Saturday Academy

How do Science, Technology, and Engineering intersect to address global challenges?

This was our topic of conversation for ASE’s second Lunch & Learn of the summer! We were joined by Dr. Sam Cheng, WWF's Global Lead Scientist for Impact and Evidence, and Justine Pendergraft, ASE Alum and recent UCLA graduate.

Sam completed her B.S. at Scripps College in 2009 and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA in 2015. She has extensive experience partnering with government agencies, conservation non-profits, multilateral institutions, and foundations to systematically evaluate the impact of conservation on ecological and social outcomes and identify key insights to guide policy, practice, and research.

Meanwhile, Justine graduated from UCLA in 2025 having majored in Computer Engineering, with a minor in Conservation Biology. She was a member of Prof. Elsa Ordway's Forest Ecosystems and Global Change Lab, where she helped write scripts to analyze geospatial data. In 2024, she interned at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where she conducted a feasibility study on the usage of aerial hyperspectral imagery to detect the presence of oak-boring beetles in the Santa Clarita valley. Next she will be pursuing a Master’s in Electrical Engineering at University of Michigan.

Together they shared their career journeys, with a focus on how engineering and technology are harnessed for conservation purposes.

Calling all young makers, grades 1-12! Applications for the Makers Market are open, and it's free to apply or be a vendor.

Thank you to everyone who has applied already. It's been a joy seeing what you're creating and we can't wait to see it showcased. Remember to apply by July 15 for best consideration. Applications are open until July 31.

Learn more and apply here: bit.ly/SA-Makers-Market

'26 ASE Logo Reveal…. 👀

This year’s design is by Jan M from Grant High School, an ASE apprentice in the “Understanding the Power of Algorithms Via Query Complexity” apprenticeship at PSU.

We’ll be block printing this logo onto canvas tote bags at our ASE Midsummer Conference this Thursday, July 16 at Reed College. Students are also invited to bring in personal items to block print on, in addition to the canvas bags!

PLUS: We'll be joined by ASE alum, who will participate in a panel discussion on how ASE influenced their career paths, and lead hands-on activities and workshops. And if that's not enough, we'll also be touring the Reed College campus and participate in a Q&A on what makes a strong college application.

Photos coming soon ✨