Science-U updates, Citizen Science, and more!
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April 2021
Hello! We hope you enjoy this month's newsletter that includes some updates about Science-U summer camps, an introduction to our new team member, and announcements from other Penn State groups that have exciting STEM opportunities to offer! Be sure to keep scrolling to read more about the following:
- ENVISION highlights
- Science-U 2021 registrations to begin soon
- Meet our new Education Program Specialist
- Become a citizen scientist
- I AM STEM winners announced
- Shaver's Creek journaling club starts Tuesday
- Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Camps
Have a great month and stay safe! ~ The Science Outreach Team
ENVISION 2021 Was a Success!
THANK YOU to all who joined us on Saturday, March 20th for our first virtual ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women! It was a lot of fun, and we hope everyone had a great experience! Here are a few highlights:
- Eighty young women in grades 6-12 attended our Zoom sessions from 20 Pennsylvanian counties and five other states to learn about the many opportunities available to them in STEM!
- Forty undergraduate and graduate students from Penn State, Penn State faculty and staff members, and outside STEM professionals discussed different topics and stages of STEM careers and/or their college experiences!
- Our keynote speakers did an excellent job sharing engaging, personal, and inspiring science stories! These stories were recorded and can be viewed below in the I AM STEM article.
At the end of the event, our ENVISION moderator, Caitlin, left the attendees with some questions to ponder:
- Is there a subject you want to learn more about now?
- Are there any careers you are now interested in?
- Are you more interested in college?
If these closing questions lead any participant to have questions for us, please feel free to email us at outreach@science.psu.edu. We will be happy to answer questions or direct them to one of our speakers or volunteers!
Science-U 2021 Registration Starting Soon
In earlier newsletters we announced that the 2021 Science-U Summer Camps will be held online to ensure the health and safety of all participants. These virtual camps will be conducted over Zoom weekly throughout the summer, and registrations will begin soon! Please read below for some updates and changes from years past.
2021 registration changes
- Registered campers from last summer whose camps were canceled will get the first opportunity to register for the same 2021 virtual Science-U camp! Those 2020 camp families will receive an email with a registration link for a single 2021 virtual camp, and will have a few days to register their child(ren) for that specific camp.
- Once the 2020 families register for a 2021 camp, and if there is still space in that camp, the registration link will be made available on our website for new families.
- Families are asked to please limit their Science-U camp registrations this year to just one camp per child, so that more children have a chance to attend.
Updated system
- The registration system we typically use has been updated to look more like a website and to be more responsive to different devices!
- Once information is added for a child, parents will have the option to register another child. At the end of the registration, there is a new option to edit information before submitting the registration.
- Because campers will not be on campus, the registration this year does not include medical questions. However, parents still need to provide a liability release and acknowledge the virtual format of the camps.
Camp offerings
We are excited to be expanding our collection of virtual Science-U summer camps! We are working on offering the following camps online this summer:
- Designing the Future (Grades 5-6)
- Finding Your Roots (Grades 6-8)
- Gravitational Waves & Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (Grades 10-12)
- Life...in Space! (Grades 6-8)
- Make It Matter (Grades 9-12)
- National Autism Conference Camp for Students on the Autism Spectrum (Grades 9-12)
- Nature Explorers (Grades 2-4)
- Nittany Bots: LEGO Robotics (Grades 3-5)
Unfortunately, the structures of some camps cannot be transferred to a virtual format due to various logistical reasons, so the following 2020 camps will not be offered in 2021:
- Biotechnology Mini Summer School (Grades 9-12)
- Penn State Pre-Med Academy (Grades 9-12)
- Penn State Pre-Med Experience (Grades 5-7)
- So, You Want to Be Scientist (Grades 2-4)
Campers who were signed up for these camps in 2020 may be able to attend other virtual camps instead.
Costs, assistance & structure
- Most virtual Science-U camps will cost $100-$150 per camp, depending on the camp topic and materials needed. Additional siblings may join the same camp at no cost if they are able to share materials.
