The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Astronaut visits Wellesley; Dana Hall students encouraged to space out

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NASA's Sunita Williams, Maria Sedunova '19 and Saaniya Desai '19
Capt. Sunita Williams with Dana Hall students Maria Sedunova and Saaniya Desai, both from the class of ’19

 

NASA astronaut — and Needham High grad — Sunita Williams visited Dana Hall School in Wellesley on Monday to discuss her career and encourage students to explore science opportunities, too.

Williams, a Captain in the U.S. Navy, discussed her training and her missions, and gave a peek into where the space program is heading.  She encouraged everyone to visit NASA, either in Cape Canaveral or Houston, and told students to “be confident, but be competent,” reminding them not to cut corners as they pursue new endeavors.

An astronaut since 1998, Williams has been on two space missions, including one on which she ran the Boston Marathon.  She is currently part of a team training to fly America’s first commercially-built spacecraft,  the Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Dragon, that will take passengers to the International Space Station as soon as this year.

Williams spoke as part of the Wannamaker Series of lectures at Dana Hall.

MORE: Mars astronaut hopeful stationed on planet Wellesley for now

 

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Olin College invites Wellesley kids to stomp on over

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Whirlwind tour of Wellesley STEM Expo

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Science and technology lovers young and old packed Wellesley High on Saturday for WEF’s Wellesley STEM Expo, a fantastic event featuring dozens of hands-on exhibits and workshops, plus a talk by an MIT professor and a discussion of studying and working in STEM beyond high school.

Below, we took a spin through the Expo via Facebook Live:

 

The event also included recognition of Sustainability Challenge winners: Allison Chung; Audrey Johannes; Clarissa Ko; Max Goldenson; Nalini Fiorillo; Noa Helmbrecht; Olivia Caiazzo; Alexa Peak, Dylan Peak; Arabella Hardgrave; Kate Cooney; Jaron Jacobs; Tom Burton; and Jason Cannistraro.

The town is working to increase its national ranking for voluntary renewable energy through the Power To Choose Program — and make its lower carbon footprint goal — so this year’s Sustainability Challenge asked students: “How might renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, etc.) impact your life and the environment in the future?” Students from every school across the district in grades 2-8  submitted entries including poems, diagrams, 3-D models, songs, videos, essays and more.

Sustainability Challenge winners
Sustainability Challenge winners (Photo via Sustainable Wellesley)
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Wellesley STEM Expo: What you need to know

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Wellesley STEM Expo
Wellesley Education Foundation will be hosting the 3rd Wellesley STEM Expo on April 8 at Wellesley High School.
More than 100 exhibits and workshops will run between 10am-2pm.  At 2 pm, Dr. Edmund Bertschinger, MIT Professor of Physics will deliver a keynote address: Rocking Spacetime:  The Discovery of Gravitation Waves from Colliding Black Holes.
Among the exhibits:
  • Operate an underwater ROV, ride on a drone, build a gum drop tower, use liquid nitrogen to make ice cream, tinker with test crash dummy, learn to code, learn how circuits work, watch carnivorous plants, dig into the coolest sandbox you have ever seen.  
  • Visit the exhibits from Discovery Museums, New England Aquarium, and Drumlin Farms –  all without leaving Wellesley.
  • Learn from faculty and students from Wellesley College, Olin College, MassBay, MIT, Harvard, Tufts, UMass Lowell, Brandeis, and WPI.
  • Participate in the STEM Professional Panel for High Schoolers at 3 p.m. – Are you wondering how to select courses and chart a path that will prepare you for college, grad school and careers?  Hear our panel discuss what schools and employers are looking for and how you can best prepare for admissions, job interviews and the 21st century workplace.
Plan your day now.  Register here

Parking & Shuttle – Parking will be tight. Car pooling, walking, biking is encouraged. Shuttle bus will be running constantly from Tailby lot at the intersection of Linden and Crest Street to and from the high school from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Workshops registration will open at 10 am at each workshop door. Those who are registered will be admitted first. Walk-ins will be allowed after the start time of the workshop only if there are seats available. Please follow the suggested age for each workshop for the best experience of all in attendance.

MORE: Wellesley High defends its Women of Science Competition title
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