Story of Impact

The Academy Goes to the Movies to Advance Science

The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) partnered with MacGillivray Freeman Films to bring science, technology, and the wonders of the human body to students around New York City.

Published May 28, 2025

By Jennifer Atkinson
Program Administrator

The movie poster for “Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels.”

Hundreds of eyes watched eagerly, shaded by 3D glasses, as simulated blood flowed through arteries, its race through the human body flying off screen. The students were transfixed, watching from each seat in a sold-out IMAX theater as “Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels” flashed before them. The screening was part of a series in a city-wide initiative occurring February through May, to connect school children with working scientists and to use the film to engage with STEM education.

Staff from the Academy’s Education and Operations teams travelled to the boroughs of Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx to facilitate screenings of the film. Mentor scientists, who are part of the Academy’s vast network of STEM mentorship programs, were present to discuss the film and encourage students to ask questions about the subject matter.

The film, produced by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers MacGillivray Freeman Films, covers innovations in medical science and biotechnologies and follows several stories about people who have faced serious illnesses such as cancer. Showcased in the film are the various technologies and treatments working in tandem with human biological processes. One narrative features a non-surgical procedure called TAVR where a person with heart disease is treated with an artificial heart valve replacement without invasive open-heart surgery. Also featured are a revolutionary T-Cell immunotherapy treatment utilized to re-engineer how the body fights leukemia, robotics used in medicine to help children with mobility issues, the life-changing benefits of cataract surgery, and bionic limbs or prosthetics that help amputees live life to the fullest.

Promoting Scientific Interest and Critical Thinking

Using a child-friendly perspective, the film allows young audiences to understand the depth and complicated implementation of the featured scientific research and technologies. It covers each story in digestible bursts while integrating the hard science and verbiage behind its subject matter – featuring key learnings through CGI depictions of biological processes, such as blood flowing through arteries or images of muscles and tendons.

This provides an invaluable learning tool for students of all ages to engage with material that promotes scientific interest and critical thinking. The film has also served as the first time some have encountered subject matter like blood in an educational and cinematic aspect, which has helped them to overcome their apprehensions of these subjects and instead, develop a curiosity or appreciation for them.

After each screening, scientists addressed the students and answered their questions in classic cinematic style, sitting in director’s chairs. In these question-and-answer sessions, students were fascinated by the content of the film and many of them asked questions specifically about cancer, its origins, and its impacts. Many students were also captivated by the type of work the mentor scientists do. At every screening, the question, “What inspired you to become a scientist?” was asked.

This gave the scientists the opportunity to reflect on their own passions for their work while instilling curiosity in the next generation. The scientists were also given questions to prompt the students and engage them with topics regarding the human body or even discussions about robots and if they would make a good friend.

“Science is for everyone”

The event included a question-and-answer session with practicing scientists.

The scientists recalled their widely varied expertise in life sciences, ranging from cancer research and medicine, to marine biology, chemistry, and neuroscience, which complemented the content of the film. The whole experience provided a unique context and exposure to a variety of scientific mediums, providing students with inspiration for future careers in STEM.

“The students were so appreciative of the scientists spending time with them that some even asked for autographs,” said Lori Rick, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at MacGillivray Freeman Films. “The arts and sciences have always complemented each other, and by pairing them together, can create highly experiential, impactful learning tools to impart inspiration and wisdom to the next generation of STEM change makers.”

At the last IMAX screening, one of the mentor scientists wore a shirt that featured the slogan in bubble letter text, “Science is for everyone.” Her partner mentor repeated this phrase as a rallying call to the students, until all were saying it in a cheerful chant. This effort with McGillivray Freeman Films, bringing Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels to students who otherwise may not have had access to this film, embodies that statement.

“It does not matter whether you are old, young, a Nobel-prize winner or a student with a passion; science impacts every aspect of our lives—from working in a research laboratory to watching the silver screen. Science brings about connection and a deeper understanding of ourselves,” said Meghan Groome, PhD, Senior Vice President of Education for the Academy. “Science is truly, for everyone.”

This screening program was offered by MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences and made possible by the generous support of Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst.

The Last Strand

Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Fall 2024 “Upcycling & Waste Management”

Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA)

Published May 16, 2025

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Team members: Vedeesh B. (Team Lead) (India), Livia G. (Sweden), Muhammad Q. (New Jersey, United States), Syed R. (Florida, United States)

Mentor: Christine Yu (Hong Kong)

Our world’s growing waste problem is largely driven by the production and disposal of short-lived products, creating a “use-and-dispose” culture. The mass manufacturing of new products consumes significant resources such as raw materials, water, and energy while generating greenhouse gasses, chemical emissions, and other pollutants. Even when products are recycled, the costs remain high due to the energy and processes needed for collection, sorting, and recycling. As a Fall 2024 Innovation Challenge, students were tasked with designing a solution to reduce waste generation by encouraging long-term product use and taking into account product design, business model, and societal behaviors.

Two Overlooked Sources of Pollution

This international team of high-school students collaborated online to address two sources of waste and pollution that are often overlooked: human hair and chicken feathers. Through their research, the Junior Academy challenge participants discovered that every year, hair salons and barbershops worldwide discard 300,000 tons of human hair while the poultry industry generates four billion kilograms of feathers. When discarded in landfills, hair releases methane, a gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, while incineration of these waste products directly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and increases CO2 levels. Yet both these materials are rich in keratin and offer largely untapped resources.

