Feb 23

Magnetos Shine at Local WSSEF Event

We had five students represent Camas High School at the SW Washington Science and Engineering Fair today. Sophomores Steven Wu, Stephen Fewel, and Andrew Allen presented their research on controlling variables of a model rocket to achieve altitude accuracy and placed second overall. Sophomore Aiden Bai presented his LUCIA programming project, while junior Sunny Wang presented his research on using deep-learning with CycleGAN for data augmentation diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease using MRI scans. Both Aiden and Sunny placed first overall and were immediately qualified to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair, which will be held in May. Congratulations, gentlemen! You make us proud.

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2021/02/magnetos-shine-at-local-wssef-event/

Feb 22

FREE MIT Spring Institute for 9th/10th Graders

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Beaverworks Spring Institute is looking for students who are in the 9th and 10th grade who are interested in learning about robotics, cyber security, assistive technology and programming via a series of online Saturday courses. The program is completely free! No prior experience is necessary.

Students must be able to attend all sessions (all sessions are on Saturdays starting March 6, from 11am to 2pm ET)

  • Enrollment will be for 1 (one) of the 7 courses (see below …).
  • The program is completely free! Students should be interested in learning about robotics, engineering, and programming.
  • Interest in the topic is required but no experience is necessary.

Our Virtual Spring programs are based on RACECAR, Build a Cubesat, Synthetic Aperature Radar, as well as Many Interesting Things for Aspiring Engineers (based on MIT course), and Aerospace engineering (newly developed).

These courses are for 9th and 10th graders interested in engineering but don’t have access to programs in their schools.

Yes! You Can Program Autonomous Cars uses the Mini-RACECAR course that includes introduction to Python programming and machine vision.  We’ll be using a simulator built in Unity to test their code over a virtual racetrack. This course is designed for students who are interested in programming but don’t have much experience and we start with introductory programming and work to machine vision and control algorithms to code an autonomous model car.

Yes! You Can Build Cubesats takes students on science mission to outer space, but they have to build, program and test their prototypes before the mission can be launched. Students will assemble their kits, and learn about engineering principles to design a successful science mission. They will have to program their cubesats to collect and analyze data to answer the questions posed by their science mission.

Yes! You Can Hack and Code! introduces students to security in the digital domain.  It is based on the the BWSI Embedded Security and Hardware Hacking course.  Students will compete by programming devices and check the security of each others work in a “capture the flag” style competition.

Yes! You Can Do Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): (tentative) students will learn about radars and their applications, learning by building one and collecting data to understand radio waves, and turning the data into images.

Yes! You Can Create Accessible Resources for Education: Use computer-aided design (CAD) to create a unique 3D-printed puzzle box that can help teach concepts to children who are blind, have learning disabilities, or just enjoy learning with physical objects! Your puzzle box will be 3D printed and donated to a local special education partner and featured on a website for others to use!

Many Interesting Things for Aspiring Engineers: An early introduction to the technologies that shape our world.

Yes! You Can Design, Build and Fly Model Aircraft: Introduces students to aerospace engineering using model planes and wind tunnels to demonstrate concepts.

Laptops: Attendees should plan on using their own computers for Zoom meetings, but can be provided if needed.

Enrollment is now open. Students should apply here.

Enrollment closes on Feb 28!  Accepted Students will be notified on March 2.

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2021/02/free-mit-spring-institute-for-9th-10th-graders/

Feb 18

MST Info Night Thursday, 2/25, 630-730

We’d like to invite current 8th grade parents, guardians, and students to an informational Zoom webinar about the Camas High School MST Magnet program that’s scheduled for Thursday, February 25th, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm: https://camas-wednet-edu.zoom.us/s/87829724316

During the meeting, you’ll hear from staff about the application process and the unique characteristics of our program and its students. You will also have the option of asking questions in real time via the chat that will be answered by MST staff as they are asked.

For more information about the program prior to the meeting, please visit our website to review the admissions timeline, application process, sample schedules, etc. CHS MST Magnet Program Website

If after reviewing the website you have questions ahead of the informational meeting, please feel free to contact Tom Morris or Sam Greene at Camas High School.

Sincerely,

The CHS/MST Staff

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2021/02/mst-info-night-thursday-2-25-630-730/

Jan 24

NOAA Undergrad/Grad Paid Internship

“As part of its mission to train the next generation of ocean explorers, scientists, engineers, and communicators, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) hosts students in the Explorer-in-Training Program. These interns gain valuable, interdisciplinary experience in ocean exploration while collaborating on OER projects and expeditions. Explorer-in-Training internships enable students to increase their competitiveness for educational and career opportunities in ocean-related fields.

While the NOAA OER Explorer-in-Training Program has been cultivating the next generation of ocean explorers in seafloor mapping and hydrography since 2009, this year’s program will feature new internship themes that relate to the field of ocean exploration. Internship themes available in 2021 include:

  • Exploration Education, Media, & Science Communication
  • Expedition Operations & Coordination
  • Ocean Exploration Science & Technology

These shore-based internships are full-time, paid positions from June through August, with a preferred start date in early June. Applications are due February 15th, 2021, and can be submitted here. Undergraduate, graduate, and “gap year” students are welcome to apply. Interns will receive a $500/week stipend for the duration of the 10-week program. Application instructions and program information are available on the NOAA OER website.”

