Mentoring & Outreach

Find out more information about GWISE and External Outreach & Mentoring Opportunities below! For more information about Boston University outreach opportunities visit the Office of STEM Outreach and Diversity.

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Virtual Outreach During COVID-19

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, GWISE has started a virtual science outreach program for children K-5. The purpose of this program is to bring fun science-related activities to kids who may be missing school, summer camps, and interacting with their friends — all virtually in the comfort of their own homes. In addition, we hope to provide assistance to teachers and parents who may need childcare support during this stressful time.

  • If you are interested in signing up your child or classroom, please do so here or email us at gwise@bu.edu!

  • In addition, please check out a few other resources that may be of interest to families during this time:

    • Zoom Into Science program where families can sign up for sessions where a grad student/researcher will explain their scientific research in a kid-friendly way: Families can sign up here!
    • Nationwide Skype a Scientist program, where families/students are matched with a researcher who will explain their research. Sign up and additional info can be found here: https://www.skypeascientist.com
  • For graduate student volunteers: if you’re interested in volunteering to lead sessions for GWISE’s program, sign up here and check out other outreach opportunities during COVID-19 here!

Virtual Academic Tutoring During COVID-19

With the transition of Boston Public Schools and other local districts to a partially or fully virtual learning model, there are fewer chances for students to get academic help they need, and not all families can afford a private tutor. Helping to tutor a student at this critical moment can keep them engaged with STEM and excited about their learning.

  • Graduate student volunteers, sign up to become a K-12 academic tutor here!
  • Families and students, please sign up to be included in our academic tutoring program, by indicating your availability on the bottom of this form. Please note, you may also use this form to sign up for our STEM virtual outreach program above!

  • In addition, please check out this national tutoring resource below:

    • This is a nationwide resource where families can sign their kids to be matched with a college/grad school age academic mentor in a variety of subjects: http://www.coved.org/index.html

WISE Mentoring Program

  • Contact: Emma at ebortz@bu.edu

WISE Mentoring is an effort to connect the undergraduate and graduate WISE communities. GWISE annually hosts a mentoring program to support the academic and professional growth of undergraduate women in STEM fields, and to provide an opportunity for GWISE members to develop as future leaders and mentors. By participating in this program, GWISE mentors will receive valuable mentoring and leadership experience, as well as the opportunity to interact with the BU WISE community through building and fostering a mentoring team. GWISE will provide resources and programming to enrich the mentoring experience. 

2020-2021 Academic Year:

Sign-up to become a GWISE Mentor for an undergraduate WISE student here: TBA

Sign-up to become an undergraduate Mentee here: TBA

Elementary School Girls Science Club – West End House

Come volunteer with the Elementary School Girls Science Club, an outreach program developed and hosted by GWISE! We coordinate fun, hands-on activities for elementary school girls, which will convey important concepts in diverse STEM fields. Our goals are to help young girls gain a better understanding of basic scientific concepts and engineering principles, get them excited about science and engineering, and encourage them to pursue future careers in STEM fields. This is a great opportunity to be a positive STEM role model for young women!

We are looking for GWISE members who are interested in mentoring elementary school girls at our weekly sessions at the West-End House. Mentor commitment is flexible (you can volunteer for as many as you’d like). For more information about the Girls’ Science Club, or to check out some of our experiences, visit our BLOG!

Middle School Girls Science Club – West End House

Also known as “Girls with Goggles”

Join GWISE in mentoring middle school girls through Girls with Goggles! We want our students to gain hands-on experience conducting fun experiments and to provide them with an in-depth understanding of scientific concepts. This is a great opportunity for GWISE members to reach out to the local community and to help young girls find their passion for science. 

Resources for Outreach

  • GWISE is proud to collaborate with CuSTEMized, a non-profit organization aimed at engaging, encouraging, and empowering young girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) by providing them with tangible products and educational experiences that foster a positive scientific identity from a young age. CuSTEMized creates personalized storybooks called “My Little Book of Big Dreams” for girls that depict them as central characters in diverse STEM fields. The initiative collaborates with families, teachers, and after-school programs to provide free and subsidized personalized books to young girls. For more information on CuSTEMized, please visit their website.