The students’ solution, The Last Strand, focuses on the considerable potential for upcycling hair and feathers by turning the rich biological elements they contain into high-quality, bio-derived amino acids supplements. “With our mentor Christine’s help, I developed better research techniques and uncovered valuable studies, allowing me to contribute more effectively to the project,” says team lead Vedeesh, who says he also honed his leadership skills in the course of this challenge.“ This process also deepened my understanding of genetic modification and the structure of human hair, concepts that were entirely new to me before this experience.”

The Growing Demand for Dietary Supplements

The team initiative responds to the growing demand for dietary supplements, particularly Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCCAs), which are beneficial not only for athletes but also people who suffer from a decreased immune system, digestive problems, and various other health issues. In addition, it supports a circular economy that simultaneously reduces waste and turns discarded materials into a valuable resource. “At the core of this whole project lies the extraction of keratinases from hair, which combines, in beautiful ways, the precision of science with the principles of sustainability, and weaves together a powerful story of innovation and resourcefulness,” says team member Muhammad. “Hair is not a life byproduct, but a strong and intricate structure fully packed with keratin, one of those proteins which have great industrial and biological applications.”

The students outlined a process that first involves the collection of protein-rich hair and feathers from hair salons and poultry farms, and cleaning them to remove oils, dirt, and other contaminants. The next steps entail the use of sodium sulfide and enzymatic hydrolysis to break down the keratin and convert it into amino acids. Advanced filtration techniques are then employed to purify and separate essential amino acids like leucine, isoleucine, and valine before drying them. The method identified by the students proved cost-effective, potentially reducing the production cost of amino acid supplements by 50% and setup costs by up to 90% compared to existing systems, while the resulting products could be sold between $25 and $75 per kilogram, therefore offering a competitive alternative to current production systems. In addition, the team members also found that their process generates valuable byproducts, such as lipids, which could also be sold to industries like soap manufacturing. This could further offset costs and enhance the project’s sustainability.

A Transformative Approach to a Global Waste Problem

“During this challenge and through our research I didn’t only learn about the technicalities of turning discarded hair into supplements, I also learned a lot about production costs, formulating a budget, and more,” says Livia. “I was also positively surprised by the receptiveness of the stakeholders in Florida. My fantastic teammate, Syed, was able to reach out to almost 15 hair salons in his local Florida and their impact was incredibly valuable to our project.” In addition, Syed reached out to 15 poultry farms in his state, who responded positively to the students’ project and declared their willingness to contribute to such an effort. Through these stakeholders, the project could collect approximately 30 tons of keratin waste monthly from local areas.

“From the initial brainstorming sessions to collaborating with teammates and our mentor, every step was a unique learning experience. I contributed by leveraging my background in (gene technology) CRISPR and gene editing to understand and refine the chemical and enzymatic processes for amino acid extraction,” says teammate Syed. “Engaging with stakeholders in Florida gave me a deeper appreciation for how science can drive real-world change. Most importantly, I’m proud of how we came together as a team to create something impactful, combining our strengths to address a critical global issue.”

The team members believe their solution could be fully implemented within five years. They are proud to have developed a project that promotes scientific innovation and sustainability. Their solution offers a transformative approach to a global waste problem that also contributes to human health and economic resilience.

Learn more about the Junior Academy.

Upgrading the Hydraulic System

Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Fall 2024 “Remediation in South Brooklyn”

Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences and Empire Wind 1

Published May 16, 2025

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Team members: Cameron A. (Team Lead) (New York, United States), Ohee S. (New York, United States), Cindy W. (New York, United States), Ankea C. (New York, United States), Ayten A. (New York, United States), Annika C. (New York, United States)

Mentor: Xiwei Huang (New York, United States)

As part of its climate strategy to reach a fully renewable electricity grid by 2040, New York City is turning to offshore wind energy. However, the development of offshore wind structures present environmental and community challenges, including construction noise, air pollution, and marine disruption. As a Fall 2024 Innovation Challenge, the Junior Academy offered its New York City based students the opportunity to tackle these problems by designing solutions to remediate the impacts of offshore wind development, focusing on land and water preparation.

This team, composed of six high school students from New York, won the Junior Academy challenge on Remediation in South Brooklyn with a project to upgrade the hydraulic systems in the South Brooklyn port area. The students considered that, as the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal undergoes reconstruction, effective stormwater management will be crucial to manage stormwater and prevent flooding, block debris and pollutants from reaching the water, and protect the surrounding environment.

Current Issues that Impact South Brooklyn’s Water Systems

Team members had lengthy discussions while selecting the problem they wanted to tackle and developing their solution. “Respect and inclusivity were a big part of our success. We found that discussing our differences and voting on decisions helped keep things fair and balanced,” explains Ayten, one of the team members. “This project also changed the way I approach challenges. It taught me to think like an engineer focusing on finding solutions instead of getting discouraged by obstacles.” The team explored the hypothesis that integrating a scaled-up version of advanced filtration technologies into the existing sewer infrastructure would significantly enhance the hydraulic system’s effectiveness.

