Synapse

Synapse and the Yale Science Magazine are excited to announce that Science on Saturdays is back, and we’re looking for volunteers! Our first post-pandemic outreach event is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, from 9 am to 1 pm. The featured speaker will be Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist from the Yale School of Public Health, who will talk about “How We Use Science to Protect People from Epidemics.”

This award-winning lecture series is aimed at middle school students and their families, bringing the excitement of research and the passion of Yale scientists to the New Haven community. Each event involves a lecture by a Yale professor and hands-on science demonstrations.

We are expecting as many as 500+ students, children, and family members to attend. Volunteers will be helping to run demos, assist the keynote speaker, direct families, and ensure that Science on Saturdays runs as smoothly as possible.

This is a great (and fun!) way to get more involved with the greater New Haven Science Community. There will be food and t-shirts provided! If interested, Please fill out this form by April 5th 11:59 pm! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to yalescientifc@yale.edu.

Mission

Synapse is the outreach branch of the Yale Scientific Magazine, dedicated to connecting local students and community members from New Haven with the vast STEM resources at Yale University. Through a variety of initiatives, including lectures, workshops, and demonstrations, Synapse works to inspire and engage young people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Collaborating closely with Yale Pathways to Science, a nonprofit organization that extends Yale?s teaching and mentoring programs to the broader community, Synapse provides valuable educational opportunities to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and academic growth. This year, Synapse’s will also be focusing on science literacy workshops.

Student Leaders

Gabriela Berger – Co-Coordinator/Co-President

Activities

Botanical Garden Workshop (Flavors of the Forest) Direct Service Flavors of the Forest is an engaging educational event for local 6th-8th grade students. Participants will embark on a guided tour of the Marsh Botanical Garden, led by the Yale Synapse team, where they will explore the garden?s extensive plant collection. The event will also include an interactive workshop, where students will discover the diverse culinary uses of plants. The food collection will specifically feature plants found in the botanical garden, giving students the chance to sample a variety of food products derived from them and experience the unique flavors that nature provides. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to propagate a plant from the garden to bring home. StarLab Direct Service The StarLab is a portable planetarium composed of a large inflatable dome and a projector setup. The StarLab is easy to set up, and once it is, students can crawl inside the dome and look up to a projection of the night sky, controlled by a trained presenter. This collaboration between the Yale Astronomical Student Society, Yale Scientific Magazine, and Yale Pathways is bringing the incredible StarLab to Yale and New Haven students alike, allowing them to experience a planetarium show without traveling to a planetarium. Students who might not otherwise have access to a planetarium will get to experience the universal delight of astronomy brought directly to them through the StarLab. Resonance Conference Direct Service The Resonance Conference is our annual event, where middle and high school students of the New Haven and local community to immerse themselves in the sciences through engaging classes and stellar guest speaker events. High School STEM Workshops at Hill Regional Career High School Direct Service This event features four immersive 90-minute STEM workshops hosted at Hill Regional Career High School, designed to engage students in the sciences through interactive lessons and exciting hands-on experiments. The Marsh Botanical Garden Workshop Direct Service The Marsh Botanical Garden Workshop invites local middle school students to explore plant reproduction and seed dispersal through hands-on activities led by the Yale Synapse team. Approximately 20 local middle schools were invited to the greenhouse, where students investigated different reproductive strategies and discovered the fascinating ways seeds travel. A guided garden tour followed, highlighting the diversity of the garden?s collection. This interactive experience fosters curiosity about plant biology and showcases the ingenuity of nature. Resonance Conference Direct Service Resonance is an annual event hosted by Synapse, the official outreach team of Yale Scientific Magazine. This year, we invited over 70 high school students to Yale?s campus for a day of interactive, hands-on science classes taught by Yale undergraduates. Lessons covered topics in molecular biology, physics, astronomy, ecology, and public health. The event featured an engaging guest lecture by a Yale professor and offered students an inspiring opportunity to explore a wide range of scientific topics in a fun and educational environment. West Fest Direct Service Synapse worked in collaboration with Yale Pathways to Science at West Fest, a science festival on Yale?s West Campus for young students passionate about science. Synapse participated by leading several fun, engaging science demonstrations for the students, including making ice cream to demonstrate freezing point depression of water and creating invisible ink using lemon juice. Science Literature Workshops Direct Service Synapse?s science literacy workshops will welcome middle and high school students from New Haven for interactive, informative sessions led by Yale students. These workshops will focus on building scientific method and research literacy, as well as helping students understand data and identify misinformation. Through hands-on activities and discussion, participants will learn how to responsibly develop hypotheses, spot flaws in scientific studies, identify conflicts of interest in research, interpret data and graphs, distinguish correlation from causation, and recognize misleading or inaccurate scientific information. The Marsh Botanical Garden Workshop Direct Service The Marsh Botanical Garden Workshop invites local middle school students to explore plant reproduction and seed dispersal through hands-on activities led by the Yale Synapse team. Approximately 20 local middle schools were invited to the greenhouse, where students investigated different reproductive strategies and discovered the fascinating ways seeds travel. A guided garden tour followed, highlighting the diversity of the garden?s collection. This interactive experience fosters curiosity about plant biology and showcases the ingenuity of nature. Plant Propagation Event Advocacy or Activism The Plant Propagation Event will take place on the Yale campus and is open to the Yale community. During this event, Yale students will have the opportunity to propagate a plant species provided by us. Participants will learn the fundamentals of plant propagation and will pot their newly propagated plants to take back to their dorms. This event provides a hands-on, educational experience that promotes sustainability, plant care, and environmental responsibility while fostering a deeper connection with nature. High School Essay Contest Advocacy or Activism This essay contest invites high school students from across the country to engage with thought-provoking questions that extend beyond the traditional science curriculum. Students are encouraged to analyze a provided prompt, showcasing their unique perspectives and analytical skills in their writing. The winner, selected by members of Yale Synapse, will have their essay published on the Yale Synapse website and in the next edition of Yale Scientific Magazine. The top two winners will also receive prize money. The contest will be promoted in collaboration with Yale Pathways to Science to maximize visibility and engagement. Plant Propagation Event Social/Cultural/Team-Building The Plant Propagation Event will take place on the Yale campus and is open to the Yale community. During this event, Yale students will have the opportunity to propagate a plant species provided by us. Participants will learn the fundamentals of plant propagation and will pot their newly propagated plants to take back to their dorms. This event provides a hands-on, educational experience that promotes sustainability, plant care, and environmental responsibility while fostering a deeper connection with nature.

How Others Get Involved

Interested students can reach out to our co-presidents gabby.berger@yale.edu and wyatt.aiken@yale.edu to get involved and volunteer with us.