February 2, 2023
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Happy Groundhog Day!
Even though Puxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter in the USA, we are cheerfully planning for summer in the Office of Science Outreach at Penn State! Included in this issue is a preview of the registration process for our exciting Science-U summer camps, as well as a reminder that registration is still open for our ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women event on February 25.
We are also including some links for Discovery Space, The Ashtekar Frontiers of Science Lectures, a summer workshop for teachers, the Eberly College's celebration of Black History month, and more!
Registration opens February 7 for Science-U!
Online registration for Science-U summer camps starts at noon (12:00 p.m. Eastern time) on Tuesday, February 7 and uses the Cvent registration system. Recipients of this newsletter will receive a link to the registration site on the morning of February 7, 2023. The link also will be available on our Facebook page and Science-U website.
What you'll need: Prior to starting the registration process for your child(ren), please be ready to provide some basic information, such as:
- The child's upcoming school grade (Fall of 2023), school, date-of-birth, and T-shirt size.
- Contact information for parents/guardians and emergency contact adults (over 18 years).
- The child's medical information including physician's phone number, date of last tetanus vaccine, any medications that will be needed at camp, and the most recent date of any allergies or medical conditions.
- There are also liability, media, and medical waviers to acknowledge.
A complete list of the Science-U questions can be reviewed ahead of time in this Science-U Registration Questions document. Some of the questions may be in a slightly different order during the actual registration, but the document includes all the "fine print".
Once all questions are answered, parents can select the Science-U camp(s) that are available for that child's grade level, as shown on our 2023 Camp Page. Extended Care options are also available during most of the camp weeks.
Finally, payment can be made with a credit card or by check. (A credit card - Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express - is preferred.) There is also an option for qualifying registrants to apply for Financial Aid.
The whole registration process only takes about 10-15 minutes and spots for some camps fill up quickly. To ensure a smooth registration process we suggest clearing your browser history ahead of time and reviewing these other helpful documents:
Please contact our administrative assistant at 814-865-0501 if you have any problems or questions about the registration. You may also call our main line at 814-865-0083.
We can't wait to see the registrations, and we're looking forward to a fun summer with your campers at Science-U!
ENVISION spots available
Registration for ENVISION is still open! Although one middle school track is full, there are still limited spots available in the other middle school and high school tracks. Check out the options on our website and register soon for this full day of engaging STEM activities and workshops! The registration link is on the website and below. Registration closes on February 19 or when all the spots get filled.
Click on the image above to download and share our 2023 ENVISION flyer!
Exploring Open Science and Big Data
The Ashtekar Frontiers of Science Lectures in the Eberly College of Science is continuing through February and open to the public. The series is held in 100 Thomas Building at the University Park campus on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The next three lectures are :
- Feb. 4: Combining Satelitte Imagery with Machine Learning to Address Global Challenges by Tamma Carleton
- Feb. 11: Big Data Analystics in Tourism and National Park Research by Bing Pan
- Feb. 18: The Role of Satistical Data Privacy in Support of Open Science and Public Policy by Aleksandra Slovkovic
Read more about this lecture series now in its 29th year at the link below.
Click on the image above to download and share the flyer with other teachers.
Astronomy Workshop for Science Teachers
A Penn State in-service workshop in Astronomy is available for science teachers the week of July 17-21, 2023. The topic will focus on stars and their evolution, and is entitled Lives and Deaths of Stars. Stipends and Act 48 credits are available. Click on the link below to learn more and to complete an application by April 1, 2023. Questions may be directed to Prof. Niel Brandt at 814-865-3509.
Discovery Space
Our friends at Discovery Space on Atherton Street in State College have several science exhibits, programs, and camps available for youngsters. While some activities require a membership, others do not. Click the link below to check out all that they have to offer!
Welcome to Black History Month!
Penn State and the Eberly College of Science are celebrating the contribution of Black scientists throughout February! Included in the celebration are several events and presentations that feature Black scientists and celebrate diversity and equity in STEM.
The 2023 Keynote of Black History month will be given by Moogega Cooper, a trailblazing engineer of the famed Mars rover Perseverance mission for NASA's jet Propulson Laboratory. Information and registeration for the lecture, which will be presented in-person and on Zoom on February 23 at 5:00 p.m., is available here.
You can also check out the other events this month and read about several of Eberly's Black students, faculty, and alumni in the dedicated website linked below.
Science-U is Hiring!
University or college students (aged 18 and above) or other adults interested in summer science education should take a look at our many Science-U opportunities. Resumes and cover letters are collected through Penn State's Workday system. Interviews are currently being conducted on Zoom or in-person, so visit the website linked below to find out more!
Congratulations to Science-U Scholarship Winners!
Scholarships to Science-U camps have been awarded to several students thanks to funding from AAUW-State College and the Penn State Center for Nanoscale Science. Scholarship selection committees from both organizations reviewed the respective applications which included an essay and a recommendation from a STEM teacher or mentor. Students who did not have the opportunity to apply are encouraged to try next year for Science-U 2024. Applications are usually available by December and due in early January.
The AAUW Merit-Based STEM Scholarship was open to all Centre County girls entering grades 6-12. Scholarship recipients currently attend the Penns Valley Intermediate School, the State College Delta Program, Radio Park and Mount Nittany Elementary schools, Park Forest Middle School, and State College Area High School. These recipients will attend a Science-U day camp of their choice.
The Center for Nanoscale Science Make It Matter Scholarship was open to all students entering grades 9-12 who wanted to attend the residential Make It Matter camp. This year's scholarship recipients currently attend Spring-Ford 8th Grade Center, Central Bucks South and East High Schools, Achievement First Amistad High School, New Orleans Science and Math Charter School, The Grier School, and Middletown Area High School.
Congratulations to all our scholarship winners! we look forward to meeting them in person at Science-U!
Groundhog Facts
The article below from the Penn State Today newsletter, by Penn State's College of Agriculture and Penn State Extension, highlights several interesting facts about groundhogs. Take a look and learn more about these furry critters!
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'd love to hear from you!
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