NEWS & UPDATES
1/13/2023 | Issue 2023-1
RESEARCH CHALLENGE DEADLINES!!
February 6, 2023
Local SRC-IRB Committee Rosters & School Transmittal Form DUE

February 8, 2023
Online Entry, Paperwork Uploads, Media/Publicity/ Liability/Data Collection Release & Entry Fees DUE ($30 per student ALL divisions)

March 1, 2023
Last date to upload Digital Project Board and Abstract updates in zFairs 
Quote of the Week...
“Science makes people reach selflessly for truth and objectivity; it teaches people to accept reality, with wonder and admiration, not to mention the deep awe and joy that the natural order of things brings to the true scientist.”
- LEIS MEITNER
Physicist
The NM Society for Neuroscience, the Center for Brain Recovery & Repair, and the Brain Behavior & Health Institute proudly present the
8th annual New Mexico Brain Bee

We are excited to announce this in-person event for New Mexico Students interested in biomedical research, neuroscience, neurology and psychology.

The event is Saturday, March 18th, 2023.

  • Registration/Event is free!
  • Open to all New Mexico high school students ages 14 – 18.
  • For the First time EVER, students 12-13 can also attend and participate, but are not qualified to compete in nationals.
  • In addition to the contest there will be science-related talks aimed at high school-age students, lab demos, chances to talk and ask questions of graduate students and more.
  • The Winner of the New Mexico Brain Bee is qualified to compete at the US National Competition
  • Great for college essays and CVs

This event has grown steadily every year since its inception, and this will be the first IN-PERSON event since our Brain Bee in 2020!

All questions for the contest are taken from a FREE book available for download from the Society for Neuroscience at https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book

Follow us on Twitter (@NM_BrainBee) and Facebook and Instagram (@newmexico_brainbee)!

Registration Page in flyer or at this link: https://forms.gle/bd1VvJVjsZjo8sgK7

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Dr. Nicole Maphis nmaphis@salud.unm.edu

This summer, TSGC and UT/CSR will support a summer intern program where interns will complete distance learning modules prior to July 1, work remotely June 25-July 7, 2023 guided by project mentors. The on-site internship will be July 8 – July 22, 2023. Housing, meals, and local transportation will be provided for those selected. A limited number of travel scholarships to Texas are available.
Nominations are open!

Please nominate up to FOUR 7th-grade girls from your school who are excited about science and math to apply for the 2023 AAUW Tech Trek NM STEM Camp!

Nominations deadline is Friday, January 27, 2023.

The cost to each girl selected is only $50.

AAUW Tech Trek NM is proud to announce our 10th annual week-long STEM summer camp for rising eighth grade girls June 18-24, 2023.  We are again planning to be on the campus of New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM unless the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic makes changing to a different format prudent.  

We invite you to nominate up to 4 girls (now in 7th grade) per school to apply for Tech Trek NM using the attached forms or using the link below to nominate online.  If multiple teachers at your school participate, they should agree on the girls nominated to apply. 

We ask that you rank (1 being High) your nominees on how well they exhibit the qualities listed below. The forms are labeled 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th.

Please consider what you know about each girl and whether she would truly benefit from a week-long summer STEM camp. The best students academically are not necessarily the best fit for Tech Trek. Some students show their true potential in a setting such as Tech Trek.

Submit your nominations by Friday, January 27, 2023

using this Google Forms Link 2023 Nomination Form - Google Form

OR email them to:


OR snail mail them to 

Tech Trek NM, PO Box 90322, Albuquerque, NM 87199

Click here to download the 2023 Nominations Forms and Instructions:


Each nomination received will be acknowledged by email.
Qualities of a Tech Trek Camper:

  • Is excited by science and math with the potential to excel.
  • Has at least a “B” average.
  • Demonstrates willingness to follow safety protocols for Covid-19.
  • Shows interest in learning new things, especially in science and/or math.
  • Works well in group situations, is willing to help all levels of students in the class, and can work alone.
  • Follows directions well and shows patience and persistence in task completion.
  • Will benefit from exposure to STEM opportunities. 
  • Cooperates with teachers, shows respect for others and participates in class.
  • Adapts well to new situations like going to camp.
  • Demonstrates responsibility, exhibits self-control and has no serious discipline issues.
  • Demonstrates maturity and respect when interacting with her peers.
  • Makes positive choices for herself, in and out of class.
  • Has not participated in a week-long STEM camp.
  • Willing to try a challenging task and complete it.

Each girl will take a core class in a subject ranging from mechanical toys to coding to climate science. All the girls will participate in various workshops and field trips. As always, the classes will be taught by women who are experienced middle school science or math teachers. AAUW Tech Trek NM is a diverse and inclusive STEM camp experience for New Mexico girls who may not have had exposure to STEM programs outside of school.

In early February, we will send application packages to every girl nominated. 
We will include details about Tech Trek for the family in the application packet.

The deadline for submitting the completed application is Tuesday, February 28, 2023. 

Our selection committee will review the completed applications and then select 40 to 60 girls to attend the 2023 camp. It is our priority to select girls who may not have had an opportunity to participate in an inspiring STEM program. We also strive to select a group of campers who reflect the demographics of New Mexico with a mix of urban and rural girls of all ethnicities and races.

Because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we will be taking great precautions to make the residential camp as safe as possible. We will require all campers and Tech Trek staff to be fully vaccinated (including boosters) for Covid-19, and we will follow all the recommended CDC and NM-DOH guidance including masking, social distancing, and group size control. We will also require rapid testing as part of the check-in process at camp. Additionally, the recommended testing protocols will be followed during camp. These protocols served us well in 2022 and we had no Covid cases at camp.

In the event that changes in the situation in New Mexico make holding a residential camp inadvisable, we will change to a hybrid format that will have a mix of small in-person core classes around the state, followed by virtual workshops and field trips for all the campers.

Thank you for your time and investment in the lives of our next generation of STEM professionals!

Please visit our webpage at https://techtrek-nm.aauw.net/ to learn more about Tech Trek NM. 

Call or email if you have questions.

Phyllis Ludi, Camper and Family Coordinator
AAUW Tech Trek NM 2023
(505) 429-0106