“Through my research I have learned more about hydraulic systems and the current issues that impact South Brooklyn’s water systems. Hydraulic separators are a type of stormwater management system used to ensure fresh water enters bodies of water without pollutants, similar to the function of water filters,” explains teammate Cindy. “Brooklyn’s hydraulic systems are in need of an upgrade to ensure that the port can have a fully functional vessel transportation system. For this the waters must be clear of debris.”

Designing a Filtration System

Their project focused on designing a filtration system prototype on CAD Fusion 360 (Computer-Aided Design) and then using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to test the prototype. “This project has strengthened my belief in teamwork and the importance of improving New York City’s old infrastructure,” explains team member Ankea. “One of my favorite aspects of this project was the opportunity to improve my CAD skills. I already had basic knowledge of CAD software like Onshape and Fusion but this project allowed me to learn more about CAD, especially computational fluid dynamics, from my peers and I was able to apply these new skills to my personal projects.”

The students developed a dual hydraulic separator system, consisting of two connected units, to address the specific filtration challenges posed by the unpredictable weather conditions typical of New York City. The primary separator operates under normal conditions and provides basic filtration, while the secondary separator is larger and designed to handle heavy runoff water during storm events. A sensor-controlled gate between the two detects water flow and automatically opens when high pressure is detected. In emergencies, the gate can also be operated manually.

The team equipped the two separators with advanced filtration systems to remove sediments, oil, debris and other pollutants before they enter the water. When they tested their solution, the team discovered that a filtration system with multiple small holes was more efficient than one with a single large hole. Not only was it able to filter out more debris but it also allowed for a faster flow of water, which is crucial during extreme weather events. Their aim was also to improve efficiency and reduce the need for frequent system maintenance, therefore optimizing performance while also cutting costs.

Breaking Down Complex Problems

“One significant takeaway from this experience is that solving complicated problems requires dissecting them into more manageable, connected tasks,” explains Bronx-resident Ohee. “Even though we focused on hydraulic system optimization, our work was part of a larger plan to restore the port as a hub for trade and transit. A solution that strikes a balance between environmental and human interests was shaped in large part by important variables including marine habitats, the demands of the local people, and the system’s sustainability.”

During the intense period they spent working together, the team members acquired new skills and a better understanding of teamwork. They also developed a new perspective on urban challenges. Among the major insights team member Annika gained through this challenge was “the broader implications of water treatment systems like hydraulic separators. These technologies extend beyond simply cleaning water—they prevent chemical runoff, safeguard marine ecosystems, and contribute to sustainable urban development,” she said. “Addressing New York City’s history of environmental challenges with innovative solutions is vital for both the city’s residents and its ecological future.”

Team lead Cameron felt that collaborating with the other participants on this challenge would help him in the future. “Working with my team over the last few months has allowed me to look at things from a new, more creative angle,” he said. “Being able to work on this project has been such a unique experience. I feel better prepared for when I start doing real research.”

Learn more about the Junior Academy.

fAIrify – Reducing BIAS in AI Models

Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Fall 2024 “Ethical AI”

Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences

Published May 16, 2025

By Nicole Pope
Academy Education Contributor

Team members: Emma L. (Team Lead) (New Jersey, United States), Shubh J. (California, United States), Darren C. (New York, United States), Aradhana S. (Pennsylvania, United States), Shreshtha B. (Kuwait), Jemali D. (New York, United States)

Mentor: Abdul Rauf (Pakistan)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evermore present in our lives and affects decision-making in government agencies, corporations, and small businesses. While the technology brings numerous opportunities to enhance productivity and pushes the boundaries of research, predictive AI models have been trained on data sets that contain historical data. As a result, they risk perpetuating and amplifying bias, putting groups who have traditionally been marginalized and underrepresented at a disadvantage.

Taking up the challenge of making AI more ethical and preventing the technology from harming vulnerable and underrepresented groups, this winning United States and Kuwait based team sought ways to identify and correct the inherent bias contained in large language models (LLM). “[The Ethical AI Innovation Challenge] helped me realize the true impact of bias in our society today, especially as predictive AI devices continue to expand their usage and importance,” acknowledged team lead Emma, from New Jersey. “As we transition into a future of increased AI utilization, it becomes all the more important that the AI being used is ethical and doesn’t place anyone at an unjustified disadvantage.”

The team conducted a thorough literature review and interviewed AI experts before devising their solution. In the course of their research, they came across real-life examples of the adverse effects of AI bias, such as an AI healthcare tool that recommended further treatment for white patients, but not for patients of color with the same ailments; a hiring model that contained gender bias, limiting opportunities for women; and a tool used to predict recidivism that incorrectly classified Black defendants as “high-risk” at nearly twice the rate it did for white defendants.

AI Bias

Team member Shreshthafrom Kuwait said she was aware of AI bias but “through each article I read, each interview I conducted, and each conversation I had with my teammates, my eyes opened to the topic further. This made me even keener on trying to find a solution to the issue.” She added that as the only team member who was based outside of the USA, “I ended up learning a lot from my teammates and their style of approaching a problem. We all may have had the same endpoint but we all had different routes in achieving our goal.”

