Category Archives: STEM Expos

STEM Day Letter from Senator Mark Warner

NOVA STEM Day at the Alexandria Campus a had a special visit from Senator Mark Warner’s Office on Saturday Dec 7th in recognition of our efforts in helping develop and inspire the next generation of STEM workforce. Here’s the letter in full:

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to all who are gathered for NOVA SySTEMic’s NOVA STEM Day on the Alexandria Campus.

It is vital to the future prosperity of our Nation that our young people are equipped with skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Many high-paying in-demand jobs require this type of skill set, and having a workforce trained in these areas will enable the United States to remain competitive with other nations. This event plays an important part in that skill development as it encourages students to become interested in these subject areas through fun, hands-on exhibits and workshops. I commend NOVA SySTEMic for hosting such an important event for families in Northern Virginia.

I send my best wishes for an exciting and informative event.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Warner
United States Senator

Here’s a link to our STEM Day Photo Gallery

NOVA STEM Day AL 12-7

Hands-on STEM fun for the entire family, from kindergarten to high school and beyond! Don’t miss the NOVA STEM Day at the Alexandria Campus on Saturday, Dec 7 from 10am to 3pm. This event is FREE, open to the public, and includes a variety of physical and hands-on activities for students of all ages.

Attending?
RSVP here

Location:
NOVA Alexandria Campus
5000 Dawes Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22311

We need Volunteers!
We have many volunteer opportunities for NOVA faculty, staff, and students. Volunteers are the backbone to a successful event and will receive lunch vouchers and a NOVA STEM Day T-Shirt.
Click here for Volunteer Sign Up

Want to be an exhibitor? 
Contact Liz Coffey ecoffey@nvcc.edu


STEM DAY ACTIVITIES

NOVA Systemic – STEM Zone
Learn about programming and robotics using VEX, Sphero, Osmo platforms and more!

A.I. Powered Bionic Arm
Learn about 3D printed, A.I. integrated prosthetics.

STEM Mayhem – Alka-Seltzer Rockets
Launch a rocket powered by chemical reactions!

NOVA Automotive
Hands-on activities related to automotive technology

NOVA Biology – Lights, Camera, Anatomage
Have you ever wondered what your body looks like on the inside?? If your answer is yes, then come explore the wonders of the human body with us as we dissect a DIGITAL HUMAN CADAVER! Get an up close & personal look at your favorite body systems as they rotate in 3 dimensions. No gloves or tools are necessary to be a surgeon here…just bring your curiosity & questions.

NOVA Chemistry – Chemistry in the World
Hands-on demonstrations of chemistry at work in the world, including examples of acid-base reactions and indicators, magnetism, hydrophobicity, density, and chromatography.

American Society of Naval Engineers – FLEET
Come try the FLEET video game and learn how to use video games to teach STEAM concepts and problem solving.

NOVA Geology
Interactive experiments and games introducing visitors to common geological topics including, a stream table experiment, rock identification exercise, and paleontology exhibits.

Global Inheritance – Leading Ladies
How to find STEM in every job.

Gryphon Robotics
Come see a demonstration of a 120lb robot built for the 2019 FIRST Robotics Competition season.

Nobel Explorers STEM Camp
Learn about solving mazes in the zone, making and printing your own mazes, negotiation and trust games, Scratch 3.0 programming, and AI Chatbot.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision
Learn about solving mazes in the zone, making and printing your own mazes, negotiation and trust games, Scratch 3.0 programming, and AI Chatbot.

NOVA – Virtual Reality & Maker Space
Participants will experience real lifelike environment as they will be taken for a “ride” using Google Earth, enter a human body and take a close look at human organs in working conditions and more.

Mathnasium
Fun with Math!

STEM Expos a Success!

NOVA Systemic’s recent STEM Expos, NOVA STEM Day at the Loudoun Campus and the The STEMZone at the Youth for Tomorrow Country Fair & Auctions brought hands-on STEM to hundreds of young minds through robotics, maker spaces, coding, laser cutting, mechatronics, lab experiments and more. NOVA STEM Days are held annually on the Alexandria, Loudoun, and Manassas Campuses.

