Biological Sciences Seminar
Education program director and director of the Center for Science and Environmental Education, Joan Chadde, will present “How (and Why) to Hook Students Outside the Classroom,” on Friday, March 20, at 4 p.m. in Dow 642. For more information, visit the Biological Sciences website.
Michigan Tech’s Center for Pre-College Outreach (CPCO) will be hosting the 10th annual Tivitz Tournament today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the SDC Wood Gym. Seven schools from the western Upper Peninsula will be sending about 150 students from grades 4 through 7.
Tivitz is a board game that combines the logic and strategy of checkers/chess with arithmetic problem-solving. Students move their play pieces (tivits) across the game board, one at a time, until they reach goal spaces. Once they reach the other side of the board, they must solve the indicated math problem correctly to score the most points. Pairs of students will play one practice and three scored rounds in a friendly competition to wind up among the highest-scoring in their grade.
Between rounds of Tivitz play, students and staff of Michigan Tech will lead several hands-on activities that demonstrate mathematical concepts.
“Our goal is to show interesting demos that involve math to compliment Tivitz game play,” says Liz Fujita, coordinator at CPCO. “There is a lot of math in everyday life, and a lot of little oddities that are fun to consider.”
The Tivitz Tournament is made possible by the CPCO in partnership with the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education.
Environmental Justice Day Speakers and Reception
Please come join Wilma Subra and Jessica Koski (third speaker TBA) for Michigan Tech’s first ever Environmental Justice Day!
The main event will be held March 19th, 4:30-6:45 pm in the MUB Ballroom B. There will also be a reception in the GLRC on March 18th at 5:30 pm, and Wilma will also be available earlier in the day for other meet and greets.
At the panel, we will be discussing what environmental justice is, how that impacts career decisions, and ethics in science.
This event is supported by the Parent’s Fund of the Michigan Tech Fund, Students for Environmental Sustainability, the Center for Science & Environmental Outreach and the Biology Department.
For more information contact Nicolette Slagle at nmslagle@mtu.edu
Monday, March 23, 2015
Michigan Tech Memorial Union Ballroom
5-6pm Science Fair open to the public
6-8:30pm- Judging of projects.
4:30-7:30pm – Science festival in MUB Common
The 15th Annual Western UP Science Fair and STEM Festival is for students in grades 4-8 from all schools in the 5 western counties of the UP. About 400 students (and their families) will attend. We will hold the Science & Engineering Festival in the Commons Area of the MUB, to give the young scientists a fun time while they are waiting to be judged. The Festival will have more than 20 different stations set up by student organizations, departments, and agencies.
Classes meet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Great Lake’s Research Center.
Cost: $120 per student. Up to 20 students per class. Register soon!
Register Online: Spring Break Science Camp Registration or http://www.wupcenter.mtu.edu
Pay by credit card: call the cashier 7-2247 (Your space is not reserved until payment has been received.)
Questions? Call: 7-3341
Grade 1-3 Engineering in Our World!
Learning about the engineering design process, each day of camp will present a different challenge to solve: designing bridges, improving play dough and designing walls. Following the Engineering is Elementary curricula for grades 1-3, campers will explore chemical engineering, materials engineering and civil engineering with visits from real engineers to the class.
Instructors: Marcy Erickson, Michelle Miller and Lloyd Wescoat
Grade 4-6 A Taste of Tech!
Kids will explore a variety of labs and do some cool engineering activities along the way!
Instructors: Joan Chadde, Chris Hohnholt, along with Michigan Tech faculty and students.
Take a snowshoe hike to investigate who lives in the world beneath the snow and what they are doing on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Those attending will meet at the Maasto-Hiito Chalet. The program will be led by Denise Landsberg, an environmental educator, who will engage the group in creative outdoor play and nature exploration.
Families are encouraged to bring snowshoes, but there will be 20 pairs available for those who need them.
The program is free. Funding is provided by the Michigan Association of Environmental Professionals. The program is coordinated by the Western UP Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education.
For more information contact Joan Chadde at the Western U.P. Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education at Michigan Tech, by calling: 7-3341 or email at jchadde@mtu.edu.
The Portage Lake District Library invites all K-6 students and their parents for an evening of fun and science with the Michigan Tech Family Science Night program, tomorrow from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Families will have two hands-on activities to work on. In “Ooey, Gooey Slime!” participants will mix up some common household items, conduct experiments and see what happens. “Starry, Starry Night” will give participants a chance to explore the cosmos and create their own constellation.
Family Science Nights develop children’s curiosity and their ability to solve scientific challenges. These activities also provide an opportunity for parents and their children to learn together while having fun and making scientific connections to everyday life.
This event is coordinated by the Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education and Michigan Tech.
Library programs are free and everyone is invited. For more information, call the library at 482-4570 or visit the Portage Lake District Library website and Western UP Center website.
This week is National Engineers Week, a celebration of the positive contributions that engineers make to society. At Michigan Tech, the Tau Beta Pi chapter and Alpha Society are hosting a number of Engineers Week events, including:
Get WISE (an event for middle school girls)
9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., February 24, 2015
Wood Gym, SDC
Presented by The Center for Pre-College Outreach and the Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education
In this annual workshop and lunch, 250 seventh and eighth grade girls will tackle science and engineering challenges, meet female role models from Michigan Tech, learn physics concepts and explore their interest in science/engineering. The goal is to inspire more young women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
and many other events.
MTU expo piques interest of middle school girls in science careers
Roughly 250 middle school girls from throughout the Keweenaw area got their hands on some science at Michigan Tech.
The Get WISE event, which stands for Women In Science and Engineering, is geared for young girls to help get them interested in possible careers in those fields.
An Engineering Exploration Day will be held for girls (grades 7-12) and their parents on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Great Lakes Research Center.
Celebrate Engineers Week and come find out what engineering is all about. Try some fun hands-on activities led by women engineering students at Michigan Tech and discover their love of engineering. Learn how engineers make a difference and why engineering is a great career choice, as well as the many career paths open to engineers.
Registration will be free to the first 40 girls and their parent(s) or chaperones. Lunch and all activities are included. The deadline to register is Thursday, Feb. 19. To register, call 7-3341 or fill out the electronic form.
For more information, contact Joan Chadde at 7-3341 or at jchadde@mtu.edu.
A day for the girls
Engineering Exploration Day
The Community Outdoor Nature Programs are free events for families that focus on engaging parents and children in creative outdoor play and nature exploration. All families are welcome to attend the twice-monthly events that will be held at the Nara Nature Center and the Maasto Hiito Chalet in Hancock. Families will explore local trails and create take-home nature projects while learning about our local environment.
Programs will be held one Monday evening each month from 6:30-8 p.m. and one Saturday afternoon each month from 2-4 p.m, starting from either the Nara Nature Center or Maasto Hiito Chalet.
The next program is on Monday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to experience stargazing, sensory activities, owl-calling, nocturnal animals and snowshoeing.
During the winter, snowshoeing will be a part of all programs. Bring your own snowshoes if you have them. The Center will have 30 pairs of snowshoes on hand. Dress warmly as the program will be mostly outdoors.
The Jan-June schedule of programs is available.
Programs are led by the staff of the Western UP Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education and funded by the Michigan Association of Environmental Professionals. The Western UP Center, established in 2000, is a partnership of the Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, the Copper Country ISD and the Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD, offering a wide variety of K-12 education programs to enhance the teaching and learning of science and mathematics. Find out more by visiting the Center website or by calling the Center at 7-3341.