STEM Week @ HCC
Nearly a hundred students from area high schools will take part in a "zombie experiment" at Holyoke Community College on Wed., Oct. 23, as they explore how an infectious disease can spread through a population.
That experiment is just one of the hands-on, high-tech activities planned for Biotechnology and Engineering Day at HCC, itself just one of the many special events the college has planned for Massachusetts STEM Week, Oct. 21-27. STEM Week activities at HCC begin Monday, Oct. 21, with an open house in HCC's new STEM Innovation Lab in the Center for Life Sciences on the first floor of the Marieb Building, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will continue throughout the week with lectures, STEM networking opportunities, Sci-Fi movies, and off-campus STEM awareness events.
Monday, Oct. 21
HCC STEM Innovation Lab Open House, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Marieb 116: Learn about 3D printing and enjoy free pizza. The Innovation Lab includes four 3-D printers, available for use by HCC students as well as members of the community. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are welcome.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
"Spider Science," 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Frost 309: Alex Winsor, a PhD student working in the Jakob Spider Research Lab at UMass Amherst, will share his research on jumping spiders. He'll talk about experimental design and show off a few eight-legged associates.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
Biotechnology and Engineering Day, 10 a.m. to noon, Center for Life Sciences, Marieb, first floor. HCC STEM scholars and STEM Academy alumni mentors will lead a series of hands-on activities and experiments for high school students from Gateway Regional, Holyoke High and Putnam Vocational.
Thursday, Oct. 24
"Cyber Security Research and Opportunities," noon to 1:30 p.m., Room 303, Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development: Professor Brian Levine, founding director of the Cyber Security Institute at UMass Amherst, will talk about his research on ransomware and his work to stop the online exploitation of children.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Pioneer Valley Women in STEM Networking Event, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Look Park Garden House, Northampton: Becky Wai-Ling Packard, professor of education and psychology at Mount Holyoke College and author of Successful STEM Initiatives for Mentoring Underrepresented Groups, will talk about mentoring strategies. The event is sponsored by Pioneer Valley Women in STEM, a partnership between STEM Starter Academies at Holyoke Community College, Greenfield Community College, Springfield Technical Community College and Berkshire Community College.
Friday, Oct. 25
STEM Starter Academy Sci-Fi Movie Day, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Center for Life Sciences, Marieb 116: Free showings of The Fly, The Martian and Arrival, followed by discussions of the underlying science. Free popcorn.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Pioneer Valley STEM Network STEMFest Fundraiser and STEM Awareness Event, 3 p.m., Springfield Thunderbirds, MassMutual Center, Springfield: STEM Starter Academy students from HCC and other local colleges will have exposition tables at STEMFest, where visitors can learn about STEM activities and STEM educational programs. Students will also be selling tickets for the halftime raffle. Proceeds will support the PVSTEM Network's efforts to award small grants to its K-12 partners and teachers for STEM related supply purchases and events. Each ticket purchase comes with a hat.
PHOTO by CHRIS YURKO: Scenes from Engineering Day 2018
