Category Archives: STEM Events

Conferences, Design Challenge, Design Thinking, Digital Fabrication, Engineering Technology, Fab Lab, Fabrication, IET Events, NOVA Fab Lab, NOVA IET, NOVA STEM Faculty, SkillsUSA, STEM Awards, STEM Competitions, STEM Events, Student Success

NOVA SkillsUSA Students Reflect On Their National Success

July 31, 2024 blenon

Last month NOVA’s SkillsUSA students had some big outcomes at the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta.

Heidy Sandoval and Alait Mesfune won silver in Commercial sUAS Drone, Lauren Traversa, Mateo Aguilar, and Nyan Prakash took bronze in Engineering Technology Design, and Claudio Molina also won a bronze medal in Principles of Engineering.

This month, we caught up with the winning students to learn more about their experience at Nationals.

Heidy Sandova and Alait Mesfune: Silver Medal in commercial sUAS Drone

Heidi and Alait were the first students at NOVA to compete in commercial sUAS Drones, and after all their dedication and hard work, came away with a silver medal!

This competition evaluates team skills and job readiness for careers in drone technology within the National Airspace System, recognizing outstanding performance in real-world scenarios.

Sandoval said “I served as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) and my teammate served as the Visual Observer (VO). As the RPIC, I was responsible for the overall safety, regulatory compliance, and effective operation of the sUAS during its flight.”

“Being the first to at NOVA to compete in Commercial sUAS Drones, we were tasked with finding mentors and resources to help us prepare for this competition. Fortunately for us, we had an amazing team at the NOVA Fab Lab that was able to help us connect with other Drone experts in our area who were able to offer us their help. We spent restless hours learning how to fly our drones through loops, landing on elevated surfaces, knocking down balls with our drones, and countless nights testing ourselves on our FAA Knowledge. I also made many professional connections that are beginning to incorporate drones in their workspace and I hope to be able to work with them in the future.”

Sandoval also talked about her next steps:

“After placing 2nd place at Nationals, we were offered a Drone course, all expenses covered, for our FAA Part 107 with CrossFlight Sky Solutions. Now, I’m actively working on getting licensed to fly commercially and I will be starting my business with aerial drone photography while I’m in school. From there, I want to get involved with search and rescue using drones.”

Her Drone partner, Alait, added her reflections on the competition and preparation for it:

“The SkillsUSA competition demanded significant dedication and hard work. Venturing into the field of drone piloting was both thrilling and challenging, as our team had to navigate this field independently. Countless hours were spent in the fabrication lab, where we experienced numerous cycles of flying, failing, and persevering—similar to the repetitive labor a tradesperson undertakes to master their craft.”

“As we competed this year, our inexperience led to many mistakes, but the unwavering support of our advisors, Justin, Andy, and Mary, was invaluable. I want to especially thank Dr. Elena Ziu, whose enthusiastic support and introduction to a crucial mentor significantly bolstered our efforts.”

“The competition demanded immense energy, yet the benefits far outweighed any concerns about its value. It afforded me the opportunity to acquire practical skills in a growing field, demonstrate my abilities before industry experts at one of the nation’s premier competitions, and compete for a medal. The support from our advisors, the financial backing from the NOVA Foundation for supplies and travel, and the chance to connect with individuals nationwide were all invaluable aspects of this experience.

Undoubtedly, this competition was profoundly enriching for my personal and professional growth.”

Claudio Molina: Bronze Medal in Principles of Engineering

The Principles of Engineering category assesses a competitor’s grasp of basic technical concepts in applied sciences and their ability to demonstrate and explain these concepts in action. Claudio triumphed with a car transmission design, something practical in real world application that needed teamwork for him to succeed.

“The possibility of even making it through States [the SkillsUSA State Championship in April] wouldn’t have been conceivable without the support of my fellow NOVA students and the guidance of the Fab Lab staff. I think NOVA should continue to encourage students to compete in SkillsUSA as it provides a real-world focus on what they would like to do in their careers and lives,” he said.

Lauren Traversa, Mateo Aguilar, and Nyan Prakash: Bronze medal in Engineering Technology Design

In this category, students design and present an innovative engineering project with a display and live model. The trio designed and built a prototype Automatic Dog Trainer.

