As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday this week, this one may feel particularly poignant. Many of us will take a moment to consider the loved ones and things for which we are grateful. In the last few years, where so much has been lost, we are thankful for the scientists without whom vaccines would not have been made possible and the courageous teachers and administrators who have continued to educate our nation’s youth through a pandemic.

The Society for Science is excited to announce that Lance R. Collins, Vice President and Executive Director of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and Charles McCabe, Chief Advisor for the Manifold Fund, have joined the Society’s Board of Trustees.

Middle School student, Om Guin, received the Lemelson Early Inventor Prize for developing a voice-enabled smart pillbox at the Fulton County Regional Science & Engineering Fair.

2021 Broadcom MASTERS learned from JASON learning about disparities in clinical drug trials, and worked together to find ways to increase diversity.

During the 2021 Society for Science High School Research Teachers Conference over 130 teachers from across the country attended workshops and sessions to solve challenges, improve teaching strategies and learn more about the Society for Science. The conference took place in October and had both in-person and virtual elements.

The 2021 Broadcom MASTERS ventured outdoors during this year’s Smithsonian Environmental Research Center challenge. The finalists set up trail cameras, collected data and learned about biodiversity in their communities.

This year, the Broadcom MASTERS middle school competition is being held virtually. Despite continued obstacles brought on by the pandemic, the top 30 finalists are meeting challenges head-on and are excited to participate in finals week. Each of the Broadcom MASTERS 2021 finalists received laptops, webcams, backdrops and lighting kits to ensure they all have the technology they need throughout the competition. The finalists also received swag boxes, complete with competition t-shirts, sunglasses, facemasks and more. With guidance from Society staff, the nation’s top 30 middle school scientists and engineers are gearing up for finals week.

Two Texas middle school students were inspired to find a way to harness methane gas released from compost and turn it into energy.