The Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association is an organization run by and for about 1000 postdocs and early career scientists working at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. We organize many activities to strengthen our ties to the Lab, to each other and to the (Berkeley) Bay Area. Our goal is to facilitate social interactions, scientific exchanges, seminars and general orientation.
 
Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association

Upcoming WD&E K-16 Volunteer Opportunities – Spring 2017

Greetings Colleagues,

Thank you for your interest in helping us inspire the next generation of science, engineers and technicians through our K-16 Education Programs, BLAZES, BLEND, BLISS and outreach in the community and schools. Workforce Development & Education (WD&E) depends on Berkeley Lab volunteers to run our programs. We cannot do this work without YOU.  Please review the upcoming volunteer training and volunteer opportunities. Check your schedule to see when you can be involved based on your interest and availability.

Volunteer Training Workshops

  • Monday, February 13, 2017 11:30am-1:00 pm- Conducting Science Outreach in Classrooms– This training, which we will conduct in partnership with Community Resources for Science (CRS), is for Berkeley Lab employees that are interested in conducting outreach in classroom and school setting by checking out one of our BLISS Kits or with curriculum of your own. During this workshop you will learn tips for such as classroom management, preparing for teaching the lesson (mastering concepts and practicing the activity) and tips for implementing the lesson. You must bring your lunch to the workshop Register online on or before Thursday, February 9th .

Volunteer Opportunities

  • BLAZES Workshops– We need volunteers for our BLAZES program Mondays through Thursdays from 10:30am-noon.  You can volunteer as often as you would like based on your schedule. We need volunteers for BLAZES on February 2nd, 6th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 27th and 28th. Please review our BLAZES Volunteer Calendar and sign up for one of these dates or any other dates in the future you are available to volunteer.
  • Introduce a Female Student to Engineering Day– On Thursday February 23 from 1:00-3:00 pm Antioch High School in Antioch is looking for women engineers to come to the school to talk to their students about engineering. If you are interested and available contact Ms. Stephanie Marple at StephanieMarple@antoich.k12.ca.us
  • National Engineers Week Celebration – On Friday, February 24th  we are partnering with Community Resources in Science (CRS) to go to local elementary and middle schools to conduct hands on engineering activities from our BLISS kits. If you are interested in signing up for this opportunity, please email Ms. Tokiwa T. Smith, Manager of K-16 Educational Programs at tokiwasmith@lbl.gov with Engineering Week in the subject line.
  • Daughters and Son to Work Day (DSTW)- On Thursday, April 27th, we will be hosting this event. We are looking for individuals to conduct hands on STEM activities. Volunteers for DSTW will have to make up their own activities. For more information about volunteering for DSTW, please contact Joe Crippen at jrcrippen@lbl.gov with DSTW STEM activities, in the subject line.

…and also…

URGENT———-

We  inviting you  to participate  in an exciting  STEM outreach  initiative for  the Berkeley  Unified School  District  middle  schools. We  are seeking  volunteers for  the Spring  2017 sessions  at King Middle  School  (session 3)  and Longfellow  Middle School  (session 4).

Session 3 –  King Middle  School,  February 9th –  March 24th,  with 90 minute  sessions and  one gap week  (February  16/17). On  Thursdays/Fridays.   –

Session 4 –  Longfellow  Middle School,  March 1st –  April 18th,  with 48 minute  sessions and  two gap weeks  (March  28/April 4).  On Tuesdays.

The  King Middle  School session  starts next  Thursday  2/9 and we  still need  nine  volunteers!  Particularly  Thursdays from  1:36-3:05 pm.  This  project,  called “Be A  Scientist”,  involves UC  Berkeley STEM  graduate  students  guiding 7th  graders  through the  process of  designing and  conducting  their own  scientific  investigation.  The project,  now in its  third year, is  funded by the  Berkeley  Public Schools  Fund and a  Chancellor’s  Community Partnership  Grant. It has  been a great  success  to-date with  enthusiastic  response from  students,  teachers, and  volunteers.  This year we  are expanding  from Willard and King  Middle Schools  to include  Longfellow –  so we need a  LOT of  volunteers!  I  developed this  project, in  collaboration  with Berkeley  teachers and  principals, a  UC Berkeley  development  team of  faculty and  graduate  students, and  staff of  Community  Resources for  Science (CRS),  a local  non-profit  with extensive  experience in  supporting  science  education in  Bay Area  public  schools. There  is a  curriculum, extensive support  from CRS, and  oversight by  UC Berkeley  faculty.  Benefits to volunteer mentors:

  • Serve as STEM role models, promote scientific literacy, skills of a scientist, and passion for science  Develop skills communicating science
  • Develop skills and practical experience in education outreach
  • Enhance your ability to get federal fellowships or faculty positions for which scientific outreach/engagement is important .

Volunteer  mentors will:

  • Attend a 2-hour training session
  • Commit to attending at least one school lab period per week for the 6 weeks of the program
  • Guide a group of 4-6 students through the process of investigating a scientific question (each student explores their own question)

Training sessions for the King  Middle School  Session are:  Thursday  2/2,  2pm –  4pm, 2063  Valley Life  Sciences  Building,  Monday 2/6  details to  come, or by  demand.