How to Celebrate National STEM Day!
November 8th marks National STEM Day! It started as a way to encourage kids and young adults to pursue careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; sometimes you’ll see STEAM, which includes art). I knew from the time I was in elementary school that I wanted to be a meteorologist or somehow involved with weather when I became an adult. I pursued college with that goal in mind, and I ended up earning my Master’s and PhD in atmospheric science! Now part of my job is to forecast the weather. 🤓
Before I get into my list of fun things to do to celebrate National STEM Day—whether you’re an adult with a love of science or have kiddos in your life that are interested in science—first I wanted to share a recent work outfit as a woman in science myself! I’m fortunate in that my workplace is on the casual side of business casual (“smart casual” as some might say), so I can wear denim any day of the week. There were only minimal changes in my wardrobe between grad school and work.
I spend all day sitting at a desk on a computer (so exciting 🤣) , so for me, comfort is king. These dark wash jeans are not my most comfortable pair (bought ‘em a size too small), but they look the nicest and are what I reach for if I’m in meetings with partners or at a conference. I kept the outfit simple with a soft cashmere sweater (love that this one is only $75!) and added some fun with my gold metallic flats and earrings. I carry my Madewell medium Transport tote with me every day to work! (It started POURING rain during the shoot, which is why there are rain drops all over it! Fitting for an atmospheric scientist, don’t you think? Guess I should’ve paid better attention to the weather!)
10 Fun Ways to Celebrate National STEM Day!
As I mentioned, here is a list of ways to celebrate National STEM Day! Even though the holiday was created with kids in mind, you can celebrate even if you’re an adult—with kids or no kids! I rounded up 10 fun ways you can celebrate and encourage young minds to seek out a future in STEM, and most of these ideas are related to meteorology because that’s what I know best!
Identify the clouds around you! This is a fun exercise—save the NOAA Cloud Chart to your phone (or pick one up at your local NWS office!) and head outside to check out the clouds and see how many you can correctly identify. I recommend laying on a blanket in a park with a wide view of the sky. It’s tricky because most clouds don’t look exactly like they do on the chart.
Download the mPING app and report the weather wherever you are! Help improve weather radar and models by anonymously inputting the precipitation type where you are. This program by NSSL is called mPING, or “Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground,” and the data is used to fine-tune forecasts and verify whether the radar signatures are correct (since radar cannot “see” what is happening at ground level in most locations).
Become a Skywarn Storm Spotter! After taking a training with your local NWS office, you’ll be able to report to them whenever there is a severe storm or other related inclement weather, like high wind/hail/tornadoes (this information is extra valuable coming from a trained storm spotter since ground validation is so important!).
Read a book about women in STEM! Goodreads has an excellent crowdsourced list of books about women in STEM that’s worth checking out if you’re in need of your next read. Women (and especially women of color) often face the tallest barriers when entering a STEM field, so it’s important to learn about their stories and celebrate their achievements.
Visit a local science center or museum! Here in Boise, we have the Discovery Center of Idaho. Take yourself and/or your kiddos to learn more about incredible advances and achievements in STEM! It’s fun even if you don’t have kiddos with you.
Join the CoCoRaHS program! Take part in even more citizen science by recording and reporting precipitation in your own backyard. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (pronounced KO-ko-rozz) is a group of thousands of citizens around the country collecting precipitation and recording it for research purposes.
Do a weather experiment at home! NWS Birmingham compiled a list of fun and educational hands-on weather experiments you can do at home for fun and/or for a school project.
Support your local schools! Advocate for STEM programs and increased STEM funding in your public schools. Here in Idaho, if you’re a registered voter, be sure to sign the Quality Education Act ballot initiative petition being pushed by Reclaim Idaho. I’ve been volunteering with them because Idaho is dead last in education spending per student, and I want Idaho kids to have more opportunities! We need 65,000 signatures by May 1, 2022, to get it on the ballot.
Thank a person in STEM! Write a letter or comment on social media to folks that work those often thankless jobs. I am of course thinking about meteorologists—did you know the NWS offices are staffed 24/7, including weekends and holidays? And most of the feedback they hear is when residents think their forecasts were wrong/terrible (even if they weren’t).
Apply for the NASA SARP summer internship! Before starting grad school, I took part in the NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP)! Be sure to read about my NASA SARP experience and apply for the program yourself (2022 application are open now!) or forward the information along to college students you know that may be interested.
Let us know in the comments some other ways you could spend National STEM Day, especially if you are in a different STEM field!
OUTFIT DETAILS
Naadam sweater / exact
Everlane jeans / exact
J.Crew flats / old; similar from DSW (last seen here)
AUrate earrings c/o / exact (last seen here)
Madewell bag / exact (zip-top version) (also available from Zappos and Shopbop)
Le Specs sunglasses / exact via Zappos, Shopbop or Nordstrom
Dior Lip Glow in rosewood / exact