The students came together regularly across time zones for intense working sessions to come up with a workable solution, with support from their mentor. “While working on this, I learned that my team shared one quality in common – that we are all committed to making a change,” explained teammate Shubh. “We had all unique skills, be it management, coding, design, etc., but we collaborated to form a sustainable solution that can be used by all.” In the end, the team decided to develop a customizable add-on tool that can be embedded in Google Sheets, a commonly used spreadsheet application.

The students wanted their tool, developed with Python programming, to provide cutting-edge bias detection while also being user friendly. “A key takeaway for me was realizing that addressing AI bias requires a balanced approach that combines technical fixes with ethical considerations—augmenting datasets while engaging directly with underrepresented groups,” stated New York-based teammate Darren, who initially researched and produced a survey while his teammates worked on an algorithm that could identify potential bias within a dataset.

More Ethical AI

The resulting add-on, which can be modified to fit any set of training data, utilizes complex statistical analysis to detect if AI training data is likely to be biased. The challenge participants also paired the add-on with an iOS app they created in UI/UX language and Swift, which gives users suggestions on how to customize the add-on for their specific data sets. The students were able to test their tool on a job applicant dataset provided by a company that chose to remain anonymous.

“By using an actual dataset from a company and analyzing it through our add-on, I was shocked to see that there could be gender bias if an AI model were trained on that dataset,” said team member Aradhana. “This experience highlighted how AI can continue societal discrimination against women.” The enterprising team members were able to refine and improve their solution further after conducting a survey and receiving feedback from 85 individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Members of the winning team believe addressing AI bias is critical to mitigate the risk of adverse impacts and build trust in the technology. They hope their solution will spearhead efforts to address bias on a larger scale and promote future, more ethical AI. Summing up, team member Jemali explained that the project “significantly deepened my insights into the implications of AI bias and the pivotal role that we, as innovators, play in ensuring technology benefits all individuals.”

Learn more about the Junior Academy.

Bringing Science to Life with Artificial Intelligence

NYC teachers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to transform STEM education. The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) is supporting this effort.

Published May 14, 2025

By Meghan Groome, PhD
Senior Vice President, Education

Image courtesy of shevchukandrey via stock.adobe.com.

Since 2012, The New York Academy of Sciences’ Scientist-in-Residence (SiR) program has paired STEM professionals with public school teachers across New York City to co-design and lead inquiry-based projects in the classroom. Created in partnership with the NYC Department of Education, the program brings authentic, hands-on science learning to students from grades 3 through 12.

For the 2024–2025 school year, SiR is serving 50 classrooms across the five boroughs as well as five classrooms in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The program engages a diverse range of schools—80% Title I—and spans disciplines from biology and chemistry to physics and computer science. The teachers and their scientist partners are transforming the way science is taught and experienced, one classroom at a time.

This year, with support from pilot funding, the Academy launched a new initiative to explore how GenAI tools can elevate classroom projects. Through dedicated workshops, expert coaching, and a “sandbox” where educators can try out new tools, teachers began integrating AI into their existing projects, not for efficiency, but for enhancement. Rather than using AI to automate grading or lesson planning, teachers used it to elevate students’ engagement and understanding.

Tools and Trends from the AI in Classrooms Pilot

1. Elevation over Efficiency

Teachers are not turning to AI to save time—they’re using it to go deeper. By integrating AI into content-specific teaching, educators are enhancing students’ conceptual understanding and critical thinking. One physics class compared AI-generated simulations to actual physical laws, exploring both scientific accuracy and technological limitations.

2. Word of Mouth Matters

The most effective tool adoption happens through trusted networks. Our teacher working group acts as a grassroots recommendation engine. When a tool proves successful in one classroom, it’s shared, tested, and scaled by others.

3. Accessibility and Advocacy

Because many AI tools require approval at the school or district level, teachers are learning how to advocate for access. They share success stories and “tips and tricks” to help one another navigate approval processes—critical as federal AI-in-education guidance and local policies evolve.

4. Ethics as a First Filter

Teachers weigh tools through ethical lenses—considering intellectual property, bias in training data, and environmental impact—often mirroring their students’ own concerns. In the Academy’s high school programs, students consistently prioritize ethical considerations over convenience, a trend echoed by their teachers.

5. Data Analysis is a Gateway

Teachers working with large data sets—from air quality sensors to robot logs—are exploring AI-enabled data visualization tools like Tableau Public, PowerBI, and Google Colab (though the latter is difficult to use in-school). Even simple tools like Google Sheets + Explore are making an impact.

6. Image Analysis Expands Possibilities

From observing plant growth to studying telescope images, teachers are excited by how AI can quantify what once required hours of manual observation. Tools like NASA’s public image analysis platforms, QuPath, and Phyphox are transforming how visual data supports experimentation.

As the Scientist-in-Residence program evolves, it’s clear that NYC teachers are not just ready for the future of education—they’re building it. By fostering innovation, collaboration, and ethical engagement with AI, they’re giving their students the tools—and the inspiration—to become the next generation of scientific leaders.

Learn more about the Academy’s Scientist-in-Residence program.

Recognizing the STEM Teacher and Mentor of the Year

This year’s award-winning teacher-mentor duo has been inspiring young minds and promoting STEM education for three years. They were recently honored by The New York Academy of Sciences for their work.