NOVA STEM Day – Loudoun Campus

NOVA’s Loudoun Campus hosted its sixth annual NOVA STEM Day Loudoun Campus on September 28, 2019, welcoming over 500 participants. Families throughout the region participated in free, hands-on activities which included a variety of robotics, coding and gaming activities and lab experiments.

The event was sponsored by the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, NOVA SySTEMic, Micron, and Loudoun County Public Schools. Other participants were Academies of Loudoun, Sylvan Learning Center, and Children’s Science Center.

The next NOVA STEM Day will be held on the NOVA Alexandria Campus on Saturday Dec 7th. You can register for this event here

Additional details about STEM Day and other Expos can be found at https://www.nvcc.edu/systemic/


 The STEMZone at Youth For Tomorrow’s Country Fair & Auctions 

The weather was perfect and the STEM activities fully explored at our 4th annual STEMZone at the Youth for Tomorrow Country Fair & Auctions on October 5. Students and parents engaged in exciting hands-on activities such as maker spaces, robotics, 3D printers, laser cutters, Osmo, Sphero, Cubelets, Stomp Rockets and more.

As always, participants filled out a STEM Passport when completing designated tasks to be eligible for the grand prize drawing – this year it was an Ollie robot plus full ramp.

The Youth For Tomorrow Country Fair & Auctions brings in about 20,000 people every October, and since many of that number participate in the STEM Zone it is an excellent opportunity to engage students and parents in STEM and bring awareness of NOVA STEM programs.

The Next STEMZone at the YFT Country Fair & Auctions will in early October 2020. For more info visit https://www.nvcc.edu/systemic/


NOVA SySTEMic is the college wide STEM outreach program designed to create interest STEM from early elementary school and extending through high school, with the hope of inspiring more students to enter the STEM workforce pipeline.

STEMZone at YFT Country Fair Oct 5

NOVA SySTEMic is returning to Youth for Tomorrow’s Country Fair & Auctions in Bristow to exhibit the STEMzone!

What is the STEMZone?
The STEMZone is NOVA SySTEMic’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Expo at Youth for Tomorrow’s Country Fair & Auctions. The STEMZone includes exciting hands-on activities such as maker spaces, robotics, cybersecurity, coding, 3D printers, laser cutters, stomp rockets and more!

When and Where?
Saturday October 5th 10am – 5pm
Country Fair & Auctions
Youth for Tomorrow Campus
11835 Hazel Circle Drive
Bristow, VA 20136

We Need Volunteers:
Volunteers will help run various STEM stations in our 60×90 STEMZone tent. We will train you on-site to aid and guide Elementary and Middle School students who will be participating in STEMZone hands-on activities. Besides having a great time education and inspiring students, you’ll also receive a free lunch and T-shirt.
Volunteer Shift 1: 9:30am to 1:30pm
Volunteer Shift 2: 1:30pm to 6:00pm
80 slots available/40 per shift
Sign up at volunteer.novastem.us/STEMZone


Hands-On Activities at the STEMZone

OSMO – Coding with iPad (ages 5+)
Use an iPad and the OSMO kit to learn coding. The kit uses physical representation of coding to help Awbie navigate in a self-paced app.

Sphero – Coding with iPad (ages 8+)
Use an iPad and the SPRK+ sphere robot to learn coding. The kit uses an app to drive or code the robot to navigate a maze.

Arduino – Build a stoplight (ages 10+)
The activity consist of assembling an electronic circuit around the Arduino to make a functioning stoplight.

Stomp Rockets – Build and launch a paper rocket (ages 3+)
Use paper to build a rocket with fins and nosecone. Stomp the launcher and see your rocket take flight.

Cubelets – Modular robotics (ages 4+)
Construct robots by snapping the robot blocks together to create unique robots. No coding or wiring required.

Hands-On Demos at the STEMZone

VEX Maze challenge – Drive a VEX clawbot through a maze (ages 7+)
Drive a VEX metal robot through a maze and flip caps and place balls on the field. Park the robot on a platform at the end.