“Getting to compete through SkillsUSA was an incredible experience,” Lauren said. “I was able to learn so much in such a short period of time and get the kind of hands-on experience a lot of students don’t get until after they graduate.”

Mateo added “participating in the engineering design competition was a unique experience, unlike any other competition I’ve been involved in. One of the most challenging aspects was the necessity to create something completely novel.”

He explained how his team had to lay out plans for construction of the dog trainer and numerous other components which they hadn’t experienced before. Although it was a bit daunting, he described it as an incredible learning experience because it required his team to learn about designing around unknowns.

“Overall, I’m happy with the growth I experienced in this short period of time. Everyone on our team learned a lot, and I feel much more capable after having completed it,” he said.

Mohamed Laouiti earned a SkillsUSA Skill Point Technical Certification and Jonathan Solomon earned a SME Additive Manufacturing Certification.

Jonathan described the national conference as an “incredible experience” where he saw the latest in technology and explored projects in different career fields. He also had the opportunity to network with representatives from companies like Autodesk, Mercedes-Benz, and Delta Airlines.

“I met great, smart people striving to be the best in their field. Being surrounded by them provided a valuable experience that will serve me well in my future endeavors. The experience has been unforgettable, and the skills I learned along this journey with SkillsUSA will help me long after I leave NOVA. A special thank you to Mary Ratcliff, Justin Owen, Andy Chavez, Patrick Waters, and the entire Fab Lab team!”

SkillsUSA Championship competitions are created and judged by industry leaders to ensure students learn the real-world skills employers seek in entry-level professionals. These contests focus on some of the most highly skilled and in-demand trade areas in the country.

To get involved with SkillUSA at NOVA, you can find more info here

3D Printing, Engineering Technology, Fab Lab, Makerspace, NOVA Fab Lab, NOVA Makers, SkillsUSA, STEM Events, Student Success

NOVA Students Showcase Award Winning Projects at the Fab Lab

May 31, 2024 blenon

The Fab Lab Showcase Exhibition was held on May 10 at the Trailside Atrium on the Manassas Campus. The event featured a wide array of projects by talented NOVA Makers, including engineering, art, and SkillsUSA students. The showcase demonstrated the creativity and technical skills of NOVA Makers, supported by the resources and collaborative spirit of the Fab Lab team.

Student highlights included:

Projects from Bryan Jimenez and Mihai Ziu, who are both NOVA Makers and Fab Lab employees:

Bryan created a BMO character inspired by Adventure Time. “I wanted to use my Raspberry Pi for an interesting project, so I decided to use the 3D printer in the Fab Lab to create something useful,” he shared.

Mihai has created many projects in the lab, including 3D-printed rocket parts and laser-cut kaleidoscopes. “I’m part of the Team America Rocketry Challenge. Certain parts need to meet specific requirements, so I use the 3D printer. I also use a machine to create stickers for my projects,” he said.

Designs from engineering students Ryan Malatesta, Julious Figueroa, Sherina Williams, Shane Beasley, Erick Moreno, and Gabriel Cohen:

Ryan, a member of the Engineering Club, is building a C-130 aircraft with several club members. They’ve been using a CNC machine in the Fab Lab. “Since we’re trying to create curves and different shapes, it’s been challenging. It’s a difficult process, but the Fab Lab team has been helping us,” he explained.

Julious designed a Wireless Power Transfer Through Electromagnetic Induction. “The idea came from a class prompt about wirelessly charging a phone with a shirt,” he explained.

Sherina, Shane, Erick, and Gabriel built a Vertical Lift Bridge-Track Tower. “Our project is a vertical lift bridge designed to adjust to a boat’s height. The motors lift using two pulleys with equal wiring on both sides, ensuring simultaneous movement. We encountered several problems but found solutions,” Sherina said.

Projects from NOVA Makers Nguyen Phuc Be and Rayna Roades:

Nguyen fabricated his Kayn HeartSteel Cosplay costume entirely in the Fab Lab. “One day my physics professor took us on a tour of the Fab Lab. Afterwards, I became a NOVA Maker and have learned a lot in the Fab Lab,” he said. Nguyen won the People’s Choice/Favorite Project and received $50 Fab Lab credit for future projects.