Published April 30, 2025

By Brooke Elliott
Education Communications Intern

Megan C. Henriquez (left) and Brittany Beck pose with their awards during the Spring Soirée hosted at the University Club of New York on April 22, 2025.

The New York Academy of Sciences’ (the Academy’s) Scientist-in-Residence (SiR) program was proud to announce this year’s STEM Teacher of the Year: Brittany Beck, biology teacher at the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology; and Mentor of the Year: Megan C. Henriquez, who just defended her PhD in biological anthropology at the CUNY Graduate Center in April and will graduate in June.

A Queens native, Henriquez’s interest in STEM began when she was a kid. She remembers coming home from school and watching wildlife documentaries. “Those shows made studying wildlife seem so exciting and foreign, and yet so out of reach for a city kid like me” she recalled. “But through a network of mentorship and opportunity, I ended up becoming a wildlife ecologist doing field work in some of the most remote parts of the world.”

Brittany Beck grew up in rural Missouri. She completed her undergraduate degree in biology and her master’s in science education at Truman State University in Missouri. She has been teaching biology in NYC public schools for 14 years, with 13 of those years at the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology. Additionally, she serves as Coordinator of Student Activities, running the Student Government, managing over 30 clubs, and overseeing school events.

This is Beck’s fourth year as a teacher in the SiR program, working with scientists and building novel research projects with her students. Henriquez started working with the program about three years ago as a way to provide students with the same experiences and opportunities that inspired her interest in STEM in her youth.

Engaging Young Minds

Beck considers herself both a scientist and a teacher. Before joining the Scientist-in-Residence program, she was a national Evolution Education fellow in a program where she developed live organism research experiments for her classes alongside scientists at the University of Virginia and the Mountain Lake Biological Station. During that program, she developed a protocol in which students spend a year caring for mealworms, pupae, and darkling beetles in different treatments of Styrofoam to see how these treatments affect their growth and development. When the formal evolution education program ended, she continued this important work with students through the Academy’s SiR program.

Brittany Beck poses with Nick Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, during the Spring Soirée hosted at the University Club of New York on April 22, 2025.

What makes Beck and Henriquez such a good team? Trust in not just each other, but in their students. The pair has always let students pick and develop their projects, come up with their research questions, design their experiments, collect data, and decide how they organize and visualize on their own. At times, this may also mean allowing them to learn from mistakes.

The “ABC+M Pedagogical” Model

In terms of teaching technique, Beck often cites the “ABC+M” pedagogical model, which was developed by Rhonda Bondie and Akane Zusho. It requires that all lessons should include an opportunity for student Autonomy and choice. Teachers should build classroom environments where students know they Belong. They should provide opportunities for students to build their Competence, and that all lessons should be Meaningful to students. The work that Beck and Henriquez do with their students exemplifies this thinking.

Henriquez began her work as a mentor for the Academy as a way to pay back the early help and inspiration she received from mentors. Her first experience doing any sort of field work or experimentation was in her high school AP biology class, which makes it all the more meaningful that she gets to work with Beck’s Advanced Placement (AP) Biology class.

This made such a lasting impression that she ended up pursuing a career in biology. “If I could inspire at least one other student to pursue a career in STEM by providing them with the opportunity to see themselves as creative, serious, and legitimate researchers, I feel as though I would have done my part,” she said, adding she feels her work with students makes her own research both more meaningful and impactful.

“I think it’s one thing to read about the scientific method in a textbook, and it’s a completely enhanced experience to go through the process yourself. To develop your research questions, learn about your study system, try something out, revise and draw conclusions,” said Henriquez. “It works a part of your brain that so many people don’t get the opportunity to access.”

Inspiration

Megan C. Henriquez poses with Nick Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, during the Spring Soirée hosted at the University Club of New York on April 22, 2025.

Henriquez, who defended her PhD dissertation earlier in the month, feels the characteristics of a good mentor center around excitement and compassion. “No one is doing this for pay, so if you’re not going in excited about your work and what you’re going to share with your students, they’re going to sense that and not be excited either,” she said. She also loves providing interested students with additional opportunities. If a student is particularly interested in ecology fieldwork, she might find a program at the Bronx Zoo or the Junior Academy to keep the student engaged.

“Watching our SiR students make those connections and learn through experience has been one of the most rewarding parts of this program,” she continued, “Having students run up to us and say things like, ‘Look at what happened!’, ‘Look at how much our organisms have grown!’, ‘Our results are refuting or supporting our hypotheses!’ is just so exciting. Seeing them experience new things, overcome challenges, and grow confident in their skills and their problem-solving abilities has been amazing and so rewarding.”

Improvisation

Being able to improvise is another important skill for the mentor and teacher team. “A memory that sticks out is how, during Megan’s and my second year, we had collected water from a local pond and were unsure if we would be able to keep the microorganisms within the water alive. We not only kept them alive, but we also discovered a colony of snail eggs had hatched and grew and which our students then did microplastics experiments on,” Beck recalls.

“There hasn’t been one visit where we haven’t laughed together or enthusiastically yelled about the progress of a group’s experimental organisms. The sea monkeys, the pitcher plants, the butterflies, and especially the snails. We like to challenge ourselves as well as the students, and each year we add a level of complexity to the experimental process,” Beck added.

