Get a free citizen science / neuroscience kit for middle school students

The MSU Science Math Resource Center is offering a free citizen science / neuroscience kit to 10 programs that serve middle school students. Applications are due June 23 and kits will be sent immediately after. Programs are asked to use the materials by Sept. 30 and fill out a short post-program survey.

The kit includes a video tutorial, instructor's guide and physical materials to complete two online citizen science projects: one on Alzheimer's Disease and another on relationships between the eye and the brain. The supplies are yours to keep and use again and again! The kits are supported by the MSU Outreach and Engagement Council as part of their seed grant program to promote reciprocal collaboration with off-campus partners and improve quality of life and benefit the public good. The kits were created by MSU student Chloe Moreland with support from Montana Afterschool Alliance.

Apply here by June 23 or contact Jeannie Chipps for information.

>> Bozeman <<

Math Camps at MSU

Three-day in-person day camps on the MSU Campus include mathematics and problem-solving sessions, university lab tours, and engaging STEM activities. Middle and high schools camps are run concurrently, but students are divided into age-appropriate content.

June 12-14: Grades 6-9 - NEXT WEEK!

Aug. 14-16: Grades 6-10

Learn more and register

Snapology

July 10-14, Bozeman, Ages 4-6

• Jr. Engineers. Build fun and simple models and experience pulleys, levers, gears, wheels and axles while exploring energy.
• Discovering Dinosaurs. Explore the world of the stegosaurus, tyrannosaurus, and raptors and identify basic body parts, habitats, and diets of some of their favorite dinosaurs.

July 24-28, Bozeman

• Creature Creator. Your animal lover will create their own animal inspired robotic models and learn about gear ratio, sensors, simple machines, and programming as they build insects, dolphins, gorillas, and much more. 
• Space Wars Robotics. Learn about space, space travel, and of course, Star Wars!



July 31-Aug; 3, Bozeman, ages 7-12

• Robot Challenge. Use engineering strategies and building techniques to make robots.
• Mechanical Masterminds Engineering. Give your student the tools they need to understand mechanical movement through simple machines, physics and engineering design.

Learn more and register

>> Harlem, Kalispell, Ronan, Billings and Laurel <<

Coding Groovy Unicorns

Work with Groovy Unicorns to build a game and create binary bracelets all while learning how to code! This class is for girls in grades 4th - 8th who are creative and want to learn about computer science. In just 12 hours, you will create a game using MIT App Inventor. You and your Groovy Unicorn will learn coding terms, teamwork, cooperation, and self-confidence.  

• Harlem: June 9-11, 1pm-5pm - THIS WEEK!
• Billings /Discover Zone: June 14, 21, 28, 11am-2pm
• Ronan: June 26-29, 12:30pm-3:30pm
• Kalispell: July 17-20 - 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm (Register through Kalispell Parks & Rec)
• Billings/Big Sky: July 17-20, 9am-12pm
• Billings/Highland: July 24-27, 9am-12pm
• Billings / Laurel: July 31 - Aug 3, 9am-12pm

All signups except Kalispell are through Code Girls United

>> Helena <<

Snapology

June 26 - June 30, 8:30am-4pm:

• Creature Creator. [see description above]
• Pokemania: students will explore the Pokemon world and create their own training gyms, unique battles, and more.

July 10-14, 8:30am-4pm:

• Attack Bots Robotics: Learn about sensors, gears, pulleys, and programming as they create robotic catapults, crossbows, battleships and much more!
• Jedi Masters. In this Star Wars- inspired program, your youngling will explore the galaxy with their master building skills and our intergalactically-focused curriculum.

Snapology STEM for ages 4-6

• July 17-21: Jr. Engineers. [see description above]
• July 31 - Aug. 4: Discovering Dinosaurs. [see description above]

Learn more and register

SciGirls: Assemble! at ExplorationWorks

July 31 - Aug. 3, 1pm to 5pm: SciGirls are sharp-minded young women who love science and problem-solving. Meet role models in STEM careers for an exciting and dynamic adventure with real-life, hands-on experiments. (Ages 10+) ENROLL HERE

>> Stevensville <<

Coding for Kids offers classes in circuit builds, robotics, digital art, coding, DNA detecting, problem solving, and more for elementary, middle, and high school students in Stevensville. Dates throughout the summer

Learn More about Coding for Kids

See you at MSU for the STEM Summer Institute July 31 - Aug. 2

The STEM Summer Institute at MSU July 31 - Aug. 2 offers something for every educator in the STEM world -- from high school physics teachers to out-of-school educators working with our youngest learners.

• Lots of breakout sessions and hands-on learning
• Exhibitors, demonstrations and free stuff
• Networking opportunities
• Tours of MSU labs and facilities
• $50/night housing available at MSU



Learn more and register

Caitlin Mayernik is a Montana State University student who studies water ecology as part of a research team that studies the impact of human activities, such as mining and agriculture, on water quality across the state of Montana.

Below are some excerpts from our interview with Caitlin. Read more about Caitlin, her research, and her advice for girls in STEM in the Montana NSF EPSCoR blog.

What did you like to do as a young person?

I really enjoyed solving problems and building things (like matchbox building sets!). I loved learning how things work and why. I also loved learning about other people’s stories through reading books and asking questions. I enjoyed playing sports and loved swimming in the ocean.

When and how did you know you wanted to be a scientist?

I probably didn’t know I wanted to be a scientist until high school when I started watching the Planet Earth documentaries. It was through this documentary series that I began to understand the not-so-great state of some of our environmental systems and the role we, as humans, play in both degrading these systems AND the power we have to remedy and conserve them.

I became inspired by the resiliency of ecosystems and motivated to help fix those that were degraded. This budding passion paired well with my love for water, and led me down a winding path investigating water quality connections to humans use of the landscape.

I also always did well in science and math classes, so in my rational brain it made sense to pursue science as a career. Although, I did change majors three times in undergrad before finding the science that felt right to me, and I always enjoyed classes in creative writing, sociology, as well as studying abroad.

What advice would you give to a girl who is interested in a path like yours?

"Be confident in your resilience. We all have the ability to change course and overcome obstacles, despite how scary and challenging the unfamiliar may seem."

[Read this and much more on the Montana NSF EPSCoR CREWS blog]