Rayna said, “All the adults in the Fab Lab, engineering, and STEM department have been so helpful. I enjoy collaborating, especially in places like the Fab Lab. Even though I’m still learning, like with 3D printing, I find it exciting. Whenever I need help, there’s always someone willing to assist, and I’m more than happy to return the favor by helping others with their projects.” Rayna designed a Cyborg Hand, Arcane Tree, and Forest Wonders.

Artwork from Dakota Rhodes, Madeleine Walter, Danny Fonseca, and Diana Maida:

Dakota, who is taking computer science classes and wants to get into robotics, shared, “I’d like to use my art skills to create robots and AI programs. I’m passionate about the environment and aim to develop a program that monitors and counteracts pollution. The Mechanization of Earth represents environmental preservation and the impact of technology on the planet,” he added.

Madeleine and her mom, a seamstress, designed a wearable art piece using the vinyl printer and created The Goblin using the 3D printer in the Fab Lab. “I’ve found I really like using the Fab Lab and doing all that kind of stuff, so I might do some physical art, too,” she said.

Danny shared, “I made my 3D art piece in the Fab Lab. I called it “Embrace” because it’s about embracing the ugly parts of yourself.”

Diana utilized a 3D printer in the Fab Lab to create her project, Sãkúron from Hêlslìā. “These are all things that I’ve created in my head,” she said.

SkillsUSA members: Lauren Traversa, Mateo Aguilar, Nyan Prkash, Heidy Sandoval, Alait Mesfune, Nick Cowen, Jonathan Solomon, Kanykei Korosheva, Maddie Gebremichael, and Ben Yam. (Several of these teams won gold at the Virginia State Leadership Conference and are heading to nationals).

Lauren, Mateo, and Nyan designed and fabricated their Automatic Dog Trainer for the SkillsUSA competition. They also submitted it to the Fab Lab’s design challenge. Lauren explained, “We didn’t include CAD designs, only pictures, which weren’t specific enough about the design and implementation. That was our mistake. We were so busy that we submitted it too quickly.”

Heidy and Alait submitted their commercial drone. They designed a course that replicated the state course, complete with different pads, balls, and hoops. “Mary and Justin helped us a lot in the Fab Lab,” Heidy said.

Nick designed a Papi-Beetleweight combat robot and Lego Battlebots. “I used the Fab Lab’s superior printers to 3D-print components and make aluminum sides for the robots. I made one robot almost entirely in the Fab Lab, and it competed well in a competition. The Fab Lab printers are so much better than what I have at home,” he shared.

Jonathan designed an Augmented Reality: A Way to Measure Without a Ruler. “The Fab Lab team helped so much with 3D printing. I had never used Fusion 360 or 3D printed anything before this. I couldn’t have done this project without them,” he shared.

Kanykei, Maddie, and Ben created an RC Airplane. Kanykei said, “The equipment and materials in the Fab Lab were very useful for our project.”

Professor Westerhoff also participated in the showcase with a project he designed for students in his Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 honor classes. “Inspired by a book on airfoils, I designed a project to connect calculus concepts with real-world applications,” he explained. “This project helped students see the practical application of calculus and enhanced their understanding of integral calculus and numerical methods,” he added.

Community Partnerships, NOVA STEM Days, STEM Early Engagement, STEM Events, STEM Exploration, STEM Outreach

NOVA STEM Day Returns!

December 20, 2023 blenon

Story by NOVA IET’s STEM Writer Kristy Gillespie

NOVA STEM Day, a staple at Northern Virginia Community College from 2015 to 2019, returned this year on December 2nd at the Loudoun Campus Higher Education Center.

STEM Day showcases a range of engaging activities and interactive exhibits for children from 5-12 to inspire an early interest in STEM. This year, after a 4-year absence, the community’s enthusiasm for the event was evident, with over 350 people, including parents and children, in attendance.

One of the event’s highlights was the Science Stunt Show presented by NVCC’s Dean of Science, Mike Davis, affectionately known as “Mr. Wizard,” who fondly referred to the kids as “future scientists.” At the beginning of one of the experiments, Davis humorously asked for donations of money. He then proceeded to coat the money in a protective chemical before seemingly burning it during the demonstration. The show featured a variety of experiments, ranging from exploding powders to glowing liquids, liquid nitrogen, dry ice, and more. The room was filled with enthusiastic families, with laughter, applause, and excitement, children hopping in their seats, exclaiming “do it again!”

Cliff Li, accompanied by his 10-year-old daughter Rosie and 7-year-old son Howard, expressed after the Science Stunt Show, “It’s been a lot of fun. It makes learning more effective and is beneficial for parents. Kids often have a hard time focusing, but my 7-year-old son, Howard, managed to focus for over twenty minutes. It’s a great program.” Howard shared that his favorite part of the show was the water and spray lighter rocket, while Rosie said, “I look forward to my science teachers doing experiments like this!”

There were numerous additional NOVA-hosted activities. These included NOVA SySTEMic, where students engaged in activities such as driving a VEX IQ or a VRC robot, building and racing their own wooden cars, learning coding with Awbie, playing Tangram games, and exploring information about upcoming 2024 summer STEM camps. The Labs Maker School allowed students to construct and test their own sail cars powered by wind. The Psychology Department offered sessions where students delved into how the brain processes sensory information, while the Math Department provided an opportunity for students to create geometric artwork using equations, among other activities.

The event also featured participation from the Loudoun County Public Library, George Washington University Information Technology, the Children’s Science Center Lab, and the Pigeon Bots Robotic Team.

Simultaneously, various NVCC departments hosted events at the Loudoun Science Building. In the Biology Department, students explored the anatomy of a dissected shark and various shark-related objects. They were also invited to examine numerous biological models, specimens, and skeletal displays. The Chemistry Department showcased chemical reactions and volcanic experiments, while Geology offered an exhibit featuring earth science materials and equipment. Horticulture provided a hands-on project where students constructed their own bee houses. The Veterinary Department provided insight into the care techniques employed by veterinary technicians. Additionally, utilizing principles of physics and engineering, students in the Physics Department built and floated their own boats and engaged in racing soda can cars using electrostatic force.

Lots of parents and children were excited about the return of STEM Day. One parent, Alison Entis, joined by her 11-year-old son Thomas, said, “I would love to see them organize more activities and events like this.” Thomas added, “It’s been really fun learning about new things. My favorite part was building a wind car, placing it in front of a fan, and testing it.”

Ying Li, another parent shared her feedback: “I prefer my kids to learn about science. I encouraged my friends to come to this event. I love it.” Li brought along her 11-year-old son Jayden and her 10-year-old son Lawrence.

Another enthusiastic parent, Tina Karja said, “It’s been amazing. My 5-year-old daughter Rosie is having a great day. She’s fascinated by the interactive lectures and hands-on activities.”

Seven-year-old Max Bean, attending with his family, shared, “I think people should come here. I love science, math, and learning about animals like wild cats.”

The STEM Day organizers acknowledged the numerous supportive participants and eagerly anticipated next year’s event.Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer, NOVA’s STEM Education Coordinator, said, “STEM Day at the Loudoun campus would not have been made possible without the amazing NOVA faculty, staff, and student volunteers who gave their time on a Saturday to excite the youth in the community to the joys and wonder of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter from kids and parents alike as they explored the hands-on activities provided by NOVA faculty as well as outside exhibitors was a great way to begin the month of December and close out 2023. We look forward to 2024 and an even bigger STEM Day at NOVA’s Loudoun campus!”

Part of STEM Day’s significance is early engagement that leads to further educational pathways in STEM. Students who enjoyed STEM Day and are eager for more exploration can be signed up this January for NOVA SySTEMic’s summer STEM Camps, running next June through August. Camps will include Robotics, Coding, Rocketry, Arduino, Cybersecurity, Fabrication, and more and will have offerings for rising 4^th through 12^th graders.

Sign up for the NOVA IET monthly newsletter at http://newsletter.novastem.us to get up-to-date information on STEM Camp registration and upcoming STEM Days!

Business Engagement, Career & Technical Education, Design Thinking, Employee Spotlight, Engineering Technology, Mentoring, STEM Awards, STEM Events

STEM Coordinator Brendan Murphy Wins Awards

March 30, 2022 blenon

It’s been a big month for NOVA SySTEMic’s Annandale STEM Coordinator Brendan Murphy!

