older, but all ages are welcome. Dr. Jeffrey Bennett will speak about the science behind global warming and explain solutions that people of all political views can agree upon. His talk is based on his book, Global Warming Primer. Register here.

Summer STEM Institute for HS Students: Apply by Apr. 16

The Summer STEM Institute is a rigorous, selective, pre-collegiate virtual summer program for high-school students aiming to be “top international scientists and leaders.” It consists of a Data Sciences bootcamp, a variety of master classes, and weekend challenges for up to 500 students, plus an optional, six-week mentored research project for up to 100 of those students. Class teachers and project mentors are accomplished undergraduates and other young adults worldwide. The program will run virtually June 20 through August 1. The cost is $2,450 for the bootcamp, master class and weekend challenges, plus $6,450 for the optional research project. Financial aid is available. Applications — including personal information, school information, transcripts and test scores, activities and awards, and a personal statement — are due April 16. For more information, see the FAQs or email info@summersteminstitute.org.

Science Club for Girls: Spring Clubs Have Started

Last week, Science Club for Girls launched its spring semester of Science Clubs with over 70 mentors guiding more than 250 girls through an 8-week curriculum of exploring Planet Earth, including geology, energy, biomes, and recycling. Three-quarters of these girls are from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM fields by race, family income, or first-generation college bound. Here’s a short video of students from the fall semester talking about their favorite projects and their appreciation for their mentors.

Newton Schools Foundation Makes STEM Grants

The Newton Schools Foundation announced 20 grants this year, including these STEM-related ones:

  • The Calculus Project: A comprehensive program to increase the number of African American, Hispanic, and low-income students who enroll in and successfully complete calculus in high school.
  • STEM for Students with Visual Impairment:  Materials to ensure the NPS STEM curriculum can be adapted for the students during the 2020-2021 school year.

Tufts CEEO Engineers Week: Online Design Challenge, Feb. 22

Tuft’s Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) will celebrate Engineers Week with a free, online Design Challenge for K-12 students and their families on February 22, 4PM-5PM. Register here. While students design and build at home in response to the challenge, a panel of Tufts undergraduates will talk about engineering and their own paths to studying engineering. It will help if you gather ahead of time materials such as cardboard, string/yarn, tape, paperclips, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, paper cups, scissors, plastic containers (from recycling), paper towel rolls, felt/material scraps, egg cartons, etc.

Museum of Science Webinar: Vaccination Decisions–Recruiting for Clinical Trials, Feb. 23

Boston’s Museum of Science will host a free webinar, Vaccination Decisions: Recruiting for Clinical Trials, the second of three virtual town halls about the COVID-19 vaccines, on February 23, 5PM-6:30PM. It will address questions such as: How do we know that the vaccines are safe? and How can we ensure that everyone is represented in clinical trials? Registration is required. After presentations by the panelists, attendees may join small-group discussions to share concerns and ask questions.

Empow Studios: Summer Camp Open House, Feb. 25

On February 25 at 7PM, Empow Studios will host a free, online Open House to discuss summer camp opportunities in both on-campus and live virtual programs, including including Coding, Roblox, Minecraft, Sphero, and Outdoor STEM. Attendees will receive a discount on summer programs. Register here. On-campus summer programs are available in Newton, Lexington, Natick, Boston, Acton, and Winchester. Space is limited to 8 campers per counselor for on-campus and 6 campers per counselor for live virtual programs.

“e” Inc. Fundraiser: Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Mar. 20

“e” inc.’s annual fundraiser, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, will be virtual this year, on March 20 starting at 7PM, with . You can purchase all-access passes now, at sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $250, to view any or all of these 11 films: