2nd Annual Mater Dei Science Academy STEAM Night to be held on October 29th

The Academy of Science at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista is holding their 2nd Annual Science Academy STEAM Night on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 6:30PM, with special guest speakers, Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas, UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean, Dr. James McKerrow, Director of the Office of Schools for the Diocese of San Diego, John Galvan, and environmentalist Erika Bjorquist, of I Love A Clean San Diego.

The event will be run much like an undergraduate research poster session at UCLA. Students will discuss scientific research internships they’ve had at institutions such as the University of San Diego, the Living Coast Discovery Center, University of California–San Diego, and a wide variety of businesses, non-profits, and government organizations that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). Academy of Science Seniors will be providing creative poster displays, and speaking about their STEAM internships. Mayor of Chula Vista, Mary Casillas Salas– an alumnus of Mater Dei’s predecessor, Marian High, and an advocate for higher education will be offering remarks, as will John Galvan, who leads the office of Catholic schools in San Diego. 

Senior Diana De La Toba interned at The Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences that speaker Dr. James McKerrow heads. She worked on the molecular biology of the schistosoma mansoni parasite found in freshwater, with her mentor, Dr. Danielle Skinner. She was one of three high school students hosted at UCSD for a summer research internship, supported by a grant from the ALSAM Foundation.

Working with USD and Sea Grant California, student Allison Malunes did research on the problem of microplastics found in urban coastal watershed. This is the same kind of environmental mission Erika Bjorquist, from I Love a Clean San Diego, supports and will discuss.

The event is open to the community. Admission is free. Refreshments will be provided. The showcase is being held at Mater Dei Catholic High School, Kassebaum Theater, 1615 Mater Dei Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91913. Ample parking is available in the visitor lot off of Birch Road and Mater Dei Drive.

Contact Information

Laura Bookser

Marketing and Community Outreach

Mater Dei Catholic High School

(1) 619-423-2121 x120

lbookser@materdeicatholic.org