First, Brendan was awarded the Emerging Leader Award at the 2022 International Technology and Engineering Education Association (ITEEA) conference in Orlando, FL on March 9-12.

The Emerging Leader Award is presented in recognition of educators who have demonstrated a high level of competence, dedication, commitment, and professional activity in the field of technology and engineering education.

Brendan served ITEEA’s Council for STEM Leadership as the membership chairperson, presented at the conference on the application of Design Thinking and Digital Fabrication, and hosted a Networking and Mentoring workshop to support young professionals foster relationships with mentors in the field.

Secondly, at the same event, he was awarded with the Burke Supervision and Shared Leadership Scholarship, which is presented to practicing leaders in the technology and engineering profession with supervisory responsibilities and helps support the advancement of technology and engineering researched-based practices at major professional development conferences.

Thirdly, Brendan was selected as a Fellow for the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) 2022 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Program, (sponsored by ECMC Foundation). The NextLevel Fellowship provides professional and career growth opportunities to the next generation of leaders in postsecondary CTE programs through this nationally-recognized program that is engaging, individualized, and memorable. Seventeen fellows were selected for the 2022-2023 cohort. See Brendan’s ACTE bio here

Brendan reflected on his awards: “It’s an honor to be recognized by such distinguished technology and engineering professionals. I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue to advance our profession and impact the lives of students and educators locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Congratulations, Brendan! We’re glad you are on our team.

#WeDoSTEM #InDemandTech #ITEEA #ACTE

3D Printing, Community Partnerships, Engineering Technology, Makerspace, Making, NOVA Fab Lab, NSF Grants, STEM Education, STEM Events, STEM Grants, STEM Resources Online

Fab Lab Activities in October

September 28, 2021 blenon

NOVA Makers

NOVA Makers is a new program at the Fab Lab in which members can use the lab to work on personal projects, participate in regional/national design challenges, and/or gain more skills in a Maker community setting. Membership is open to NOVA college students, faculty & staff, and high school students. Register at http://fablab.novastem.us/Sign-up

Middle School Maker Club

Starting Saturday, October 16th, middle school students will be able to participate in a Maker Club at the NOVA Fab Lab. The use of fabrication equipment (such as 3D printers, laser cutters, plastic thermoforming machines, etc.) in conjunction with other technologies will allow for integrative making experiences. Register at http://fablab.novastem.us/Sign-up

Bristlebots & Book Read: This is What An Engineer Looks Like

On Saturday, October 9^thfrom 10:30am to 12:00pm, young children will be able to build and test a motorized bristlebot, read and hear from the author of This Is What An Engineer Looks Like, and learn about STEAM careers and engineering. The 17-year-old author and illustrator, Ayonnah Tinsley, will be participating via live stream to read and discuss her book. Ayonnah is a Congressional Award Gold Medal recipient for her extensive volunteer efforts and STEAM awareness activities. Her book educates young students on STEAM careers with an emphasis on encouraging women and minorities to enter STEAM fields. Participants will receive a copy of the book and be able to take home their bristlebot.

After the session, an optional tour of the Fabrication Lab will be available. Open to children in kindergarten through 4^th grades. Cost is $45 per child or free for children of NOVA Students. Open to the public. Pre-registration is required at http://fablab.novastem.us/Sign-up.

3D Printing Challenge – Tiny House Winner!

Congratulations to Daniel Moone for his winning design of a 3D Printed Tiny House! This challenge was open to all participants in four of our 3D Printing Fabrication Camps this summer. Campers had to meet certain specifications while using CAD software to design their scaled models. Each design was then fabricated using additive manufacturing (Stratasys F123 series 3D printers) and judged based upon the physical prototype. Daniel received our top prize of an in-person tour of the Fab Lab, a Parallax Scribbler 3 Robot kit, and his fabricated tiny house.

Grant News: NOVA awarded NSF ATE Grant Award – Makers By Design

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded NOVA a three-year grant, set to begin in September 2021, to establish a Professional Learning program in design thinking pedagogy for secondary and postsecondary educators. Makers By Design (MBD) as we call it, is officially titled: Supporting Instructors to Embed Design Thinking in Digital Fabrication Courses.

