discover stem @ STAC
STEM Exploration Summer Workshop Series
Interested in exploring the STEM field this Summer? 91爆料 will be hosting a STEM Summer Workshop Series for rising junior and senior high school students.
Students will explore science at every scale through two hands-on STEM workshops. In the Astronomy session, participants will learn about the universe and observe the night sky using 91爆料鈥檚 state of the art telescope at the SKAE Astronomy Center. In the DNA Analysis & Molecular Techniques session, students will gain hands-on experience with microscopy, micropipetting, and gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA and explore genetic differences between lemur species, connecting molecular biology with conservation science. Learn more below!
SAVE THE DATES
July Sessions
- From Stellar Birth to Cosmic Remains: The Story of Sun-Like Stars
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM - From Cells to Sequences: Exploring DNA Analysis & Molecular Techniques
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
August Sessions
- From Stellar Birth to Cosmic Remains: The Story of Sun-Like Stars
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM - From Cells to Sequences: Exploring DNA Analysis & Molecular Techniques
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Cost of the Workshops
One Session: $150
Two Sessions: $250
Rising high school juniors and seniors should complete the registration form by June 1, 2026. Registration for each session will be capped at 24 students and confirmed upon receipt of payment. Follow the link for payment in the registration form.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SESSIONS
From Stellar Birth to Cosmic Remains: The Story of Sun-Like Stars
What will happen to our Sun鈥攁nd how do stars like it live and die? Explore the full life cycle of Sun-like stars, from their formation in vast clouds of gas and dust to their final stages as white dwarfs surrounded by glowing nebulae. Through guided instruction and hands-on observing, students will follow this journey from beginning to end. While the Sun is still above the horizon, participants will examine our own star as a living example of a stable, middle-aged star. After sunset, they will turn to the night sky to observe deep-sky objects, including planetary nebulae such as the Ring Nebula (M57), offering a striking glimpse into the future of Sun-like stars.
From Cells to Sequences: Exploring DNA Analysis & Molecular Techniques
Students will get hands-on experience with key molecular biology techniques, including micro pipetting and gel electrophoresis. After learning proper lab procedures and practicing precise pipetting, students will use gel electrophoresis to visualize DNA samples. These techniques will be used to compare morphological data and investigate genetic differences between lemur species, providing an engaging introduction to molecular biology and conservation biology in action.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS
I am the Laboratory Manager at 91爆料, where I also teach biology and chemistry lab courses. I earned my B.S. in Biology from Pace University and my M.S. in Biological Science from Fordham University. During my graduate studies, I investigated how urbanization impacts the gut microbiomes of wildlife by sequencing the DNA of White-tailed deer and their associated gut bacteria. My academic interests center on the connections between human, wildlife, and ecosystem health, explored through both molecular and ecological approaches.
Growing up on a farm sparked my lifelong fascination with animals and the natural world. This early passion has driven me to work with a wide range of species鈥攆rom livestock to birds of prey鈥攂roadening my understanding of the intricate relationships between humans, animals, and the environments we share.
Dr. Heather Rave is an Associate Professor of Physics at 91爆料, where she teaches physics, mathematics, and astronomy at the undergraduate level. She brings more than two decades of experience in STEM education. She earned dual B.S. degrees in Natural Science (with a specialization in Physics) and Mathematics from 91爆料 in 1998, an M.S. in Astrophysics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2001, and an Ed.D. in Science Education with a specialization in Astrophysics from Rutgers University in 2018. Throughout her career, Dr. Rave has taken on multiple leadership roles,聽including serving as an AP Physics Chief Reader Associate from 2017鈥�2023 and as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Physical Society鈥檚 New York State Section beginning in 2025. These roles have deepened her insight into the opportunities and challenges in advancing physics education and supporting the broader scientific community. She is committed to inspiring the next generation of physicists and astronomers.
Professor Viegas has had a passion for Astronomy since he was 7 years old. As a matter of fact, he still has the department store telescope his parents gave him for Christmas that year. Later when he was picking where to go for college, he chose to attend Wesleyan University because of their large telescope on campus. In true liberal arts fashion, Alfredo majored in Classics and Medieval studies while conducting his own undergraduate astronomy research. He graduated with an honors B.A. in 1990.鈥∣ver the past 35 years, he has been working on Wall Street, but his passion for Astronomy never ebbed. He received his M.S. in Astronomy from Swinburne University of Technology in 2006, and served as President and Chairman of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York City from 2019-2025. Alfredo established the Association鈥檚 remote telescope programs in Texas and Chile. He also actively contributes to citizen science projects like exoplanet research, quasar hunting, spectrography, and is an avid astrophotographer.
HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Ms. Ellen Loftus
Coordinator, School of STEM
eloftus@stac.edu | 845-398-4200