Career Exploration Series

What is this webinar about? During this webinar, we’ll discuss and prepare for a solar eclipse! An eclipse is an astronomical event when one celestial body passes in front of another, partially, or fully blocking it. On Monday April 8th, 2024, the moon will move in front of the sun providing a partial eclipse for many and a rare, total eclipse for those in the path of totality.

What will students learn? Students will learn what to expect during this eclipse based on their viewing locations. Students will also learn how astronomers use eclipses to learn about other objects such as distant planets, stars and white dwarfs.

Why should students participate? Each participating student will be provided with a free pair of solar glasses to use during the eclipse event. This webinar is a great opportunity to meet other deaf and hard-of-hearing students who are interested in astronomy, and experience an eclipse together!

What careers might this webinar lead to? Astronomer/astrophysicist, Space Exploration, Physicist, Scientist, NASA, SpaceX, any data driven and critical thinking career.

What is this webinar about? Learning about animation and storytelling through illustrations in sequence using FlipaClip, a free frame-by-frame animated drawing software app available for mobile, tablet, and PC (windows only).

What will students learn? Students will learn a bit about the history, principles, and fundamentals of animation, and how technology has allowed photography to evolve to 3D motion pictures that we see in film today. Students will also learn how to tell their own illustrated stories through frame-by-frame imagery.

Why should students participate? To learn and continue growing and expanding their creative skills in drawing, structure, and/or storytelling using technology that enhances the experience of a traditional flip book. For non-creatives, tips will be shared related to how this creative app can be used as a tool in other industries such as business, education, and non-verbal communication needs.

What careers might this webinar lead to? Illustration, Story Artist, Animation, Motion Graphics, Visual Media, Education, Film

What is this webinar about? Tubes, squares, beams and other shapes are specially designed. For example, when you drive under a bridge, the steel holding it up is in the shape of a long capital “I.” Why is that? Why are trees usually round? Bird bones are hollow inside, why don’t they break?

What will students learn? Concepts of moment of inertia and how it relates to stiffness and strength. We will also show how these concepts are important for popcorn growing!

Why should students participate? To understand the connection between designed and natural structural shapes, and to learn how we can predict the strength of a component to safely design vehicles, planes, buildings, chairs, tables, and much more!

What careers might this webinar lead to? These concepts are important for any job where a person will be designing or building parts that they don’t want to break! Some engineering and design jobs areas would include Mechanical, Civil, Sports Equipment, Construction, Biological, Aerospace, Naval, Robotics, etc.

What is this webinar about? No matter how often we use ASL in our lives, do we fully understand ASL as a language? Did you know ASL has its own rules and specific structure? Learn why ASL is a unique language.

What will students learn? Students will learn how ASL is viewed as a language and how signs are accepted. Learn about how signs have evolved and become agreed upon in the Deaf community.

Why should students participate? Students will have an opportunity to own their language and be creative with their signs. Knowing ASL has its benefits and can lead to a variety of different careers.

What careers might this webinar lead to? ASL Educator, Certified Deaf Interpreter, ASL Consultant, ASL Specialist, Actor/Actress using ASL, ASL Storyteller, Language Advocate, ASL Mentor, ASL Assessor, ASL Researcher.

What is this webinar about?
Are you fascinated with the stars and outer space? Curious about how humans can send robots into space and control them from Earth? This webinar will investigate aerospace engineering.

What will students learn?
Students will learn about aerospace, data collection, mechanical engineering, and learn how it all comes together in space using robots.

Why should students participate?
Students will receive a kit and will be building their own Bluetooth-controlled robots with guidance from our presenter.

What careers might this webinar lead to?
Mechanical engineers, machinery manufacturing, Aerospace engineers, and Robotics.

What is this webinar about?
In this webinar, we discuss leadership skills that are applicable to diverse fields such as business, education, healthcare, non-profit organizations, government, and the arts. Leaders empower others, make decisions, set goals, and inspire change.

What will students learn?
Students will have the opportunity to learn about leadership styles, deaf leaders in the world, and explore various styles of leadership.

Why should students participate?
Empower students and motivate them to become leaders in clubs, schools, youth organizations, and other areas, ultimately helping them achieve success.

What careers might this webinar lead to?
Project manager, strategic planner, management consultant, political advisor, entrepreneur, and healthcare administrator.

What is this webinar about?
This webinar dives into what an engineer does every day. Curious about the different types of engineers out there? This webinar is a perfect fit for you!

What will students learn?
Student will learn how engineers apply skills like investigation, experimentation, and problem-solving to uncover revolutionary ideas and solutions that shape our world.

Why should students participate?
Students will delve into the exciting field of engineering and participate in hands-on activities that provide them with a chance to engage in a practical exploration of engineering.

What careers might this webinar lead to?
Mechanical engineer, civil engineer, and manufacturing.

What is this webinar about?
This webinar is all about the brain – how your cells work and how the brain functions. During this webinar, we’ll build a model of a brain together!

What will students learn?
Students will learn about neuroscience and brain anatomy using clay.

Why should students participate?
Students will receive a kit to build a brain model, and learn how the brain operates. As we build the brain model together, we understand the way our mind functions!

