Be A Scientist Details
How To Mentor 7th Graders to "Be A Scientist"!
Be a Scientist
Roles & Responsibilities
You will be a mentor and role model for a small group (4-6) 7th grade students in one Berkeley’s three middle schools (Willard, Longfellow, and King Middle Schools). Work with students will be in-person during school hours for Fall 2025, outdoors weather permitting and following all district safety protocols. Proof of vaccination and booster (if eligible) as well as fingerprinting will be required to volunteer.
Your responsibilities will include:
- attending a MANDATORY 2-hour Zoom training prior to the start of the program
- committing to participating in all 6 weeks of the program for the lab period you select (7 weeks at Longfellow)
- facilitating and guiding your students through designing and running a science experiment of their own choice to be done during the lab period at school
Schedule for Spring 2026
King Middle School
Thursdays & Fridays
January 29/30 - March 12/13
(No sessions Feb. 12/13)
REGISTRATION CLOSED
** denotes two simultaneous classrooms,
twice as many mentors needed
Thursdays
Period 3 = 11:45am - 1:20pm **
Period 5 = 1:25pm - 3:00pm
Fridays
Period 4 = 11:45am - 1:20pm
Period 6 = 1:25pm - 3:00pm
Willard Middle School
Thursdays & Fridays
March 19/20 - May 7/8
(No sessions Mar. 26/27 & Apr. 2/3)
REGISTRATION OPEN
** denotes two simultaneous classrooms,
twice as many mentors needed
Thursdays
Period 3 = 11:05am – 12:40pm **
Fridays
Period 4 = 11:05am – 12:40pm
Period 6 = 1:16pm – 2:51pm
Be A Scientist Staff
Darlene Yan,
Program Manager
BASprogram@crscience.org
Program management & development, volunteer recruiting and training, materials management, community building, and coordination with teachers and school sites.
Darlene is a proud Cal grad that worked for NASA for nearly two decades, first at Space Sciences Laboratory and now at Sonoma State University. She especially loves anything to do with physics, engineering, music, art, and of course, space science. She loves making random things at all times but is particularly proud of the 6' trebuchet, catapult and modular air cannon set she already made.
Betsy Mitchell,
Program Coordinator
betsyjm@berkeley.edu
Program development, volunteer recruiting and training, materials management, community building, and coordination with teachers and school sites.
Betsy came to science through her love of being outdoors and watching birds. This led to graduate studies and research in zoology focused on the ecology of monkeys. Now she loves bringing scientists together with teachers and students to create enriching experiences for both.
Laila Metni, Program Assistant
Laila graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Molecular and Cell Biology, with an emphasis on Cell Developmental Biology and Physiology, and a minor in Disability Studies. She has six years of teaching experience ranging from Musical Theater to Human Physiology. Laila’s love of science originated from the mystery of her childhood diagnosis of a rare autoimmune disorder. When she’s not working as an EMT, conducting research, advocating for justice in healthcare, or teaching middle schoolers, you can find Laila reading a book with her kitten, taking a pilates class, playing board games, or discovering a new food spot to indulge in!
Ariana Villanueva, Program Assistant
Ariana is an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on structural engineering and construction management. She is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) competition teams, where she gains hands-on experience in concrete design, structural analysis, formwork, and construction practices. She’s passionate about using these experiences to grow as an engineer while also making STEM more accessible to underrepresented communities. Advocating for students of minority backgrounds, she hopes to inspire others to explore the possibilities within engineering and beyond.