Volunteer Opportunities
Education and outreach programs depend upon Berkeley Lab volunteers. Review the upcoming programs below and show your support by volunteering. For those who would like to volunteer in the future, please sign up for our monthly newsletter outlining upcoming activities and programs.
Volunteer Opportunities with Berkeley Lab
Click here for a summary of current volunteer programs, sign up forms, and time commitments
When: May 22
Where: Virtual
What: This year, we're celebrating Bring a Kid to Work Day at home. The K-12 team is hosting a Family STEM Fest this May to celebrate the past and imagine the future with Berkeley Lab families. All of our planned events will be virtual, and our team is planning a drive through giveaway on Saturday, May 15. We are looking for volunteers to help support this STEM event.
To volunteer, sign up here
When: August 1 - August 7
Where: Virtual
What: Science Accelerating Girls' Engagement in STEM (SAGE) is a one week long summer camp for public high school students. This program aims to foster innovation, grow the STEM community, and engage intelligent, creative, and passionate young women in the everyday life of scientists and engineers at the National Laboratories. We are looking for volunteers to help support camp week activities.
To volunteer, sign up here
When: June 21 - June 26
Time: Either 10 am or 2:30 pm
Where: Virtual
What: This summer, Berkeley Lab will once again be partnering with the City of Oakland to support Town Camp. This year we will support literacy during morning stories with a scientist and in the afternoon we invite all Berkeley Lab employees to help facilitate simple hands-on activities. Our target audience will be ages 6 - 12.
To volunteer, sign up here
When: Beginning late April
Where: Virtual
What: Interested in helping us streamline the volunteer sign up process? The Government and Community Relations Office will be rolling out a new platform that will make it easier for Berkeley Lab employees to sign up for volunteer opportunities. We are looking for active volunteers that don't mind being the first to complete their profile and sharing feedback.
To volunteer, sign up here
When: Ongoing
Where: Virtual
What: Interested in continuing STEM outreach from your home? Live Science is a virtual series in which researchers at Berkeley Lab share their work and lead a home activity with the public. Viewers are able to ask questions about science topics and learn how innovative research can translate to hobbies at home. We are looking for Berkeley Lab staff to participate in future events. We have some topics planned, but we're very open to new ideas!
To volunteer, sign up here
When: Ongoing
Where: Virtual
What: Are you interested in speaking to students about your research and/or career? Would you like to practice your science communication skills? If so, consider signing up to be on our list of Berkeley Lab Speakers. We are putting together a group of staff able to share their expertise and career experiences through online platforms.
Upcoming topics: Everyday Materials, Entrepreneurship, and Ethical Research.
To volunteer, sign up here
May 2021
Virtual Oakland Science & Engineering Fair (OSEF)
Monday May 3 - Tuesday May 4 - Judges review student projects
Wednesday May 5 - Friday May 7 - Teachers host zooms where students and judges meet to discuss their projects.
Description: The Oakland Unified School District will host its second Virtual Oakland Science & Engineering Fair (OSEF) in May! This year, they will combine their favorite components of their Science Fair and Dinner with a Scientist event by showcasing student work and fostering conversations between students and scientists! Over 1,000 students registered to participate in this year's fair!
March 2021
Berkeley High Seeks Volunteers for Virtual "Career Month"
Date: March 2021, 2 pm
Description: Berkeley High School (BHS) continues to operate in distance learning mode with student/teacher interactions occurring via Zoom. This year BHS' annual College and Career week activities will be virtual and span the entire month of March. All panels will be facilitated by a BHS staff member and involve two to four professionals explaining their background and their current work, followed by Q&A.
Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair
Date: March 12, 8am-5pm
Description: The Contra Costa Science Fair expects to have more than 200 student competitors who will need your expertise to evaluate project boards and conduct interviews. Our goal is to engage more than 140 judges to be on hand to give every child the opportunity to share their science and engineering projects with multiple judges during the competition. The virtual fair will require a full 8 hours of judges' time to ensure every child gets interviewed about their project. Judges will have same-day training to prepare you for the virtual experience.
To volunteer as a judge, register here
Golden Gate Stem Fair
Date: March 8-11, in shifts
Description: GGSF operates as a part of an extended science competition pathway that begins with science fairs at individual junior and senior high schools. Over 70,000 Middle and High School students throughout the San Francisco Bay Area complete science projects for science fairs at their schools.
To volunteer as a judge, email Special Award Coordinator Mahima Gupta at mahima89@gmail.com
The GCR K-12 team is working remotely during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. BLISS Kit distribution has been discontinued during this time as we develop virtual options.
BLISS KITS are age-appropriate, hands-on, standards-based science and mathematics activities developed by Workforce Development & Education (WD&E), in partnership with the Lawrence Hall of Science. Lab employees who have attended workshops on how to lead the activities may check out and use the kits in local schools or other appropriate youth events. All materials are aligned with the California Science Standards in use by schools across the state. Learn more about the topics here.
Use the BLISS KIT request form to check one out.