There are a lot of great STEM opportunities in the next few months. Enjoy exploring the possibilities!
Splash Programs
In March and April, universities around the country will hold Splash programs. Students get to take classes taught by college students. Many programs are free! Visit Learning Unlimited to see which universities offer programs. Registration is required.
National Cyber Cup
CYBER.ORG is hosting National Cyber Cup on March 28-30. This is a free, jeopardy-style, Capture the Flag (CTF) competition for students focusing on cybersecurity themes and challenges. There are two competition divisions: 4-8 grade will participate in the intermediate division, and 9-12 will participate in the high school division. Coaches are responsible for registering their school, and parents/guardians are responsible for registering student participants. A coach may be a teacher, club leader, or other adult leader. View the coaches’ manual to learn more. Parents/guardians and coaches: Register here.
National Robotics Week
National Robotics Week will run April 8-16, inspiring students and all ages to explore robotics and STEM-related fields. Find events nationwide and visit the Resources page to find activities!
Day of AI- 2023
Day of AI is back for a second year. The MIT-designed AI curriculum is returning to classrooms around the world, with new learning modules for all K-12 learners. This free, hands-on artificial intelligence curriculum can be used at any time, and no experience is needed. Register to get full access to the MIT-designed curriculum and training. Open to teachers, parents, and students.
WORK IT OUT WOMBATS!
PBS Kids recently launched WORK IT OUT WOMBATS!, a new animated series for kids ages 3-6, starring a playful trio of marsupial siblings—Malik, Zadie and Zeke—who live with their grandmother, Super, in their treehouse apartment complex. WORK IT OUT WOMBATS! introduces computational thinking concepts that help young viewers solve meaningful problems, learn flexible thinking and how to express themselves—all while using the practices and processes at the core of computer science. In addition to watching the show, explore these fun family activities and printables.
Upcoming Events in Massachusetts
March 11: At Harvard Museums of Science & Culture’s Science Spotlights series, meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. This event, free with regular museum admission, is perfect for ages 10 and up.
March 18 and 19: At Harvard Museums of Science & Culture’s Let’s Draw! events, take time to explore, slow down, and sketch an object in the Harvard Museum of Natural History galleries, Peabody Museum, and Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East (Sunday only). Feel free to bring your own sketchbook or take advantage of drawing materials from the museum, and share your favorite museum-inspired drawing for everyone to admire! This event is free with regular museum admission.
March 18: Northeastern Splash for students in grades 8-12. Register now for this free event.
March 22: Nitsch Engineering is hosting its annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, focusing on transportation engineering and roadway design! This free event will be held at Tufts University for girls in grades 6-12. Adult chaperones are welcome to accompany each girl and will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A event. Reserve a spot now—they always sell out!
March 22: InspiritAI is hosting a webinar: ChatGPT, Dall-E, DeepFakes: Learn About the Future of AI from 7-8pm Pacific Time. Learn about the latest in generative AI technology. They’ll talk about the basics of using ChatGPT, ideas for using it in your own projects, and what it means for the future of the field. Register now for this free event.
March 26: At Harvard Museums of Science & Culture’s Amazing Archaeology Fair, explore archaeology from around the world across the exhibit halls of two museums. Activities include ancient DNA analysis, animal mummies, King Tut’s throne, spear throwing, and other surprises during this popular annual event free with museum admission.
April 1: Calling all programmers, designers, and outlandish idea pitchers to participate in Beantown Bash, a 12-hour high school hackathon at Tufts University. Come create something meaningful! Register now.
April 2: Clark University Splash for grades 5-12. Register now for this free event.
April 5 & 20: Plan a school trip and be part of the Red Sox’s STEM Education Days, presented by Moderna. April 5 features NASA and April 20 features various STEM industry organizations. Tickets include a morning of STEM education and a 1:35 p.m. Red Sox game. Buy group tickets.
April 8: At Harvard Museums of Science & Culture’s Science Spotlights series, meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. This event, free with regular museum admission, is perfect for ages 10 and up.
April 8: The MIT Museum is hosting Teen Science Café: Physics of Phun. Join fellow high school students for a physics exploration featuring local researchers presenting their work and physics-based interactive activities. This is a free event. Register now.
April 17-21 (school vacation week): Here is a sample of organizations offering STEM vacation camps.
- Empow Studios will hold tech and design camps for grades 2-8 in Newton and Lexington.
- Einstein’s Workshop offers coding, 3D printing, and Minecraft camps for grades K-8 in Burlington.
- Many of the Code Ninjas centers in MA will offer a variety of tech camps.
- Inventor STEM School in Bedford offers students ages 4-14 classes, including engineering, science, robotics, and Minecraft.
- Acera will host creativity-based arts and sciences programs in Winchester.
- Some Code Wiz centers in MA will run coding, robotics, Minecraft, and Roblox camps.
April 22: Attend Science on State Street, a popular Massachusetts science festival at Framingham State University. It’s a free interactive science festival for families!
April 24-27: Black Hole Symphony is a symphonic journey through spacetime, performed by a live chamber orchestra under the Planetarium dome at the Museum of Science. This revolutionary new show is a unique collaboration between astrophysicists of the Harvard-Smithsonian CFA and Black Hole Initiative with the musicians of the Multiverse Concert Series. Cost: $20
April 29: Girls will hear from keynote speakers at the annual Girl Scouts’ STEM Fest event in Waltham and participate in activities and experiments created specifically for different ages. Cost: $30. Register now.
April 29: New England Sci-Tech and members of the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston (ATMoB) are hosting Astronomy Day in Natick from 4pm-9pm. There will be solar telescopes, nighttime telescopes, mirror grinding demos, a Galileo show, ham radio activities, and planetarium shows! Open to the public.
May 13: At Harvard Museums of Science & Culture’s Science Spotlights series, meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. This event, free with regular museum admission, is perfect for ages 10 and up.
June 11: Jr Tech is hosting the Girls STEM Summit at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. This is a great career-focused STEM day for girls in grades 8-12. Cost: $75/student.
Walk the New Innovation Trail! A Tech Tour of Cambridge and Boston
Whether you’re from Massachusetts or visiting, put the Innovation Trail on your things-to-do list! The Innovation Trail is a new walking tour that highlights the history of innovation in Cambridge and Boston. The Innovation Trail sites cover science, technology, medicine, and entrepreneurship, and there’s something for everyone: kids, teens, parents, teachers, and anyone interested in learning about Boston’s rich creative environment and legacy of world-changing innovation. Tickets are available now for the 2023 season, which begins with a special kick-off tour on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Public tours are available every weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday beginning May 20, 2023. Public tour tickets may be purchased online at theinnovationtrail.org at $20 per person. You can also do a self-guided tour using the trail map and the website’s trail site information.