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2021/01/noaa-undergrad-grad-paid-internship/

Jan 23

Youth Hand in Hand Tutoring Project

With the reduction in activities last spring due to COVID-19, CHS/MST Magnet Junior Sunny Wang and several of his friends founded a nonprofit organization, Youth Hand in Hand, as a way to provide free educational opportunities to younger students through online learning. Using a completely student-led platform where all the teachers are high school students, they offer Zoom classes across a wide range of subjects, such as mathematics, biology, physics, and programming. Extracurricular subjects are offered as well, such as music theory, music production, and cartooning. They also recently created a tutoring program where students can sign up for individual one on one sessions with the teachers.

It started off as a small project, but with the high demand throughout the summer, the organization rapidly grew, at one point having around twenty teachers and several hundred students. Currently, despite school being in session, classes are still going strong, with many focusing on their school related subjects.

If any of you are interested in teaching a class or tutoring some younger students, feel free to contact Sunny at youthhandinhand@gmail.com or take a look at the Youth Hand in Hand website.

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2021/01/youth-hand-in-hand-tutoring-project/

Jan 22

MST 2021 Admissions Timeline

Please see below for important dates and events in the 2021 CHS MST Magnet admissions cycle. All admissions portal items are open as of 1/22/21, including the student initiated request for recommendations and application.

Please keep in mind that there is no preference given to early submissions, so take your time and compose a quality admissions packet.

Begin your review of the process and the admissions timeline here: MST Admissions Portal

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2021/01/mst-2021-admissions-timeline/

Jan 19

Inspiring Girls Program – Tuition Free!

Inspiring Girls Exhibitions offers tuition free in-person and virtual expeditions for high school girls (ages 16-17) to empower them to lead and succeed through science, art, and outdoor exploration. Their expeditions are led by professional women scientists, artists, and wilderness guides. Throughout each expedition, the team engages in scientific and artistic inquiry about the environment around them. In small groups, participants design and conduct scientific projects, which they present to the public on the last full day of their expeditions.

CHS/MST grad Odessa Thompson (’20), currently attending Cornell University, participated in the Girls on Ice Alaska exhibition in the summer leading up to her senior year. She had a transformative experience on the exhibition. I asked her for her opinion on the program and experience, and here’s what she said:

“I found myself up on a glacier in Alaska the summer before my senior year. Somehow I was chosen for a 12-day tuition-free summer program specifically for high school girls curious about science, art, and their physical environment. It was so perfectly attuned to my interests, I originally thought it was a scam. Yet in July, I traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, and hiked up Gulkana Glacier. Our team studied the climate and weather patterns, I climbed down into a crevasse to measure the sediment layers, and we painted the ice with watercolors at night. The environment was incredible not only because of the glacial views, but also because I was constantly being surrounded by a team of women determined to help us grow and aspire for more. It was an unparalleled experience and I learned so much, not just about glaciology, but also about who I was and who I wanted to be.”

Read all about their tuition free programs and offering here: Inspiring Girls Exhibitions

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2021/01/inspiring-girls-program-tuition-free/

Dec 15

2021 Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)

Greetings, Magnetos! The MIT (Yes, that MIT) Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a rigorous, world-class STEM program for motivated high school student . This four-week virtual program teaches STEM skills through project-based, workshop-style courses.

The Beaver Works Summer Institute is pleased to announce that they will have 13 virtual program offerings for summer 2021.  To begin the process of pre-qualifying to apply for the summer institute, students will work through a series of pre-requisite self-paced units.  Participation and performance in the online curriculum during the winter (starting in late January or early February) will be one of the metrics used to determine acceptance into the 4-week program being held in July 2021, which will be taught over the summer at a higher level and will address more research-oriented technologies, techniques, tools, and applications.

We’ve had quite a few Magnetos and other CHS students over the last few years take advantage of the MIT BWSI, which is a pretty remarkable experience from what I can gather.  Spend a month over the summer working with MIT professors and motivated students from all over the U.S. doing super cool science stuff?  Sounds like a winner to me.  Anyone interested? If so and you’re serious about doing the pre-req mods over the winter and applying to BWSI for the summer, I’d be happy to recommend you, which is what they’ve asked me to do (be the point of contact for you and this program …).  So if that’s you, send Mr. Greene an email to let him know you’re interested.

Short Pamphlet … Long Pamphlet

Requirements/Info:

  • They are rising seniors attending high school in US or US citizen abroad
  • They have demonstrated technical ability (evidenced by recommendations from school officials, test scores, coursework, grades, and extracurricular activities)
  • They have completed the lessons in the online tutorial for their desired project
  • Online course starts February 2021 (prerequisite in order to apply to the July program)
  • Virtual BWSI runs July 5 – August 1 2021
  • To get more information: https://beaverworks.ll.mit.edu/CMS/bw/BWSI

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2020/12/2021-beaver-works-summer-institute-bwsi/

Dec 14

MST Senior Internship Showcase

Since our MST Seniors are unable to present to you in person due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in place for our community, we have instead asked each one of them to produce a short video discussing their research and what they learned through their culminating internship projects.

Please take a moment to peruse the interest based playlists below to see and hear what you have made possible through your continued support of the Math, Science, and Technology Magnet program at CHS.

Congratulations, Seniors!

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2020/12/mst-senior-internship-showcase/

Oct 28

Clark County Food Bank Service Night

This past Tuesday would’ve been one of our MST group’s annual “nights of service” where we would have gone as a group (staff, students, and families …) to the  Clark County Food Bank and help repack donated food for distribution to local families.  Sadly, we were unable to keep this appointment due to Covid restrictions, but the need for help in our community is still there. In lieu of the time you would’ve donated, consider visiting their site and learning about their programs and how to support our county’s most vulnerable citizens. There are people hurting out there.  Clark County Food Bank

Permanent link to this article: https://chsmstmagnet.com/2020/10/clark-county-food-bank-service-night/