Scholarships and financial aid that were awarded in 2020 will still be honored for campers in 2021. Financial assistance will also be available for those who qualify based on income levels.
During a week of camp, campers will meet on Zoom for an hour or two in the mornings to discuss science topics and fun camp projects! The campers will have time to explore camp projects in the afternoon, on their own or with family members. Instructors will be available via email or Zoom to provide help if needed.
What's next?
Families who were registered or possibly waitlisted for Science-U camps last year should expect to see an email from our office over the next few weeks. These emails will be sent out on a rolling basis and will contain an online registration link to a single 2021 virtual Science-U camp. Please do not hesitate to contact us at sciencecamps@science.psu.edu with any questions!
Welcome, Justin!
We are excited to introduce, Justin Hazelton, our new Education Program Specialist in the Office of Science Outreach! Justin has many years of experience in local school districts as a science educator, and most recently as a high school principal. His background includes the study and instruction of physiology and exercise science! Prior to his career in education, Justin also played Minor League Baseball! We are looking forward to him sharing his experiences and expertise and helping our office with science outreach activities and events in the near future!
What is citizen science?
With Spring here and weather warming up in most places, April will be a great time to get outside and enjoy natural surroundings! However, did you know that by exploring the great outdoors, you can also help professional scientists with their research? It's true! You can be a citizen scientist!
Citizen science is the collection of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public - usually as part of a collaborative effort with professional scientists. By participating in citizen science, community members can gain a greater appreciation of scientific efforts and learn more about research topics.
Penn State researchers are involved in several research projects that depend on assistance from community members. Click on the links below to learn about getting started with some of these projects!
I AM STEM Student Speaking Contest Winners Announced
We recently concluded our fourth I AM STEM Student Speaking Contest! This annual program was conducted virtually for the first time, but as always, it encouraged students from Penn State's Eberly College of Science to develop and communicate their unique science stories. We had several students submit incredible science stories in written and video formats, and faculty judges had the very difficult task of evaluating them. As a result, we are proud to announce this year's winners!
- 1st Place: Sarah Chapman - a Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate
- 2nd Place: Sarah Pfaff - a Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate
- 3rd Place: Phoebe McClincy - a Senior majoring in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Thank you to all the contestants who participated! Also, we want to thank Latisha Franklin, last year's 1st place winner, and the faculty members who served as judges, for helping with the contest. As 1st and 2nd place winners, Sarah Chapman and Sarah Pfaff, both gave keynote speeches at our recent ENVISION event in March. Click the link below to view their keynote speeches on our website!
Nature Journaling with Shaver's Creek
Want to learn how nature journaling integrates science and art while having fun studying the world around you? Join Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center for their virtual Nature Journal Club, which starts April 6th!
Each week, participants will come together on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00-5:00 p.m. EST for one-hour Zoom sessions to practice nature journaling through guided exercises while cultivating community with a small and consistent group of peers, alongside Shaver’s Creek staff. Registration will be limited to 10-15 participants (Grades 3-5, ages 8-11) to ensure an engaging and socially connected experience.
Computer Science and Engineering Camps Available
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. It is open to anyone entering grades 7 to 9. Participants will use games such as Minecraft to learn computer science and engineering basics. They’ll also teach a computer how to play games such as Quarto using their words, and they’ll learn about different ways that machines can learn. The camp will include a panel of world-renowned women computer scientists at different stages in their careers to show how research is performed at top universities and tech companies. 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. It is open to anyone entering grades 7-12. Participants will learn about and create wearable technology such as smart clothing or fitness tracker devices. They will learn about the electronics and signals that surround us every day, get the chance to interact and work with women electrical engineers and students, and be introduced to the hands-on, do-it-yourself culture by actually building and creating. As with the Game Makers, Game Changers camp, the APOGEE camp will feature a panel of accomplished women engineers from around the world. Learn more and register here.
Meet our team!
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.