A snail students raised in 2023-2024, with green microplastics seen in the distance.

A Celebration of Hard Work

Beck feels the Scientist-in-Residence program has strengthened her students’ scientific identity, and graduates have told her they have notably more experience in lab skills than their peers in college, especially in designing laboratory protocols. “My students love it when Megan comes in, and they have a deep sense of ownership over their experimental ‘babies,’ whether they are plants, microorganisms, or bugs,” Beck said.

The duo were formally honored for their hard work during the Academy’s Spring Soirée which took place at the University Club of New York on April 22. When she heard she was named Mentor of the Year, Henriquez said she was in disbelief. From “early mornings jumping fences to get pond water to late nights setting up pitfall traps to catch bugs,” Henriquez feels good that her hard work is acknowledged.

Likewise, when Beck heard the news, she was at the National Science Teachers Association national conference in Philadelphia. “I whooped out loud in the busy exhibit hall and immediately called Megan, and we got to celebrate together,” she said with a laugh.

Learn more about the Academy’s Scientist- in-Residence program.

The Junior Academy’s Impact on an Aspiring Engineer

Ruhi Samudra is a high school senior in Irvine, California. She was involved in the Junior Academy, igniting her passion for environmental science and inspiring her to start her science website, Bubbles & Beakers. She is starting at UC Berkeley this fall as a Bioengineering Major.

Published April 25, 2025

By Brooke Elliott
Education Communications Intern

Ruhi Samudra

Ruhi Samudra’s interest in STEM first began in eighth grade when she took part in her middle school’s Science Olympiad. Samudra tried out for the team and competed in the five main categories: Reach for the Stars, Water Quality, Dynamic Planet, Meteorology, and Rocks and Minerals. The events focused on environmental science, and though this wasn’t her initial interest, she and her team did well–advancing to regionals and placing second at nationals. “This (experience) gave me the motivation and encouragement to engage in science out of pure interest, way above the standard that was being taught in school,” Samudra said in reflection.

The Junior Academy

After her Science Olympiad season ended, Samudra learned about The New York Academy of Science’s Junior Academy. “It was a way for me to take what I learned at Science Olympiad to a larger and more research-oriented level,” she said.

Samudra knew science opportunities for high school underclassmen were relatively limited. She also had the misconception that most professional scientists are not willing to take a risk and work with high school students on a project. Being a member of the Junior Academy provided access to a global network of professionals and like-minded students around the world, jumpstarting her career. As part of the Academy, Samudra participated in The Flexible Use of Electricity, the Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems, and Exploring the Extremes Challenge. Out of everything she did, the aquatic ecosystems challenge was her favorite because it fit well with what she had learned during the Science Olympiad program.

Mentors-Peer and Professional

As a participant in the Junior Academy, Samudra met like-minded peers from all over the world representing a disparate population of cultures and beliefs. This made for thought-provoking video calls and learning about new ways to approach science. She looked up to the upperclassmen of her cohort, “They really guided me because I was new to the research process, and they made sure everyone’s ideas were heard,” she said.

Samudra’s virtual colleagues provided practical direction on how to run a research project, as well as high school life in general. Hearing advice from students only a couple of years older than herself, but already years ahead on their science research journeys, provided both inspiration and encouragement.

The professional mentors at the Academy helped Samudra in a different way. From her perspective, what makes a good mentor is the ability to encourage students to question what they think they know. Considering all ramifications and considerations of a potential project is an important skill that she took with her throughout high school. “You have to struggle with the idea of trying to find something that you may think is perfect, but knowing that nothing is ever really a perfect pitch,” she explained.

Bubbles & Beakers

All of this led her to start her own scientific website: Bubbles & Beakers. With an interest in advocacy and communications, Samudra learned how to write, interview, and produce videos about science. This passion project quickly grew. “I write when I feel inspired or excited by something in the scientific community. I know I want to continue this path of scientific journalism when I’m in college.” Whether it’s writing for the Berkeley Engineering Magazine or the Daily Californian, she plans to incorporate her passion for writing in her college life.

“The Junior Academy really showed me the process of creating a methodology, research questions, testing it, and analyzing the results. I took that with me for all the other conferences and research I’ve done since,” she said.

To jump-start her career path in scientific journalism, Samudra serves as co-editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper and president of the Model UN and the Biomedical Engineering Society. A lover of the outdoors, she frequently hikes, swims, and bikes.

The Junior Academy is now accepting applications for Fall 2025. Apply today!

Doomers, Bloomers, and Zoomers: Clinton & Hoffman Weigh in on AI’s Future

Where do you stand on AI—optimist or skeptic? A high-stakes conversation on AI’s promise, risks, and the global race for leadership in this game-changing technology.

Published January 31, 2025

By Brooke Grindlinger, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer

LinkedIn co-founder and bestselling author Reid Hoffman (right) in conversation with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (left) at 92NY in New York City on January 28, 2025, discussing his new book *Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future.*

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping nearly every aspect of human life. From medicine to transportation, education to industry, AI is not just a tool; it’s an evolving partner in human progress. But what does this transformation mean for individuals, society, and the growing geopolitical tensions between nations vying for dominance in AI technology? These questions were at the heart of a recent conversation between former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and co-author—with tech writer Greg Beato—of the new book Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future.

