On July 22, 7-9PM, Boston’s Museum of Science will present an advance, online screening of the feature film, Radioactive, about Marie Curie. The film will debut on Amazon next March (trailer). There is no charge for this online event, but registration is required and a donation to support #MOSatHome is encouraged, to help the museum continue to provide access to free STEM experiences online.
FSU Planetarium AstroNight: Live Virtual Event, July 24
The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University has moved its free planetarium events for families from onsite to online in its Dome to Home: AstroNights program. Their next live virtual event, the Saturn: Sixth Jewel from the Sun, will be July 24 at 7PM. You can view recordings of previous events on their YouTube playlist.
SciTechCafe: Why Sharks Matter, July 27
SciTechCafe usually has meetings twice a month in Northampton, but recently those meetings are online and available to a wider audience. On Monday, July 27 at 7PM, their online meeting will be Why sharks matter: the ecological importance of sharks, the threats they face, and how you can help, featuring marine conservation biologist David Shiffman. Follow that link for credentials to access the meeting.
Jane Street’s 1st Annual FOCUS Program, for Minority Undergraduates, Aug. 3-4
Jane Street Capital — a quantitative trading firm in New York City — will host its first annual FOCUS event virtually over two days, August 3-4, inviting undergraduates (Classes of 2020-24) who self-identify with a historically underrepresented minority group* to participate in online classes, discussions, and structured activities to learn about the firm and how it uses math, computer science, and probability in its business. No prior experience in finance is required. Apply with your resume and 150-word essay by July 23. For more information, email jobs@janestreet.com.
*Minority groups include Black or African American, Native American or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latinx, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Mad Science of North Boston: Register for Fall Online Programs
Mad Science of North Boston has opened registration for its online after-school enrichment programs this fall, combining science demonstrations, virtual games, and at-home projects for Pre-K through Grade 6. Topics include chemistry, engineering, environmental science, forensics, geology, inventing, illusion, and space exploration.
LigerBots Seek More HS Students to be Counselors at Virtual “cAMP” for Elementary Students
Ligerbots cAMP — the virtual summer camp created and run by the LigerBots‘ Awesome Mentoring Project — is underway and is proving to be a blast for both elementary student campers and high-school student teacher/counselors. Subjects range from core subjects and STEAM skills to dance, astronomy, and so much more. The LigerBots now seek additional high-school students as teacher/counselors for Session 4 (August 17-28). Teach a subject of your choice online. Commit to 6 hours per week during the session, plus online training to help you prepare. Gain experience teaching while building your resumé and having fun. Everything happens over Zoom. Sign up by July 19.
STEM Museums are Reopening …and Continuing Online
Boston-area STEM museums are beginning to reopen, following the COVID-19 safety protocols specified for Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan, including timed ticketing increased cleaning and sanitation, one-way traffic flows for pedestrians, and reduced capacity. Online events and activities are continuing.
- The New England Aquarium will re-open July 16 and will also continue to offer virtual visits and virtual encounter sessions with marine mammal trainers and sea lions, seals, or penguins.
- Boston’s Museum of Science will re-open on July 26 (with advance tickets required) and is continuing to offer its #MOSatHome series of STEM resources and activities online.
- The MIT Museum remains closed until further notice and continues to offer online chats with experts, movie nights, a virtual idea hub, online conversations, and STEAM activities for at-home use.
NSHS Science Team Mentors Middle-School Students
The Newton South HS Science Team — led by captains Frank Liu, David Kim, and Lucy Dutton — is starting an online mentorship program to introduce middle-school students to high-school science. Middle-school students will benefit by filling in gaps in their curriculum during the shutdown while also interacting with high-school students. Students can ask questions about science and high school and get to know Science Team members. The program aims to be introductory and preparatory, addressing the basics of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and related topics. It is designed mainly for students who will be in Grade 9 at Newton high schools in the fall, but it’s open to anyone interested in science. Weekly sessions will be scheduled based on availability and demand. Interested parents should fill out this form to express interest and learn more.
NewtonHACKS: Hackathon for Beginner Programmers, Grades 6-12, Aug. 29
NewtonHACKS — an organization run by Newton high-school students — will host a free, online hackathon on August 29 for beginner programmers entering Grades 6-12. It’s an all-day event where participants get to collaborate and code to create projects, and this one is for beginners. The high-school student organizers plan to host a series of webinars before the event to help brand-new coders gain some experience. Interested students may register individually or in teams of 2 to 3. NewtonHACKS was started in part to promote gender equality in the tech industry, and it’s sponsored by Johnny’s Luncheonette and Millifluidica. For more information, see the FAQs or email newtonhacks@gmail.com.
Tufts CEEO In-Person Summer Workshops in Engineering, K-12
Tuft’s Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) will hold several in-person, one-week workshops this summer for elementary, middle, and high school students to learn engineering from Tufts University staff and undergraduate students who are researching how best to teach engineering to K-12 students. The goal of these in-person workshops is to evoke curiosity and passion for engineering through hands-on design challenges while keeping the health and safety of students and teachers the highest priority. Refunds will be paid in the event that workshops are canceled due to revised guidance from Tufts University or the CDC. Register at these links:
- Girls Design and Engineering Week (Grades 5-8): July 6-10
- High School Engineering (Grades 9-12): July 6-10
- LEGO Robotics for All (Grades 3-8): July 13-17
- Designing Solutions for Book Characters (Grades 1-3): July 13-17
- LEGO Robotics (Grades 3-8): July 20-24, July 27-31
- Wizarding Workhsop (Grades 2-5): July 27-31
- Pet Helpers (Grades 1-3): August 3-7
- Middle School Engineering (Grades 6-8): August 3-7
- Robotic Art (Grades 1-3): August 10-14
- High School Environmental Engineering (Grades 9-12): August 10-14