What careers might this webinar lead to?
Research assistant, neurologist, laboratory technician, scientist, psychologist, veterinarian, neurosurgeon, health educator, and psychiatrist.

What is this webinar about? STEM professionals often work in collaborative and dynamic team environment to tackle complex problems and generate new ideas. Teamwork can be stressful and frustrating when people bring different ideas and perspective to the group.

What will students learn? Students will learn various strategies for effective communication and managing stress to improve collaboration in a dynamic team environment.

Why should students participate? Students will explore STEM careers in human-centered workplaces.

What careers might this webinar lead to? Computer Support Specialists, Medical Social Workers, Research and Development specialists, Psychologists.

What is this webinar about? A circuit is a closed loop where electrons travel. A circuit provides a source of electricity and allows our appliances to provide light or heat or mechanical energy.

What will students learn? How to use a circuit loop to make mechanical objects move around or light up. How to create a pathway for electricity to move and carry electricity.

Why should students participate? Students will explore mechanical engineering careers and learn how to use circuits to make electricity for their toy cars or robots.

What careers might this webinar lead to? Mechanical engineers, Machinery Manufacturing, Aerospace engineers, Robotics.

What is this webinar about? If you have seen fireflies during the summer, you might be wondering how they make their bodies glow at night. Chemiluminescence is a result of a chemical reaction that creates an emission of light.

What will students learn? How chemiluminescence can be used to detect air impurities or poisons in the air. How deep sea creatures and bacteria use bioluminescence to communicate. Chemiluminescence can be found everywhere around us, even in light sabers.

Why should students participate? Students will learn how to use their kit to create their own cool blue light through chemical reactions.

What careers might this webinar lead to? Chemists, Pharmaceutical specialists, Laboratory technicians, Biotechnologists.

What is this webinar about? In theatre and performing arts, the stage is where the performance happen. Scenic technologies, like projectors and stage lights, help transform the scene from a blank canvas to an exciting adventure.

What will students learn? How to create an interactive theatre using optical technology. How math and science are used in staging productions. What does stagecraft mean?

Why should students participate? Students will be able to create their own projectors to transform their space or create large scale scenic backgrounds.

What careers might this webinar lead to? Stage and Production Managers, Technical Director, Light Technician, Production Assistant

What is it about? Museums and art galleries are a critical part of preserving and displaying our cultural history. Art / Museum Curators are tasked with curating, designing, and arranging galleries.

What will students learn? Students will visit NTID’s Dyer Arts Gallery and learn about Dyer’s operations. What type of work is required to design and put up exhibits? Are curators more artists or event managers?

Why should they participate? Students will be tasked in groups to design and build a sculpture. Flex your creative muscles to create!

What careers might it lead to? Curators, Artists, Project Mangers, Event Managers

What is it about? We’ve all seen CSI and movie characters lift fingerprints off surfaces. Forensic science is the analysis of scientific evidence from crime scenes

What will students learn? What is the science behind human fingerprints, and why are no two fingerprints the same? How do forensic scientists work with fingerprints to solve crimes?

Why should they participate? Students will receive a fingerprinting kit, and will learn what the difference is between loops, whorls, and arches.

What careers might it lead to? Forensic Science, Fingerprint Analysis, Crime Scene Technicians, Laboratory Analysts

What is it about? We are surrounded by buildings. Each and every one of those buildings holds an immense amount of weight- how do they not fall down!? Architecture is the art / science of designing buildings.

What will students learn? What is the process of designing a building? How do architects design blueprints? How do the world’s tallest buildings not fall down?

Why should they participate? Students will receive an architecture / engineering kit to assemble with guidance from our presenter.

What careers might it lead to? Architecture, Civil Engineering, CAD Technicians, Drafters, Surveyors

What is it about? Look around your house and classroom. How many gadgets or cars are new in the past 20 years? Innovation is one of the cornerstones of our society, and pushes human advancement forwards.

What will students learn? How do innovators ‘innovate?’ How do you develop your short idea into a full-fledged business plan or pitch? Who are some successful Deaf / Hard-of-Hearing innovators?

Why should they participate? Are you considering joining RIT/NTID’s Next Big Idea Competition—High School version or do you aspire to start your own business? Students will receive a kit with relevant materials!

What careers might it lead to? Business, Sales, Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing

What is it about? Curious to see what is inside the human body? Follow along with a sonographer as they identify some of the basic organs visible via ultrasound.

What will students learn? How does ultrasound work? Where do we use ultrasound? Why is a sonographer important and what is their role in keeping us healthy?

Why should they participate? Students will receive a human anatomy model to keep. Refer to this model when studying for your biology quizzes!

What careers might it lead to? Sonographer / Ultrasound Technician, Nurse, MRI/X-Ray/CT Technologist, Nuclear Medicine, Laboratory Technician

What is it about? Why do we dislike bitter foods? What is taste blindness? How do we utilize laboratory techniques and genetics to assess taste-blindness? This webinar will provide an answer to these questions and more!

