Workshop Sessions and Presenters

Ms. Bernasconi teaches Marine Biology and IB Sports Exercise and Health Science at Clarkstown High School North.  Outside school, she enjoys anything science-related and nature and takes part of the DEC American Eel project.  

Squid Dissection

Participants will learn about the anatomy of a squid and how it helps them survive the environment in the ocean through an hands-on dissection activity. 

As part of Veolia’s Outreach and Education Team, Robin Kroll and Jessica Moore share a passion for water sciences and conservation. Their extensive classroom experience coupled with an enthusiasm for all things H2O help them quickly engage students of all ages. Robin and Jessica bring to each class they visit a memorable, hands-on lesson that empowers students to make smart choices toward preserving one of our planet’s most precious resources. 

Hurricanes: The Greatest Storms on Earth (Workshop Sessions 2 & 3 only) 

What is extreme weather and what role does water play? Explore the science and impacts of hurricanes. Create a mini hurricane! 

Mr. Michael Pepe holds degrees in Chemistry and Adolescent Science Education from SUNY Binghamton. He is a New York State Master Teacher and currently teaches chemistry at Nanuet High

School. He enjoys snowboarding, lacrosse and going

on vacations with his family. 

The Science of Ice Cream

In this hands-on activity, you’ll discover how ice helps make ice cream. Ice is frozen water, and when it melts, it absorbs heat from its surroundings. By adding salt to the ice, we can make it even colder than normal—cold enough to freeze a liquid!

As you shake and mix your ingredients, heat leaves the ice cream mixture and it slowly turns from a liquid into delicious, creamy ice cream. Along the way, you’ll learn how temperature, freezing points, and energy all work together. 

Kirsten Kleinman earned her B.S. in Broadcasting & Film with a Concentration in Environmental Science, and her M.A. in Energy and Environmental Studies from Boston University. After careers manufacturing oceanographic data logging equipment and in the environmental non-profit sector, she earned her Teaching Certification in Secondary Earth Science from Queens College. Mrs. Kleinman has been teaching AP Environmental Science, Science Research, and Earth Science at Nyack High School since 2009. She is the co-chair for both the Science Research Club and the Environmental Club. Mrs. Kleinman also involves her students with local science and environmental groups, such as Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Keep Rockland Beautiful, and Rockland County Cornell Cooperative Extension. At NHS, she runs the Sunshine Club, supporting teachers in celebration and times of need, promoting school spirit, emcee-ing the Halloween Contest and the Pep Rally. At home, she is the co-chair of the Environmental Task Force at Woodlands Community Temple, promoting an energy efficient, zero-waste policy. In her free time, she enjoys going to The City for the food and entertainment, and singing backup in a local jam band. 

Hurricane STEAM Challenge: Design, Observe, Create (Workshop Session 1 only) 

Build and test a mini storm, record how many variables are affected, then show your science through art.  Students will explore how hurricanes form and behave through short demonstrations, hands-on modeling, a simple experiment, and a creative art reflection. Activities combine science, technology (observation & data), art (storm art), and math (measuring / comparing). 

Catherine Prunella is a Water Quality Extension Specialist with New York Sea Grant, where she connects New Yorkers with cutting-edge research on water pollution. She works with scientists at Columbia University on innovative technology that filters and removes plastics from waterways. Catherine previously worked at the National Science Foundation, supporting federal funding of impactful education proposals. She received a M.S. in Marine Science from the University of South Florida, where she studied past Antarctic climate change using sediment cores. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the City University of New York - Hunter College. Catherine lives in Queens, NYC, and loves spending weekends hiking and climbing in the Hudson Valley and Catskills. 

 Water Pollution Solutions

Join us for a fun and hands-on science experiment! We will learn about pollution in the Hudson River and design and test water filters using household materials. By creating different water filters, we’ll discover ways to keep our waterways clean and explore scientific solutions to pollution. Join us and see how clean you can make your water! 

Colette Pawlyk Jurman earned her MS in Business Administration from Coastal Carolina University while playing Division 1 Volleyball and later obtained her MBA in Financial Management from Iona College. She pursued a NYS Math Certification, undertaking specialized training at the Rockland Teachers’ Center for graduate teaching programs at City College of New York and New York Institute of Technology.

Commencing her teaching career in 2003, Mrs. Jurman has taught at various levels within North Rockland, including High School, an alternative school, and middle school, focusing on Algebra, Algebra Honors, Geometry and RCC College Algebra. During summers, she collaborates on refining curriculum mapping aligned with NYS Standards.  She works summer school to help students earn a math credit towards graduation.

A member of professional associations such as the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Ten County Mathematics Educators Association, and the Parent Teacher Student Association, Mrs. Jurman engages actively in mentoring math student teachers, supporting graduation ceremonies, attending events, and coaching modified volleyball.

Beyond her professional commitments, Mrs. Jurman, a mother of four, adeptly manages roles as a teacher, coach, Girl Scout troop leader, and community advocate. As a NYS Master Teacher, she eagerly anticipates collaborating with STEM educators and applying her experiences with students and teachers in Rockland County. 

 Coding the TI-Rover to Draw a Heart

Join us for an exciting hands-on STEAM session where students will learn to program the TI-Innovator™ Rover using the TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator! The TI-Rover, designed by Texas Instruments, is a robotic vehicle that brings coding to life by allowing students to write and execute programs that control its movement.

In this session, students will:

✅ Learn the basics of TI-Basic coding on the TI-84 Plus CE

✅ Explore how mathematical concepts like coordinates, angles, and loops apply to real-world robotics

✅ Write a program to move the TI-Rover in a precise path to draw a heart shape

✅ Develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through hands-on programming

This engaging activity combines math, technology, and creativity, making coding accessible and fun for all learners. No prior experience is required—just bring your curiosity and be ready to code, test, and refine your program to see the TI-Rover bring your heart to life! 

