As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to spotlight several STEM opportunities that might interest you.
National Programs and Events
International Math Contest
The International Math Contest (IMC) is a fun yet challenging way for students to engage their math skills in a competition setting. The competition features thought-provoking problems based on leading math curricula from around the world, allowing contestants to benchmark their knowledge against international standards. The IMC is open to students in grades 1-8 and is a 75-minute-long contest held at RSM branches on February 3rd, 2026. For those who do not live near an RSM location, an online version of the competition is also available to students in grades 3-8 on February 8th, 2026. Fee: $25. Register now.
AI + Sustainability Challenge
Girls Who Code Challenges are annual community competitions in which participants can build a project addressing a real-world problem and win prizes. This school year’s AI + Cybersecurity Challenge asks students to create projects on how people can use AI to protect their identities and creativity online. Anyone aged 13-18 based in the US can participate. You don’t need to be a current program participant or alumni to win! Find the Participant, Educator, and Family Guides on the website to help you get started. The deadline to submit is February 11, 2026.
Hour of AI
Code.org, the organization behind the Hour of Code, is launching the Hour of AI, a new global initiative designed to help students and educators everywhere take their first step into understanding and creating with AI. Through hands-on, easy-to-follow activities, learners around the world will demystify AI and imagine what’s possible when they harness it for good. The activity catalog launches on November 12. Learn more on CSforAll.
Future Engineers STEM Challenge
Future Engineers is running the Future Creatures Challenge for K-12 students. Pick a vertebrate animal living in a tropical rainforest and draw/illustrate/predict how it may look in the future due to the long-term effects of environmental change (think thousands of years … or more!). Visit the website for challenge rules, design guidelines, and educational support materials. Entries are due March 6, 2026.
Featured Programs in Massachusetts
MassRobotics JumpStart Fellowship
Applications are open for the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship, a robotics experience for female students in grades 11-12, running from January through May in Lowell and Boston. It takes place on Saturdays and during school breaks. Students gain experience in design and simulation, fabrication and electricity, coding, and professional development, culminating in a paid summer internship. This is a free program. Apply by November 16.
November Splash Events
Here are upcoming Splash events in Massachusetts where students can take classes taught by undergraduates. Each event requires registration, so visit the websites for more information and sign up before the deadline. Splash programs are also offered at colleges throughout the country.
- Northeastern University will hold Splash for grades 8-12 on November 8. It is a free event, and registration opens on October 20. Register here.
- Clark University will hold Splash on November 16 for grades 5-12. It is a free event, and registration will be open from October 10 to November 13. Register here.
- MIT will hold Splash for grades 9-12 on November 22 and 23. Cost: $60. Register by November 1.
Calendar of Massachusetts Events
November 1 & 2: Keep the Halloween fun going by Trick-or-Treating at Einstein’s Workshop in Burlington from 10am to 6pm. Kids in costumes can play for free in the drop-in STEAM play space and grab a sweet treat with robot arms!
November 1: Attend the Day of the Dead Celebration at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology in Cambridge. Learn about this joyful holiday, a national symbol of Mexico. Enjoy craft activities for the young and young at heart. Personalize a sugar skull (extra fee), learn about the natural history of Mexico, watch live folk dance and mariachi performances, and purchase traditional pan de muerto and hot chocolate. Regular museum admission rates apply—free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.
November 1: Acera School in Winchester is hosting an Open House and Math Festival from 10am-12pm. This event features a morning of math and logic games, puzzles, and challenges for students. Register for this free event.
November 2: The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is hosting a K-12 STEM Showcase from 9am-2:45pm at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. This is an interactive opportunity for students, parents, and educators to learn about STEM, chemical engineering, and different STEM career paths from real-life STEM professionals. This year’s keynote speaker is Jay Flores, a STEM advocate, author of the bilingual children’s book “Engineer Someday,” and a two-time American Ninja Warrior semifinalist, who will present STEM demonstrations from his live touring show. Following the keynote, attendees and their caregivers can participate in multiple interactive activities, enjoy a lunch and learn session with STEM professionals, and attend a book signing by Jay, among other activities. The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.