At its core, Superagency presents an optimistic vision of AI as a general-purpose technology that amplifies human agency. This concept was brought to life for the evening’s audience through a video appearance by Reid AI—Hoffman’s digital twin—who, with the enthusiasm of a tireless press agent, championed Superagency and its vision. “Superagency describes not only how we as individuals get these superpowers from technology, but also how we benefit from a society in which millions of others have these superpowers.” This perspective challenges alarmist narratives around AI, instead framing it as a transformative force, much like past technological revolutions such as the printing press and the automobile.

AI as an Opportunity: Learning from the Past

History teaches us that every major technological advancement—from the steam engine to the internet—has been met with both excitement and trepidation. AI is no different. Hoffman pointed out that skepticism surrounding AI today mirrors historical anxieties: “When, for example, you go back to the printing press, the dialogue around the printing press was actually very similar to the dialogue around AI. It was things like ‘This will spread a lot of misinformation. This will destroy our institutions and our ability to discern truth.’” And yet, despite the upheavals they caused, these innovations propelled society forward. The challenge, Hoffman argues, is to navigate AI’s development thoughtfully, ensuring its benefits reach the many rather than the few.

The AI Spectrum: Doomers, Gloomers, Bloomers, and Zoomers

In Superagency, Hoffman describes a spectrum of attitudes toward AI. On one end are the Doomers, who believe AI is an existential threat that could bring about catastrophic consequences. Next are the Gloomers, who are skeptical and advocate for stringent regulatory controls but stop short of outright rejection. The Zoomers, by contrast, are those who champion rapid AI expansion without much concern for potential risks and are often anti-regulation. Finally, Hoffman identifies himself among the Bloomers, a group that believes AI, when properly guided by intelligent risk management, can be an overwhelmingly positive force for humanity. “One of the things that we argue for, as part of the case for optimism—being Bloomers—is to say you don’t expect perfection in the beginning,” Hoffman explained.

During their conversation, Hoffman asked Secretary Clinton where she saw herself on this spectrum. Her response was thoughtful: “Well, I think I’m a Boomer who is somewhere between a Bloomer and a Gloomer, because on the one hand, I really appreciate the optimism. I find that very attractive. We should learn as we do, learn as we go, make adjustments…Although I do worry about all the people who don’t see the curb and drive off over the cliff.” Her remark underscores the need for both enthusiasm and caution—embracing AI’s potential while ensuring that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent harm. Clinton continued, “We know a lot now. We don’t know anywhere near what we’re going to know, and maybe there are some kinds of guardrails that we would want without losing the optimism, because I want this country to dominate AI.”

Guardrails for Progress: The Role of Regulation

While AI’s potential is vast, so are the risks. Secretary Clinton raised a crucial concern: “If you look at the aggregate, is it going to be more difficult, given our political and social and economic environment, to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, we’ve learned enough that maybe we should put on this guardrail. Maybe this should be a certain standard we try to meet.’”

Hoffman acknowledged the difficulty of balancing innovation with regulation but emphasized that responsible AI development requires ongoing assessment rather than outright restriction. “The attempt to hold any kind of large system to zero error is an attempt to stop the future,” he noted. Instead, he advocates for an iterative approach—adjusting regulations as AI evolves, rather than stalling progress in the name of perfection.

Hoffman compared this process to the development of the automobile. Early cars lacked essential safety features, but over time, society introduced refinements—first bumpers, then seatbelts, then airbags—to make vehicles safer without halting progress. We have to start driving before we realize what safeguards we need. AI, he argued, should follow the same evolutionary path, improving with real-world use and responsive adjustments.

The Global AI Race: Maintaining US Leadership

One of the most urgent topics in the conversation was the global competition in AI development, particularly between the United States and China. Secretary Clinton emphasized that the US cannot afford to fall behind: “I do worry that if we don’t have an optimistic, full speed ahead approach to it, that we will get outmaneuvered, that we will find ourselves in a subordinate position and that subordinate position could be one of great risk and potential danger. I still would rather have us struggling to try to make the right decisions than seeding ground to rogue states, to highly organized states, to criminal organizations, to rogue technologists.”

Hoffman echoed this sentiment, stressing that America’s strength lies in its innovative culture and entrepreneurial spirit. “We do it by the American entrepreneurial networks and the creativity, but we have to go at that, and we have to be saying that’s what we want.”

Recent developments highlight the stakes of this competition. Just days before this conversation, Chinese AI company DeepSeek made headlines with its advancements in large language models, demonstrating China’s accelerating capabilities in AI development. The rise of DeepSeek underscores the urgency for the US to not only invest in cutting-edge AI research but also establish ethical frameworks that ensure responsible deployment of the technology. This competition is not just about economic dominance; it’s about setting standards for ethical AI use worldwide. The key to maintaining leadership, Hoffman argued, is to ensure that AI development remains aligned with democratic values and responsible governance. If the US leads with innovation and responsibility, it can shape AI’s trajectory for the benefit of society at large.

