ENVISION, Science-U, and more!
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March 2021
Hello! This month will mark a full year since our Office of Science Outreach started working remotely! We appreciate the challenges that everyone has faced during this pandemic, and we hope the virtual events and activities developed by our office have been engaging! Keep scrolling to read more about:
- ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women will be held March 20th
- Science-U 2021
- The Science of COVID-19 videos
- Spring Ephemerals
- The Mars Rover
- Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Camps
- Virtual Science Festival's resource page
Virtual ENVISION 2021
We have over 100 students signed up to experience our virtual ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women! There is still room for students in grades 6th through 12th to join us via Zoom on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon! (Printable flyer.)
Come hear inspirational keynote speakers share stories about their research in chemistry and plant biology and why they chose a STEM field. Also meet with professional scientists and other Penn State students to learn more about STEM careers and the college experience. There is no cost for this event, and attendees will receive a certificate of participation! For those who have signed up already, watch for an email to arrive later next week - you'll be able to select which sessions you want to attend!
Science-U 2021 Update
Since last month when the Office of Science Outreach announced that Science-U camps will be virtual this summer, we have been busy meeting with camp directors and instructors to create our virtual plans and schedule. The finalized camp schedule will be available in a few weeks! In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at sciencecamps@science.psu.edu.
Online Science Course
One of our outreach partners, the Penn State Center for Science and the Schools, has developed a free course for middle and high school students about the science behind COVID-19. The course, entitled The Science of COVID-19, includes three modules on virology, epidemiology, and public health preparedness. To read more about this valuable resource from the Penn State News report and access it yourself, click the link below!
Spring ephemerals are on their way!
Spring officially starts this month, and with it comes the first signs of life appearing in the forests. Some of the very first plants to emerge from the warming ground are called spring ephemerals. These plants take advantage of the period between snowmelt and trees leafing out to quickly bloom, photosynthesize, and store enough energy in their roots to stay dormant through the shady summer and freezing winter. Can you identify some of the wildflowers pictured above? Click the link below to learn more!
The Perseverance Rover on Mars
NASA's landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars on February 18th was an exciting and historical event! If you missed it, here is an excellent video! The rover, Perseverance, will search for signs of ancient microbial life by drilling and collecting core samples of Martian rock and soil. These samples will be sealed in tubes for pickup by a future mission that will ferry them back to Earth for detailed analysis. Perseverance is also taking photos and sending them back to Earth - the one here shows a shadow of itself on Mars! In addition, the rover will test technologies to help pave the way for future exploration of Mars. To learn more about the Mars rover mission, and see pictures of Perseverance, click on the link below to access the NASA website.
Computer Science and Engineering Camps
Our colleagues in the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science will host two virtual summer camps, one in computer science and engineering and one in electrical engineering. Both camps are geared toward girls but open to all participants, regardless of gender. Click on the pictures to download flyers for these camps!
Game Makers, Game Changers, the computer science and engineering camp, will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from June 21 to 25 via Zoom. Participants will use games such as Minecraft to learn computer science and engineering basics. It is for anyone entering 7th through 9th grades. Learn more and register here.
Anything is POssible for Girls in Electrical Engineering (APOGEE), the electrical engineering camp, will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from July 19 to 23 via Zoom. Participants will learn about and create wearable technology such as smart clothing or fitness tracker devices. The camp is open to anyone entering 7th through 12th grades. Learn more and register here.
Virtual Science Festival Resources
Don't forget to check out our Virtual Science Festival frequently as more information is continuing to being added! A fun section of the website to explore this month is located under Other Resources. In this section, kids can learn about science topics such as space exploration, living cells, and food chains - with entertaining games and puzzles! Also, there are virtual tours of the International Space Station and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum that families may enjoy watching together. Click on the box below to start having fun with these virtual science resources!
Meet our team!
Next month we hope to add a new Education Program Specialist!
Our Office of Science Outreach staff members are happy to assist you with any questions related to Science Outreach. Bookmark our website at https://science.psu.edu/outreach for more information or email us at outreach@science.psu.edu.
We would love to hear from you!
By submitting photographs or information to the Office of Science Outreach, we reserve the right to use them in our future newsletters or marketing.
