Outreach Opportunity Alerts
Outreach Opportunity Alerts connect members of the Caltech community with educational outreach opportunities in the Pasadena community and beyond for which they can volunteer. They are published monthly.
To join the newsletter mailing list for Outreach Opportunity Alerts, members of the Caltech community can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/daAaeP or email Kitty Cahalan, kcahalan@caltech.edu. Please give Kitty your name, email address, Caltech affiliation (undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc, faculty or staff) and department, option or research group.
May 2023
May has arrived, and along with it the conclusion of many of our 2022-23 school-year programs. We are so grateful that circumstances allowed us to return to pretty close to a normal schedule, including thirteen science nights and expos at which well over fifty volunteers interacted with thousands of young people and their families. Having on-campus tours, enrichment clubs, and classroom presentations return, as well, brought fun and inspiration back into the lives of presenters and participants alike. Now we're gearing up for Caltech summer programs, including Summer Research Connection (hybrid and in-person), Planet Finder Academy, Earthquake Fellows, and PCC Upward Bound Math and Science's STEM Academy! But the year isn't over just yet - read on for some opportunities coming up!
And in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day, click here to learn more some mothers of science!
South Bay Workforce Maker Faire
The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and Hawthorne High School are inviting people who would like to do science demos and activities to the Hawthorne High School Makers Faire.
This community event will feature over 40 exhibits highlighting student innovators and technical organizations that are excited to build a community of Makers. They are looking to include local scientists, engineers, artists, major museums, and local tech companies who will showcase their work or provide hands-on activities to make a unique experience for families, adults, teens, and kids.
This event takes place on:
Saturday, May 20, 2023
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Hawthorne High School
4859 W. El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250.
To reserve a Maker Faire Booth, RSVP here: Hawthorne High School Makers Faire
Robotics and Aerospace Demos Requested for LA Conservancy Event
LA Conservancy, an organization that preserves and educates the public about LA's historic buildings, is conducting its June fundraiser, Last Remaining Seats, a film series hosted at historic theatres in LA, in furtherance of the Conservancy's historic preservation mission. They are seeking volunteers to run demos and be part of a panel discussion during two of the screening events, specifically demonstrations that fit with the film's theme. Volunteers will receive meals and tickets to a screening or a historic architecture tour!
(1) Robotics Volunteer needed Saturday June 3, 2023 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Compensation: The Conservancy will comp lunch and parking plus the volunteer has a choice of a free ticket to one movie from the Last Remaining Seats line up or two free tickets to one of the L.A. Conservancy's historic architecture tours.
What's the Job?
Metropolis (1927) will be screening at 2 p.m. and the Audience Engagement Committee would like a robotics demonstration and someone who can answer audience questions about the modern state of robotics. The film is in the German Expressionism style and has a 1927 perspective of industrialization that uses a robot as an instrument of destruction. The committee would like to offer a counterbalance and a fun educational outreach opportunity for the audience to experience prior to the screening.
(2) Aerospace Volunteer needed Saturday June 10, 2023 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Compensation: The Conservancy will comp lunch and parking plus the volunteer has a choice of a free ticket to one movie from the Last Remaining Seats line up or two free tickets to one of the L.A. Conservancy's historic architecture tours.
What's the Job?
Planet of the Apes (1968) will be screening at 2 p.m. and the Audience Engagement Committee would like an aerospace demonstration and someone who can answer audience questions about the modern state of aeronautics. The film starts with a group of astronauts traveling to a distant planet - with a twist ending. The committee would like to offer a fun educational outreach opportunity for the audience to experience prior to the screening.
Interested volunteers should contact Kitty Cahalan at kcahalan@caltech.edu no later than Monday, May 15, for details and to be connected to the LA Conservancy's audience engagement coordinator.
School for Gifted Children Seeks Demonstrations
The Mirman School for Gifted Children is seeking scientists and engineers for fun and engaging science activities for students in grades K-8. Interested parties should contact Tri Huynh, STEAM/Curriculum coordinator, at thuynh@mirman.org
These articles appeared in our last Opportunity Alert, but the requesters would still love to hear from interested volunteers!
Middle School Seeks Help with Student Portfolio Development
Octavia E. Butler Middle School STEAM Magnet students are preparing portfolio websites to demonstrate their learning and growth during their time with us. They are seeking panelists who would be willing to attend presentations and provide brief feedback. The presentations will be scheduled during the weeks of May 8th and May 15th. If you are interested and available at all during those two weeks, please complete this Google Form.
Remote STEM Talks with High Schoolers in Oregon
A chemistry teacher at the International School of Beaverton in Oregon is looking for speakers for their 2nd Annual Science Speaker Series. They are asking for Caltech researchers who are interested/available to join and discuss their work with students over Zoom. The dates are currently flexible, between May 1st and May 25th. Topics of the talk could be current or past research, future research goals, career paths, and/or other relevant talking points of interest. The students span 10th-12th grade.
If interested, please contact Rory Williamson at rory_williamson@beaverton.k12.or.us
Sierra Madre Middle School STEAM Mondays in May
Sierra Madre Middle School will be hosting STEAM Mondays during the month of May (May 1, 8, 15, 22) during regular school hours (8:15 am - 1:25 pm).
They are looking for presenters speaking on topics in all areas of STEM, either live or by providing pre-recorded lectures. Interested presenters should consider providing activities that students with various learning needs could also participate in.
Please contact Christine Mitchell at mitchell.christine@pusd.us if you're interested in participating in this outreach effort.
STEM Lectures at Polytechnic School
Polytechnic School (across California Blvd from Caltech) is looking for any graduate student who wants to come to discuss/present their research to the PSSO (Poly Science Student Organization). They're interested in any field and hope the presenter can speak to/engage high school students.
The upcoming dates for our club time (for the rest of this school year) are as follows: (each club time is from 10:40 - 11:30 am)
Fri, May 12th
Mon, May 22nd
Interested speakers should email Poly teacher Robin Barnes at rbarnes@polytechnic.org
Tutor Veterans at PCC
TheVeterans at PCC Still Need Your Help! They are looking for Volunteer Tutors in:
Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences
Particular needs: Study Skills, Homework Review and Test Preparation
The Veteran students at PCC would appreciate a little extra support to prepare themselves for their civilian and academic careers. Having been out of school for several years creates special challenges that you can help them overcome!
An hour or two per week could be a huge boost!
How can you help? One-on-one tutoring sessions with self-identified Veterans
When Do you Need me? Right now!
Where? Cal Tech Campus or at PCC's Veterans Resource Center
Time of Day? Flexible - To be arranged between Tutor and Student
How can I get more information? Call or e-mail the Volunteer Coordinator below
How can I get started? Call or e-mail the Volunteer Coordinator:
Volunteer Coordinator:
Urte H. Barker
urtebarker@gmail.com
626.379.7471
We Don't Just Do STEM Outreach!
We know that Caltech has people doing their studies and research in areas that are not considered STEM fields, and we'd love to have those of you this applies to do outreach, too! We also know all our students, staff and faculty have many other talents - are you an artist, photographer, writer, actor, dancer, athlete, musician? Do you have a hobby you'd like to share with people in our community? We can do outreach with that, too!
Please let Kitty Cahalan (kcahalan@caltech.edu) know if you're interested!
Caltech Educational Outreach Office's programs run on volunteers! If you would like to join any of our programs, or if you have a program of your own that you'd like to bring to K-12 students, contact Kitty Cahalan, Assistant Director of Educational Outreach, at 626-395-2468 or kcahalan@caltech.edu.