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 Spring 2024, 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 2024
Willard Middle School
SESSION 3
February 8 - March 22
REGISTRATION closed
** denotes a double lab period, twice as many mentors needed
- Thursdays 9:20am - 10:55am **
- Thursdays 11:05am – 12:40pm **
- Thursdays 1:16pm - 2:51pm
- Fridays 9:20am - 10:55am
- Fridays 11:05am - 12:40pm
- Fridays 1:16pm - 2:51pm
Longfellow Middle School
SESSION 4
March 12 - May 7
REGISTRATION OPEN until 3/5
(gap weeks for BUSD and UCB Spring Breaks)
* Spanish-language mentors needed!
- Tuesdays 8:52am - 9:50am*
- Tuesdays 10:24am - 11:12am
- Tuesdays 11:16am - 12:04pm
- Tuesdays 12:08pm - 12:56pm
- Tuesdays 2:26pm - 3:14pm *
Be A Scientist Staff
Darlene Yan
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
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.
Max Lyons
Max received a degree in chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis, where as an undergraduate he worked as a tutor for underserved elementary-school students in St. Louis. This experience clarified for Max the importance of working to help socioeconomically disadvantaged students to succeed in STEM. Max’s work as a scientist is motivated by a fundamental curiosity about the natural world, and he loves helping students experience the same wonder and joy of discovery through science.
Aria Tomar
Aria is a sophomore at UC Berkeley on her way to a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. When she is not gazing at the stars, Aria has been engaged with the fashion and entertainment industry since her middle school years. In fact, some of her projects have led her to join the board and present at various global associations, speaking on topics of sustainability, animal rights, and child trafficking.