Forensic Sciences Program

STEM Bridge Camp gives new students a jump-start in math and science

Melanie Balog — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:51:55 +0000

STEM Bridge Camp gives new students a jump-start in math and science Melanie Balog Mon, 08/28/2023 - 17:51

��AV has offered summer programming for incoming Patriots every summer since 2011. Previous offerings included a one-week math boot camp and a one-week STEM camp. This year they were combined to form a new two-week STEM Bridge Camp, held July 24-Aug. 4 at the Fairfax Campus.

Many peer leaders faculty members and support staff helped make this year’s combined camp a success. Faculty walked students through sample science classes, reviewed lab protocols, and provided daily math instruction. Students also got advice from upper-class Patriots about taking classes and preparing for exams.

Students in STEM Bridge camp learn about fingerprints during Forensic Science instruction. Photo provided

In a STEM challenge research activity, students worked in small groups, to develop and test research questions related to temperature and humidity. After they collected data using a research-grade thermometer, Taylor Anderson helped them visualize it. The students gave presentations on their work at the conclusion of the camp.

The program also allows incoming freshmen to get a taste of residential college life before the semester starts and become more familiar with campus, as well as take field trips to Washington, D.C., and Mason's SciTech Campus, the latter to experience The Edge, the team development and experiential learning program available through Mason Recreation.

Presentations on climate change from Mason researchers Luis Ortiz and Jim Kinter bookended the two weeks of camp. Students also learned about fingerprints and DNA analysis with Forensic Science faculty members Chris Durac and Georgia Williams.

The mathematics portion of camp was organized by Rosemberg Toala-enriquez, who was assisted by multiple math GTAs and two Mason alumni math teachers, Sheeva Doshireh and Harnam Arneja. After taking the math boot camp, all students improved their scores on their math placement exams, and many were placed into higher level math classes as a result.

This year's camp was in part funded by Strategic Investment Funds from the President's Office, which Tina Bell and Rebecca Jones applied for in December 2022.

STEM Bridge Camp is just one of many activities administrated and led by the STEM Accelerator, a unique interdisciplinary collective of faculty committed to improve STEM education at Mason.

This story originally appeared on the College of Science website.

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AWS Girls’ Tech Day Virginia at Hylton Center inspires nearly 400 girls and young women to pursue STEAM

Colleen Rich — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:53:36 +0000

AWS Girls’ Tech Day Virginia at Hylton Center inspires nearly 400 girls and young women to pursue STEAM Colleen Rich Mon, 11/14/2022 - 09:53

The Hylton Performing Arts Center at ��AV’s Science and Technology Campus is normally bustling with performances from local, national, and international artists. On October 1, the venue was filled with a different kind of energy.

Nearly 400 girls and women interested in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) gathered to participate in Girls’ Tech Day Virginia, hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The initiative, in partnership with the Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation (SPARK), as well as other local organizations, aims to inspire school-aged girls and young women to pursue careers in STEAM.

Girls' Tech Day attendees got to work a mock crime scene. Photo by AWS

The event offered panels and workshops with Mason faculty and STEAM professionals. Workshops included “Who’s the Artist? Engineer or Machine” and “The Real CSI,” the latter offering a dive into what it is like to be a forensic scientist turning the Merchant Hall stage into a mock crime scene.

The event also gave attendees opportunities to build coding experience and included professional development with resume building and complimentary headshots.

“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with the talented young ladies who participated in the AWS Girls’ Tech Day,” said Kelly Knight, associate professor of forensic science at Mason and facilitator of “The Real CSI” workshop. “As I looked out into the audience and saw the excitement in their eyes, I couldn't help but think about how meaningful an event like this would have been to me as a young girl.”

Since 2018, Girls’ Tech Day has reached nearly 7,000 girls and young women ages 8-24 to motivate, excite, and inspire them to pursue careers in STEAM. A free program, the first Girls’ Tech Day took place at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in partnership with AWS, who also supports the Hylton Center’s Education Initiative and other programs. Ongoing support from AWS helps make arts accessible to local students and schools at the Hylton Center and throughout local communities.

“We were excited to host this event in collaboration with the Hylton Center to support students in Prince William County, building on our ongoing efforts to bring STEAM education opportunities to young learners,” said Cornelia Robinson, global lead of inclusion and outreach for AWS. “Women represent a quarter or less of workers in computing and engineering, and we want to do our part to inspire and support students and young women in the communities we call home.”

Nearly 400 girls and women interested in STEAM gathered to participate in Girls’ Tech Day Virginia. Photo by AWS

Girls’ Tech Day is just one part of a collection of initiatives AWS is leading to promote STEAM education in Virginia. In 2019, Prince William County opened the first AWS Think Big Space to further promote and cultivate an interest in STEAM disciplines through hands-on learning. Since then, AWS has funded 38 spaces globally and is looking to establish even more in Northern Virginia.

“The Hylton Center Education Initiative is 100% supported by philanthropy,” said Hylton Center Education Coordinator Marit Majeske. “The lead sponsorship of AWS enables the Hylton Center to reach students from early elementary to lifelong learners with in-person field trips, virtual field trips, master classes, lecture demonstrations, and residencies. We are grateful for their support of our goal to bring the arts to students in our community.”

Connecting with students at an early age is especially meaningful for Knight.

“When I was their age, there weren't many events that were not only created for girls but that were also free, and I think that's an important point,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have STEAM outreach programs, but if they aren't accessible, we are missing the point. Programs such as this allow girls to not only see the possibilities but to also remind them that they belong in STEAM regardless of their background.”

Learn more about AWS Girls’ Tech Day.

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Podcast - EP16: Into the eyes of a murderer

Kristin Heydt — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 17:40:58 +0000

Podcast - EP16: Into the eyes of a murderer Kristin Heydt Fri, 01/29/2021 - 12:40

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What's it like to interview a mass murderer? Professor Mary Ellen O'Toole, a former FBI profiler, fills us in on that and Mason's new Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory, which will be one of only eight in the U.S. to use donor remains for forensic research.