November 15: Science on Saturday at the MIT Laboratory in Lexington is presenting Why It’s Hard to Fly on Mars. Come learn about the challenges of flying aircraft on other worlds! This is a fun, free science demonstration for children aged 5-17 and their parents and teachers. Preregistration and parental/adult escort are required for all children.
November 15: The Harvard Museum of Natural History is hosting ¡Ser Súper Is Super! The Power of Bilingualism! Join bilingual museum educator, Javier Marin, for a fun-filled storybook reading in both English and Spanish that celebrates the power of being bilingual! After the reading, stick around for a hands-on craft workshop where kids and caregivers can get creative, practice their Spanish, and build community together. Recommended for ages 3—8. Regular admission rates apply. Advanced registration is required.
November 19: Dive into the deep blue sea with Sounds of the Ocean—a breathtaking fusion of nature sounds, live music, and immersive visual art at the Mugar Omni Theater at the Museum of Science. This immersive, family-friendly performance blends the majestic calls of whales and dolphins with live instrumental music and oceanic imagery projected across the giant dome screen. Cost: $25. Get tickets.
November 20: Journey to the microscopic world of cells in a multimedia experience fusing dance, visuals and electro-symphonic music by Multiverse Concert Series during Cellular Dance—only at the Museum of Science Boston! Choreographer Meg Anderson and her ensemble are joined by composer David Ibbett and pianist William Hume to perform an immersive ballet based on the research of cell biologist Alexey Veraksa of UMass Boston Biology, exploring the science of cell signaling in the embryo, leading to treatments for developmental conditions such as spina bifida. Cost: $25. Get tickets now.
November 21: Join for an evening at the Framingham State University (FSU) planetarium to experience the planetarium film Big Astronomy. Take a journey through observatories used by professional astronomers in the gorgeous mountains of Chile, one of the best astronomical observing locations on Earth. Purchase tickets.
November 22: Discover the atlatl, a powerful spear-thrower used by the Aztecs, at the Atlatl Spear Throwing: Teen Saturdays Workshop at Voke Park in Chelsea, MA! With an atlatl, warriors could launch darts faster and farther than by hand alone. Darts were tipped with sharp obsidian or bone, capable of piercing tough Spanish leather armor. Some atlatls were beautifully decorated and gifted to nobles, while others were plain and used by warriors. Today, people still make and use atlatls to explore ancient technology. Try this ancient skill yourself and experience history in action! Cost: $10. Advanced registration required.
November 23: Join HMSC volunteers for a live story reading and hands-on, family-friendly activities at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East. Recommended for ages 5–12. Admission to the museum is free.
December 4: The Christa McAuliffe Center in Framingham invites multigenerational audiences to attend Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, Symbol of Ordinary People Achieving Extraordinary Things. This event is part of a series of conversations exploring key formative moments in the life of Christa McAuliffe, examining the historical context of the 1986 Challenger mission, and reflecting on lessons learned from the tragedy. This event will be held in person and on Zoom. Register for Zoom.
December 6: It’s Fossil Day at the Harvard Museum of Natural History! What treasures are found in the Harvard University paleontology collections? Meet Harvard paleontologists to find out! See their favorite fossils, learn about their research, and ask them your questions. Celebrate National Fossil Day with short talks and table-top presentations for all ages. All ages are welcome; talks recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply.
December 13: The LigerBots robotics team will host a STEAM Expo for families during the Massachusetts-East FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Championship competition at Newton North High School. This free event features hands-on STEM activities for kids and robot demonstrations.
December 13: Travel back in time and explore some of the world’s oldest board games from the ancient Near East at Games of the Ancient Near East: Teen Saturdays Workshop at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology in Cambridge. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn the origins of games like senet, mancala, the Royal Game of Ur, and al-qirkat. Play, win, and learn how strategy and luck have connected people for thousands of years. Whether you love history, puzzles, or friendly competition, this workshop is for you. Come ready to play, learn, and experience ancient fun that still inspires today! Cost: $10. Advanced registration required.
December 20: Experience Octave of Light by Multiverse Concert Series, a planetarium concert of exoplanet music at the Christa McAuliffe Center & Planetarium at Framingham State University. This groundbreaking show takes audiences on an immersive journey across the stars, exploring distant worlds through sight, sound, and live electrosymphonic music. Purchase tickets.