Makers By Design Overview:

> Manufacturing and engineering technologies industries are facing a looming skills gap.

> Employers identify increasing need for soft skills (critical and design thinking, problem solving and communication) as manufacturing transitions to high-tech.

> There is a need to align engineering and engineering technology with industry defined technical and soft skills.

> MBD is a professional learning (PL) program for secondary and postsecondary educators focused on developing design thinking pedagogy through digital fabrication (e.g. 3D printing, laser engraving, CNC) techniques.

> Aligned with NSF includes broadening participation in STEM for underrepresented minorities.

> MBD will foster a community of practice between teachers, faculty, makerspace educators and industry.

The grant curriculum will focus on design thinking projects that involve digital fabrication techniques, including 3D printing, laser engraving, and Computer Numerical Control milling. The Professional Learning program is expected to improve the educator’ teaching practices and enable them to update existing curricula and lesson plans to better align with industry relevant skills and techniques. The project also intends to create a community of practice around design thinking in digital fabrication that will build a beneficial network among secondary teachers, community college faculty, makerspace educators, and regional employers. It is expected that the project will support 36 secondary and postsecondary educators who will teach more than 3,000 K-12 and undergraduate students in the northern Virginia region. These students will have greater interest in and be better prepared for technical careers in manufacturing and engineering.

The overarching goal of the project is to use Professional Learning to move digital fabrication instruction beyond the reproduction of simple objects. Instead, the project will train educators to use pedagogy and cognitive strategies to embed design thinking into their digital fabrication lessons and courses. As a result, students will learn to use design thinking to build complex, useful objects.

The project’s specific aims include to: (1) create a professional learning institute; (2) host digital fabrication summer camps at NOVA and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington; (3) host a semiannual design and digital fabrication challenge; and (4) establish an online resource library of projects and lesson plans created and refined by educators in the community of practice. The project is expected to advance: understanding of the pedagogies that help to develop student interest in manufacturing and engineering; the capacity for Professional Learning to facilitate integration of design thinking into classrooms and makerspaces; and the extent to which a capstone design challenge may foster sustainable change in instructional practices. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation’s economy.

The NOVA Fab Lab has a Makerspace utilized by many NOVA programs and the community as well as a new Makers Program for college students coming up this fall

Go to http://fablab.novastem.us/Sign-up for current Fab Lab program/event registration and check out the NOVA Fab Lab Page on our website.

Outside Resources

Computer Science Instructional Resources & Professional Learning

In partnership with Prince William County Schools (PWCS), NOVA SySTEMic developed instructional resources that align with the 6th Grade Computer Science Standards of Learning. Funding for this project was provided by the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Advancing Computer Science Education grant that was awarded to PWCS. Additionally, professional learning sessions were offered to educators by NOVA SySTEMic staff to introduce and guide educators through the created activities. The resources are available to all educators on the #GoOpenVA site at https://goopenva.org/courseware/lesson/4078/overview .

Community Partnerships, NOVA Fab Lab, STEM Courses, STEM Education, STEM Events, STEM Resources Online, Virtual STEMinars

Virtual STEMinars and Fab Lab Tours this Fall

September 21, 2020 blenon

Virtual STEMinars are back! We are running virtual FAB LAB tours and info sessions and virtual workshops that include a Maker Club, a Laser Fabrication Workshop, Video Game Development and more, starting in October. Many STEMinars are HANDS-ON, as we will send you materials that you work on with an instructor virtually leading the course on Zoom.

Events and courses listed below:

LLI Fab Lab Virtual Tour & Industry 4.0
These special sessions will include images and videos of the facility, an overview of Fab Lab activities, and a presentation on Industry 4.0 (IoT). Session options are being offered to members of the Manassas Lifelong Learning Institute on October 16^th and November 13^th at 10:00 am.

Register at https://reg138.imperisoft.com/LLI-Manassas/Search/Registration.aspx
(must be a LLI member to register for this event).

Virtual Tour & Info Session: NOVA Fab Lab
Would you like to learn more about the NOVA Fab Lab? Then attend this virtual tour and live information session. You will have an opportunity to ask questions, see images and videos of lab activities, and receive an overview of Fab Lab programs. Open to the public and registration is required. Free. November 6^th from 2:00-2:45 pm.