VEX IQ Level Up – Play the VEX IQ challenge game (any ages)
Drive a plastic robot on a field moving and stacking hubs and try to make the robot hang from a horizontal bar.

 Laser Engraver – Get your own keychain made (all ages) 
The laser engraver will engrave and cut a keychain for you on the spot.

CAD – Test out making 3D designs (ages 6+)
Use Tinkercad or Autodesk Inventor to design 3D objects by grouping together shapes to create an object.

3D Printing – Print 3D objects (any ages)
Demos of multiple 3D printers and how a 3D object gets printed.

Arduino – Project display (any ages)
See multiple starter and advanced projects made up by using an Arduino.

VEX Conveyor – See how assembly line works (any ages)
See a small scale mockup of an assembly line and learn how it works.

Locktronics – Electronics trainer (ages 6+)
Learn electronics in a safe and fun way!

Virtual Simulator – Forklift (any ages)
Learn how to operate a forklift using a virtual reality simulator.


More info about the Country Fair & Auctions at:
http://www.youthfortomorrow.org/country-fair-and-auctions
Admission to Country Fair: $10. Kids 3 and under are free

NOVA STEM Day at NOVA LO

Hands-on STEM fun for the entire family, from kindergarten to high school and beyond! If you want to get your children interested and engaged in STEM, don’t miss the 5th annual NOVA STEM Day at the Loudoun Campus on Saturday, September 28 from 10am to 4pm. With more activities than you can count, we’re about DOING. Come ready to participate! This event is FREE, open to the public, and includes a variety of physical and hands-on activities. Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is responsible for providing appropriate supervision.

Attending?
RSVP here

Want to be an exhibitor? 
Contact Liz Coffey ecoffey@nvcc.edu


STEM DAY ACTIVITIES

NOVA Systemic – STEM Zone
Learn about programming and robotics using VEX, Sphero, Osmo platforms and more!

Loudoun County Public Library – Makerspace

Academies of Loudoun – UV Light/Slime
Interactive experiment with UV Lighting & Slime

Academies of Loudoun – FRC Robotics Team
Meet FRC Team 5338 and their FRC Robot!

NOVA Loudoun – Bones of the Body
Learn the bones of your body! What properties make up the bones of your body? What microscopic structures the compact of bone? Identify the organic and inorganic components that make bone hard and yet flexible. Examine skeletons, individual bones, coloring activities and more.

NOVA – CHM Toon
Chemical reactions and more!

Adobe Illustrator – Explore your Artistic Potential with Technology
Create characters and activities in Adobe Illustrator!

Vet Tech Dept – A Day in the Life of a Veterinary Technician
Become a Vet Tech by bandaging patients, examining xrays and bones and more!

Loudoun Water – Interactive Watershed Model
Explore the interactive watershed model, water source protection and conservation

Geared UP! – Robot Driving Station with Team Geared UP!

Northern Virginia Community College – Psychology IS a Science
Celebrate the scientific studies of the senses. Learn about sensation, perception and classical conditioning. Taste our treats, check out optical illusion demos, and more!

Russian School of Mathematics – Fun with Math!

NOVA Physics  Hands-on demos with a mini roller coaster, Van der Graff mini-generator and Gyro-effect with a Bicycle wheel

NOVA Programming  Introduction to Visual Programming

Virginia 529  spin the wheel to win prizes

biofeedbackWORKS Check out bio and neurofeedback technology!

Geology – Interactive Geology models and processes

Cyberjutsu Girls Academy (CGA)/Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu – workshops provide a hands-on, fun, and interactive experience in topics such as web design, mobile application development, computer fundamentals, programming and many more!

American Society of Naval Engineers  Students will play the FLEET video game so they are able to explore and master it at home. The game is completely free and a great resource for exploring STEAM and solving problems using the engineering design process.


How much does it cost?
STEM Day is a FREE event with open parking in “B” lots. Follow signs upon arrival.

Who will I learn from?
Our activities will be taught by NOVA faculty and community educators with assistance from college and high school students.