Brittany Martinez is a 6th-grade Science and STEM enrichment teacher dedicated to making STEAM education engaging and accessible. As an educator in Pearl River School District since 2016, she has led initiatives like quarterly STEM days, a classroom greenhouse project, a school pollinator garden and environmental science collaborations to connect students with real-world learning experiences. She also leads her school’s Advisory program, focusing on SEL and anti-bullying efforts. With a Master’s in Humanistic and Multicultural Education, Brittany strives to create inclusive and meaningful learning opportunities for all of her students.  Outside of teaching, Brittany is a proud mom to her 6-year-old son, Liam. Brittany and her family love spending time outdoors, hiking, traveling and gardening. She recently applied to the NYS Master Teacher Program and is excited to be part of the Girls Rock STEAM event to inspire young women in STEAM!

Chalkboard Slime & the Science of Forgiveness

Get ready for a hands-on STEAM experiment where we’ll mix up chalkboard slime—a stretchy, squishy, and writable surface! After creating our slime, we’ll use chalkboard markers to decorate, doodle, and even write messages on it. Just like we can erase the writing on our slime, forgiveness allows us to “wipe away” anger, hurt, and resentment, making room for healing and kindness.

Through this experiment, we’ll explore the science of polymers while also reflecting on how letting go of negativity can help us mend relationships and find inner peace. Forgiveness is a powerful way to take care of ourselves and others—just like experimenting with slime, it’s a process that can sometimes be messy but always leads to something amazing!

Eileen McAree has taught science in a variety of grades and settings across her 25 years of teaching, including preschool, elementary school and special education classes. She currently is a fifth grader science teacher in the Nanuet Union Free School District. 

Have a Block Blast!  SOMA blocks 

SOMA blocks are a 3D puzzle invented by Danish polymath, Piet Hein, in 1933. The puzzle consists of seven distinct pieces made from 27 smaller cubes which must be assembled into a larger cube. It is widely used to develop spatial reasoning skills, and there are 240 different ways to solve it before you can move on to make other unique shapes! In this session, you will explore how to create these shapes and then manipulate them to solve the cube puzzle. There is even a giant version of the SOMA blocks that the entire group can work on together! It is Tetris and Block Blast ... in real life!

Christy Hudak earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from SUNY Plattsburgh and later pursued her Master of Science in Teaching (MST) at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She has been a teacher in the Nanuet School District for 22 years, teaching Living Environment, Living Environment Honors, AP Biology, and The Human Body. She grew up in the district and feels privileged to now work and raise her family here. Her four children are also students in the same schools. Before becoming a teacher, she practiced nursing for seven years, specializing in urology and women's services. She brings her deep knowledge of the human body and medicine into the classroom, striving to provide real-world learning experiences and inspire her students to develop a love for lifelong learning. Outside of work, Christy enjoys spending time with her family, their house full of pets, and getting lost in a good book. She is an avid hiker and a devoted fan of National Parks, with a bucket list goal of visiting every park. Her favorite park is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These experiences fuel her appreciation for the natural world, which she loves sharing with her students. 

Forensics

Welcome to a thrilling journey into the world of forensic science! In this engaging session, students will become detectives tasked with solving the mysterious case of the kidnapped cookies. Using essential science skills, participants will analyze and identify various substances, including powders and solutions, employing chromatography analysis to unravel the details of the crime.

Guided by the principles of real-life spies and detectives, students will learn how to examine clues left at the crime scene. The session introduces forensic science, demonstrating how scientific methods and processes can be applied to solving crimes. Together, we'll crack the case and discover who stole the cookies, fostering an appreciation for the exciting world of forensic investigation. Get ready to channel your inner detective and unravel the sweetest mystery of all!

Jennifer Borst earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Keene State College in 1996. She completed a Master of Science in Instructional Technology at Western Connecticut State University in 2008, and received Certificates of Advanced Study in School Building Leadership and School District Leadership from the College of St. Rose in 2020. Jennifer holds New York State Permanent Certification in Elementary Education (Pre-K–6) and certifications in School Building and District Leadership.

She began her career in education in 1997 and currently serves as the STEAM and Educational Technology Teacher for Kindergarten through Grade 5 at Mahopac Central School District. In this role, Jennifer develops and delivers STEAM curriculum, provides technology support and training, and leads school-wide initiatives. She organizes an annual student-led STEAM Day for all students in grades K-4, coordinated by fifth graders. She also enjoys teaching afterschool technology and STEAM workshops for the Parent Teacher Organization.

Jennifer was a member of the first LHRIC Computer Science/STEAM Academy Instructional Cohort and is an active participant in a dynamic STEAM collegial circle, collaborating with peers and sharing resources to promote creativity and lifelong learning. She received the Outstanding Service Award (2013) and Excellence in Education Award (2011) for her dedication and innovative teaching. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Chalkboard Slime & the Science of Forgiveness

Get ready for a hands-on STEAM experiment where we’ll mix up chalkboard slime—a stretchy, squishy, and writable surface! After creating our slime, we’ll use chalkboard markers to decorate, doodle, and even write messages on it. Just like we can erase the writing on our slime, forgiveness allows us to “wipe away” anger, hurt, and resentment, making room for healing and kindness.

Through this experiment, we’ll explore the science of polymers while also reflecting on how letting go of negativity can help us mend relationships and find inner peace. Forgiveness is a powerful way to take care of ourselves and others—just like experimenting with slime, it’s a process that can sometimes be messy but always leads to something amazing!