Virtual Maker Club
Have your kids take a break from the screen and tinker with some hands-on STEM activities. Over the course of four weeks a weekly project will be provided that will include activities such as: building a tiny robot, creating circuits, using a DIY conductive probe to design experiments, building a wind turbine to move objects, and completing a design challenge using items from around the house. Directions and printed extension activities will be provided so that participants can explore at their own pace. An optional live virtual session will be provided once a week to provide an overview, support, sharing, and assistance with extension activities. A materials kit will be mailed, but participants will need: a Phillips screwdriver, a fan, 100 pennies, tape, scissors, liquid glue, and recycling bin materials. Recommended for children in grades 4 – 8. Cost $72 ($60 for NOVA staff/faculty/students). Two session options beginning October 26^th andNovember 24^th.

Laser Workshop: Design Thanksgiving Pie Toppers
Design personalized pie toppers that will then be fabricated and mailed to you. You will learn how to design in Inkscape, a free graphics and drawing software, while learning how lasers can be used to cut and engrave. Ages 16 and older. Cost $20 ($16 for NOVA staff/faculty/students). Live virtual session on November 2^nd from 7:00-9:00 pm.

Makers by Design Challenge Series
The goal of a Maker is to produce better products – but what defines a “better product?” What is a better product in the age of Digital Fabrication? Machines might have assimilated hard skills, but the soft skills necessary for innovation have yet to be adopted. This 4-part STEMinar and optional lab(s) addresses these concerns by identifying the soft skills required in Digital Fabrication. Topics will include: Design Thinking, brainstorming, user-empathy, rapid ideation, prototyping, and making as an iterative non-sequential process. The series will conclude with the presentation of a design challenge and competition, with the winning members’ product being fabricated in our own Fab-Lab. Open to current 9-12^th graders and college students. Sessions run from 7:00 – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th, and 24^th .

Registration is for all 4 sessions, while the Optional Labs have a separate registration. FREE.

Video Game Development using Scratch
Enhance your Scratch coding skills while developing a video game! Participants must have prior and intermediate level experience using Scratch. A four-session series with each session building on the previous. For grades 6 – 9th on Wednesdays Oct. 28^th, Nov. 4^th, 11^th, & 18^th at 7:00 pm. FREE.

STEM Events

Black History Month at NOVA features an Engineer

January 30, 2020 blenon

Dionne Henry is the Program Chief Engineer for Operational Commercial Engines for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines and will host “Making The Table Bigger: Minority Success in a Majority World” on Thursday, February 13^th. It will be a moderated “fireside chat” with Dionne talking about her experience as the first African American woman to hold the position of Chief Engineer at this company, how she got where she is and how to refine your professional experiences for success.

When & Where
Thursday, February 13^th
NOVA Manassas Campus
Colgan Theater
10950 Campus Drive
Manassas, VA 20109
12pm – 2pm

Questions? Please contact Marcie Schreibman at mschreibman@nvcc.edu

STEM Events

Community College Innovation Challenge

January 30, 2020 blenon

Calling All Community College Student Innovators – Do you know a student with an entrepreneurial spirit and an interest in STEM?

For the fifth year, AACC in partnership with the National Science Foundation, is inviting community college students to participate in the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC).

The CCIC is a prestigious competition where community college student teams, working with a faculty or administrator team mentor, use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to innovate solutions to real-world problems; earn travel support to attend an Innovation Boot Camp in Washington, DC; and compete for cash awards.

The Boot Camp provides hands-on learning opportunities and coaching designed to build strategic communication and entrepreneurial skills—and includes a student poster session on Capitol Hill, and a formal pitch presentation at the Boot Camp in front of a panel of industry professionals, to determine the first and second place winning teams.

Diverse and interdisciplinary teams that include students in STEM, business, humanities, and other fields are encouraged to apply.

DEADLINE: Submissions are due by March 31, 2020.

What can you do?
JOIN: Assemble a student team and become a faculty or administrator mentor.
SHARE: Help us spread the word and join the conversation online! Share this click-to-tweet.
APPLY: Encourage students to learn more or apply at www.aaccinnovationchallenge.com.

For questions, email CCIC@aacc.nche.edu.
#CCIChallenge2020