Westfield State University to celebrate Massachusetts STEM Week October 18–22

WESTFIELD, Mass.—Westfield State University will celebrate Massachusetts STEM week October 18–22.

The purpose of this statewide celebration is to boost STEM awareness and interest in education and employment opportunities.

Mass STEM Week highlights the University’s on-going efforts to educate and engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Westfield State serves as the lead institution of the Pioneer Valley STEM Network (PVSTEM NET).

The University will engage students from Westfield’s Franklin Avenue Elementary School in STEM-related activities Oct. 20–22:

• Wednesday, Oct. 20, 9:45 a.m.–11:30 a.m., Scanlon Banquet Hall, Westfield State
  • 75 third and fourth graders will use the engineering design process to create their own water filter
• Thursday, Oct. 21, 9:30–10:30 a.m., Franklin Ave. School
  • 35 second graders will “see themselves in STEM” and will use the scientific process to test the strength of paper towels
• Friday, Oct. 22, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Franklin Ave. School
  • 35 first graders will “see themselves in STEM” and will use the engineering design process to stop Olaf the snowman from melting

Throughout the week, PVSTEM NET will host the 2021 Mass STEM Week DEI series: What’s your STEM story?, featuring student and professionals sharing their STEM experiences.

• Monday, Oct. 18, 3–4 p.m., “Reflections on Being Black and Male in Engineering: What Whiteness Taught Me About Success in STEM” with Dr. James Holly Jr., assistant professor of mechanical engineering, University of Michigan

To register for any event, visit www.westfield.ma.edu/stemweek

• Tuesday, Oct. 19, 3–4 p.m., “Collaboration in Engineering Education with a Focus on Equity and Identity” with Dr. Shakhnoza Kayamova, Chinmay Mahabal, and Eleanor Richard of UMass-Dartmouth
• Wednesday, Oct. 20, 3–4 p.m., “What is your STEM Story? Paths to interdisciplinary STEM careers” with Dr. Diana Hannikainen, editor, Sky & Telescope magazine, and Dan Augustino, aquarist, Springfield Museums
• Thursday, Oct. 21, 3–4 p.m., “What is your STEM Story? Student Experiences Navigating an Academic Pathway” Moderated by Jess Levy ’22. Biology, Westfield State University, with Wayne Barnaby, a Westfield State alumnus and doctoral neuroscience student at UMass-Amherst, and Gabriella Wilkerson, a undergraduate student at Wesleyan University

PVSTEM NET aims to enable area businesses, institutions of higher education, local school districts, regional workforce development professionals, community based organizations and various municipal or civic leaders to increase the number of area students who participate in career-related programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while also increasing the number of qualified STEM teachers and improving educational offerings in area schools. PVSTEM NET is one of nine regional networks funded through the Department of Higher Education Pipeline Fund.