Do I need to pre-register?
Not mandatory, but it does help us plan the logistics of the day. Pre-Register here.

What should I wear?
For safety purposes, no shorts, tank tops, or open-toed shoes are permissible in the science labs. Safety precautions are strictly enforced. Some events will take place outdoors, so monitor weather reports and dress accordingly.

What’s for lunch?
For those who work up an appetite, Uncle Fred’s BBQ Smoke Shack (also serving ice cream) and Mama Lucie’s Kitchen will be on site with a variety of lunch options.

NOVA STEM Day Loudoun Activities 9-28

NOVA STEM Day at the Loudoun Campus
Saturday, Sept 28, 10am to 4pm
NOVA Loudoun Campus
21200 Campus Drive, Sterling, VA 20164
Pre-register here

NOVA STEM Day is FREE and will have the following activities:

NOVA Systemic – STEM Zone
Learn about programming and robotics using VEX, Sphero, Osmo platforms and more!

Loudoun County Public Library – Makerspace

Academies of Loudoun – UV Light/Slime
Interactive experiment with UV Lighting & Slime

Academies of Loudoun – FRC Robotics Team
Meet FRC Team 5338 and their FRC Robot!

NOVA Loudoun – Bones of the Body
Learn the bones of your body! What properties make up the bones of your body? What microscopic structures the compact of bone? Identify the organic and inorganic components that make bone hard and yet flexible. Examine skeletons, individual bones, coloring activities and more.

NOVA – CHM Toon
Chemical reactions and more!

Adobe Illustrator – Explore your Artistic Potential with Technology
Create characters and activities in Adobe Illustrator!

Vet Tech Dept – A Day in the Life of a Veterinary Technician
Become a Vet Tech by bandaging patients, examining xrays and bones and more!

Loudoun Water – Interactive Watershed Model
Explore the interactive watershed model, water source protection and conservation

Geared UP! – Robot Driving Station with Team Geared UP!

Northern Virginia Community College – Psychology IS a Science
Celebrate the scientific studies of the senses. Learn about sensation, perception and classical conditioning. Taste our treats, check out optical illusion demos, and more!

Russian School of Mathematics – Fun with Math!

NOVA Physics  Hands-on demos with a mini roller coaster, Van der Graff mini-generator and Gyro-effect with a Bicycle wheel

NOVA Programming  Introduction to Visual Programming

Virginia 529  spin the wheel to win prizes

biofeedbackWORKS Check out bio and neurofeedback technology!

Geology – Interactive Geology models and processes

Cyberjutsu Girls Academy (CGA)/Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu – workshops provide a hands-on, fun, and interactive experience in topics such as web design, mobile application development, computer fundamentals, programming and many more!

American Society of Naval Engineers  Students will play the FLEET video game so they are able to explore and master it at home. The game is completely free and a great resource for exploring STEAM and solving problems using the engineering design process.

We’re at Celebrate Fairfax June 7-9

Come to our Robotics Pavilion at Celebrate Fairfax!
Drive robots and play games with VEX robots, Sphero, and Osmo at our Robotics Pavilion at Celebrate Fairfax. It’s great STEM fun out in the sun (the pavilion is covered) and there are also many other family-oriented activities at the event.

About Celebrate Fairfax
Celebrate Fairfax, Northern Virginia’s largest community-wide celebration, is an annual festival that hosts tens of thousands of visitors during its three-day run.

The 25-acre site is filled with fascinating sights and sounds of more than 300 exhibitors, food vendors, and interactive activities. Celebrate Fairfax! showcases live concerts on eight stages, Inova Children Hospitals’s Avenue, a petting zoo, the Fairfax County Karaoke Championship, carnival rides, and great festival foods. Nightly fireworks are also a highlight of the festival.

This year’s Main Stage will feature top national headline performers: Better than Ezra on Friday night, and Smash Mouth on Saturday!

For info and to purchase tickets go to celebratefairfax.com

When:
Friday June 7 – 6pm to midnight
Sat June 8 – 10am to midnight
Sun June 9 – 11am to 7pm

Where:
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035