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Volunteer as a Teen Lab Assistant This Summer
EIS is looking for high school volunteers who want to hone their communication skills, develop leadership skills, and support STEM education opportunities for communities who are most underrepresented in STEM.
Teen Lab Assistants will be expected to volunteer from June 20 until August 11. There will be at least one day of orientation and training prior to the beginning of camp. Teen Lab Assistants will be assigned to a minimum of 2 weeks of Summer Camp, Monday through Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm (weeks must be consecutive). Teen Lab Assistants will have frequent contact with students and instructors. Teen Lab Assistants will meaningfully aid our work to improve summer camp learning and fun experiences for children in ages 7-14.
EIS is located in southeast San Diego, across the street from the Euclid Avenue Trolley station at Euclid Avenue and Market Street.
Qualifications:
- Must be a high school student entering 11th or 12th grade for the 2023-2024 school year. Students entering 10th grade for the 2023-2024 school year may be eligible only if they have previously participated in an EIS program.
- Express an interest in a STEM and/or education field
- Excellent writing, organizational, research and oral communication skills
- Interest and/or experience in working with children or youth
- Professional demeanor and work ethic
- Time commitment: Minimum of 2 weeks of Summer Camp, Monday through Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm (weeks must be consecutive)
- Strong calling to support underrepresented communities in STEM through education
- Fluency in Spanish or other second language is a plus but not required
- Must provide proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
- Applications are due Sunday, June 4th at 11:59pm
Apply here!
Have questions? send an email to info@eisca.org.
Meet Engineer and Board Member Sudarshan Keshava
Sudarshan Keshava is a member of the EIS Board of Directors who recently retired as Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm with a focus on Modem Technology Software. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering from Bangalore University and Masters in Computer Science from the Indian Technology Institute of Technology, Madras. His involvement with EIS came about through an introduction from a colleague. Sudarshan is committed to EIS because he believes that engineering needs input from people of all parts of society, especially those who remain underrepresented. “I strongly believe that the global pool of engineers will benefit immensely with a fair representation from all sections of society that does not differentiate between economic strata, race, ethnicity and other such attributes. In fact, if technology must solve people’s most pressing problems in a fair manner, underserved communities must have their righteous share among engineers in this world.”
His parents were both teachers who encouraged him to read which created an innate curiosity about how things worked. “At some point in my high school years, my fascination grew with electricity and magnetism. Every time I turned on the light switch and the incandescent bulb lit up, I marveled at the inventions and perseverance of scientists behind such a scientific revolution. Thomas Alva Edison and his life story was a significant inspiration for me in my student days.”
While math held a strong interest, he felt conflicted between pursuing an honors program in math or electrical engineering. “I loved Math but ultimately the application of math to solving real world problems lured me into studying Electrical and Electronics. I was excited with the fact that engineers could actually breathe life into abstract ideas and equations and develop real products that could put a smile on people’s faces.”
Sudarshan encourages those who are interested in engineering to be curious about everything and build strong foundations in math and science. “I would also encourage students to challenge conventional thinking and get comfortable with logic and argumentation. They need to dream BIG and believe in themselves that they can change the world with the power of their minds.”
As for his 26-year career at Qualcomm, he shared that it was a privilege to work in the cellular communications industry. “Connecting people to each other and to everything wirelessly was a gigantic engineering success, but the engineers behind this global wireless revolution in Qualcomm were the most brilliant, humble and a fun bunch!”
We are grateful to have Sudarshan volunteer on our Board of Directors and have a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM education and careers. Please share his story with the children in your life who are interested in engineering and math.
High School Students Visited the Vertex Learning Lab
High school students from the EIS Teen STEAM Café went to the Vertex Learning Lab on a quest for knowledge. After taking a tour of the facilities, students learned about the process of designing effective medicine, then had some friendly competition to see who could design a delayed release tablet. The process gave a deeper appreciation for the innovation biotech and pharmaceutical companies like Vertex are responsible for. Learn more about how Vertex Pharmaceuticals supports equity in education at Vrtx.com/responsibility/our-steam-commitment.
The Teen STEAM Café is a free enrichment program for high school students at Title I schools in southeastern San Diego, guided by EIS Lead STEM Educator Amirah Burleigh. Learn more at eisca.org/teen-science-café.
If Your Child Participated in Steps-2-STEM This Event is for You!
On May 24, Project VisMO will be hosting “An Evening of Mathematics, Magic and Origami with Robert Lang” at the University of San Diego, a celebration for all of the students, educators and families who have participated in Project VisMO over the years. There will be an opportunity for students to show their work – students are encouraged to bring in an origami piece they made, a presentation by the esteemed origamist Robert Lang, and a light reception to follow. The event is completely free and open to all family members, and we hope that you and your student(s) can join us for this very special evening either online or in person at University of San Diego. This free event will be in-person and virtual. Register at EventBrite!
#BeThatGirl Mentorship Program for High School Girls!
Help Make STEM Camp the Highlight of Summer
The Mathemagician Homework Club
If you would like to participate, email info@mathemagiciansclub.com. Include your email, your child’s grade, and math concepts they are working on (or share an attachment of their homework). Mentors will offer help, more practice problems or worksheets. This includes SAT math help as well. They will monitor this email daily so you don’t have to wait until Saturday to ask for help.
The Mathemagicians App is here! In addition to joining the Mathemagicians every Saturday for math tutoring, students can now practice math on the new app. It’s available for free at the “Apple App Store” for download. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mathemagicians/id1557607923
Have you participated in programs or volunteered at the Elementary Institute of Science?
Whether you’re still in high school, college, working or retired, we want to know what you’ve been up to and if you have thoughts about any impact EIS had on your life or career. Please send an email to our Development Assistant, Leah Oviedo at loviedo@eisca.org.
EIS alumni are invited to join our official group to reconnect and stay updated on future reunions. Facebook.com/groups/AlumniConnectEIS