What will students learn? PTC (Phenylthiocarbamide) is a chemical, which based on your genes, either tastes very bitter or is tasteless. Students will learn if they are a PTC taster, the basics of the genetics surrounding the topic, and a common laboratory technique utilized to visualize taster and non-taster genetics.

Why should they participate? Students will receive a PTC taster test that will imitate an example of how a scientist might analyze taster genetics. Additionally, students will gain insight into a program offered at RIT that provides STEM-oriented opportunities to deaf and hard-of-hearing scholars.

What is this webinar about? Stories are all about connecting with the audience through characters. In this webinar, we will explore how to create a superhero character through storytelling and drawing. Learn about the different roles it takes to create interesting characters and fun stories from scratch, as well as the process to transform the story into a character drawing.

What will students learn? What does the creative design & story development process look like? How do you adapt a textual script to a visual character? What steps or individual jobs are involved in this process? What are some good drawing tips?

Why should students participate? Students will receive color markers, their own script template, & a superhero template. Develop your own story with a superhero to post up on your bedroom wall! Flex your storytelling or drawing skills with this hands-on creative challenge. This challenges the students to think creatively with purpose and intent through entertaining exposure to professional story and character development. They get to be the masters of their own stories-- instead of experiencing someone else’s or having to work on someone else’s vision -- this is practice in creating a story/character of your own making.

What careers might this webinar lead to? Illustration, Graphic Design, Animation, Video Game Design, Storytelling in any form (graphic novels, comics, film, digital, TV, video games, etc.), Filmmaking, Producing, Directing, and Writing.

What is this webinar about? Athletes don’t do it all by themselves. Many individuals are involved in supporting a student athlete’s life, and much science is involved in ensuring the human body is well-trained.

What will students learn? What does exercise science mean? What types of careers can people interested in athletics enter? How does a student athlete balance their time?

Why should students participate? Students will receive resistance bands and basic training on how to utilize the resistance bands. Bring the bands home to stay in shape!

What careers does this webinar relate to? Exercise Science, Athletic Trainers, Personal Trainers, Nutritionists, Sports Management

What is this webinar about? Printmaking has been used by humans for thousands of years. You probably see posters, cards, or other items created by printmaking every week.

What will students learn? Types of printmaking used in today’s world, and how to create art or designs through printmaking

Why should students participate? Students will receive a printmaking kit and create a print with the guidance of the instructor.

What’s interesting about it? This is just the beginning! Students can continue to create prints at home or school with the kit we will provide.

What careers does this webinar relate to? Printmaking, Graphic Design, Art Education

What is this webinar about? Many people say Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are the future of video gaming and learning. This webinar will reveal the difference between the two.

What will students learn? The difference between Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, and where VR/AR is heading in the future.

Why should students participate? Students will receive a VR/AR kit. With the use of a smart phone, students will view worlds in VR and items in AR with the guidance of the instructor.

What’s interesting about it? You can explore any world or map in 3-D via the VR kit! The kit is yours to keep and experiment with after the presentation!

What careers does this webinar relate to? Film/Animation, Computer Science, Game Design & Development

What is this webinar about? Entrepreneurship continues to be one of the foundations of our economy. Many entrepreneurs begin by giving business pitches to investors.  

What will students learn? What are the fundamentals behind a business pitch? What tools can you use to convince investors to invest in your business?

Why should students participate? Are you considering joining RIT/NTID’s Next Big Idea Competition—High School version or do you aspire to start your own business? Students will receive a kit with relevant materials! 

What’s interesting about it? This presentation will help you prepare for NTID’s Next Big Idea competition where high school students compete for prizes!

What careers does this webinar relate to? Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Marketing

What is this webinar about? Maker Spaces are becoming popular incubators for innovators and DIY-ers. Gain new skills in STEM. 

What will students learn? How can you begin to create Maker Space projects at home? What resources are available to help you get started?

Why should students participate? Students will receive a Maker Space kit. Deaf Kids Code will share how to ‘hack’ this kit to bring your ideas to life.

What’s interesting about it? You have the freedom to create, tinker, and make an invention of your own! The kit is yours to keep and experiment with after the presentation.

What careers does this webinar relate to? Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, Engineering

Sponsored by Deaf Kids Code

What is this webinar about? Bacteria are invisible parts of our lives daily- about 1.5 trillion bacteria live on our skin. That’s 1,500,000,000,000!  

What will students learn? How much bacteria lives on your hands before and after washing? What about on your phone?

Why should students participate? Students will receive a Bacteria Introduction Kit and will be able to test common household surfaces for bacteria.

What’s interesting about it? Have you ever seen bacteria grow before? Now you will! And you will understand why hand washing is important!

What careers does this webinar relate to? Health Science, Lab Science, Biology

What is this webinar about? What happens every day around you without you knowing? Chemical reactions!  

What will students learn? What are the basics of chemistry? What are some common chemical reactions in today’s world?

Why should students participate? Students will receive a Chemistry kit and will re-create chemical reactions at home.

What’s interesting about it? The Chemistry kit is yours to keep! There will be more experiments for you to complete on your own time.

What careers does this webinar relate to? Chemistry, Lab Science, Pharmacology