AI as a Catalyst for Global Stability

Beyond economic and technological dominance, AI could play a significant role in shaping global stability. Hoffman suggested that AI-driven economic and educational advancements could reduce geopolitical tensions by fostering growth in underdeveloped regions. “When people think their future is likely to be better than their present, in terms of building things, they tend to go to war less,” he noted. If AI can be harnessed to improve healthcare, education, and job opportunities in struggling economies, it has the potential to serve as a stabilizing force rather than a disruptive one. This approach shifts the conversation from AI as a competition to AI as a tool for global peace and cooperation.

In contrast, during the discussion, an audience member raised concerns about AI’s potential use in warfare. Secretary Clinton acknowledged the risks, stating, “A lot of weapons of war are becoming more and more autonomous. And so we’re going to see all kinds of very dangerous weapons in the hands of all kinds of people that may or may not have the values that they should to be entrusted with that kind of destruction.” Hoffman reinforced this point, cautioning that AI’s offensive capabilities could be destabilizing: “One of the challenges with AI is that it’s inherently a little bit more of an offensive weapon and has the tendency to say ‘use it or lose your advantage’”, which is most worrisome in terms of a potential arms race dynamic. The exchange highlighted the delicate balance of leveraging AI for progress while preventing its potential misuse in global conflicts.

A Call to be AI “Curious”

As AI continues to evolve, engagement and understanding are critical. Rather than passively observing its impact, scientists, policymakers, and the public must take an active role in shaping AI’s future. As Hoffman puts it: “Move to being AI curious. It doesn’t matter if you are also at the same time AI uncertain, AI skeptical, AI fearful—but add AI curiosity into it.” The AI revolution is here. The question is not whether AI will change our world, but how we choose to participate and shape that change. By fostering curiosity, implementing smart regulations, and ensuring equitable opportunities, we can make AI a tool for empowerment rather than disruption.

For those eager to deepen their understanding of AI technologies in the healthcare sector, including leveraging AI for drug discovery, medical imaging, mental health, equity, and affordability, we invite you to join us at the HealthNext AI Summit 2025, March 3-4, 2025 in New York City. Register now with promo code HLTHNXTNYAS for 10% off!

Interested in hearing more from Reid Hoffman? Tune in to Hoffman’s March 2024 conversation with Academy President and CEO Nicholas Dirks about Hoffman‘s prior book, ‘Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI‘. Available On-Demand until March 27, 2025.

Deepfakes and Democracy in the Digital Age

Combatting misinformation in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election is crucial to ensuring democracy. It falls to science to address this challenge.

Published October 8, 2024

By Nick Fetty
Digital Content Manager

From left: Nicholas Dirks; Joshua Tucker, PhD, Maya Kornberg, PhD; and Luciano Floridi, PhD. Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences.

The complexities of artificial intelligence were discussed during the Deepfakes and Democracy in the Age of AI event, presented by The New York Academy of Sciences and Cure on September 17, 2024.

Seema Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Cure, a healthcare innovation campus in New York City, set the stage for the discussion by emphasizing the impact of AI on healthcare. She cited a survey of nearly 2000 physicians who expressed concern about changes in behavior they’ve observed in patients as we move into a more digital age.

Nicholas Dirks. Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences.

“Patients are coming to them with misinformation and they’re not trusting physicians when physicians correct them,” said Kumar, who also serves on the Academy’s Board of Governors. “In healthcare, too, this is becoming an issue we have to tackle and address.”

Nicholas Dirks, president and CEO of the Academy introduced the panel of experts:

Luciano Floridi, PhD: Founding Director of the Digital Ethics Center and Professor in the Practice in the Cognitive Science Program at Yale University. His expertise covers the ethics and philosophy of AI.
Maya Kornberg, PhD: Senior Research Fellow and Manager, Elections & Government, at NYU Law’s Brennan Center for Justice. She leads work around information and misinformation in politics, congress, and political violence.
Joshua Tucker, PhD: Professor of Politics, Director of the Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia, and Co-Director of the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics. His recent work has focused on social media and politics.

The Role of Deepfakes

Professor Tucker suggested that research can be an effective way to better protect information integrity.

“The question is, and I don’t know the answer to this yet, but this is something we want to get at with research,” he said. “Is there a meaningful difference across modes of communication?” adding that modes include text, images, and video.

Professor Tucker argued that the most impactful video so far in this U.S. election cycle wasn’t a deepfake at all. Instead, it was the unedited footage of President Joe Biden’s performance in the debate on June 27, 2024.

Not A New Phenomenon

Luciano Floridi, PhD. Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Kornberg agreed that misinformation is not a new phenomenon. However, she does recognize that because of the often-realistic nature of deepfakes, it may be more difficult for people today to differentiate fact from fiction. The lack of regulation in the tech sector in this regard further complicates the issue. She posed the example of an AI generated phone call impersonating an election official sent to misinform potential voters.

“It can be difficult to determine if this is a real call or a fake call,” said Dr. Kornberg. “It’s extremely important, I think, as a society for us to be doubling down in civic listening and civic training programs.”

The ease of producing realistic AI-generated content is also contributing to the issue, according to Professor Floridi. He cautioned that media can become so oversaturated with this content, that consumers begin questioning the legitimacy of everything.

Professor Floridi cited a research project that he and his team are currently working on with the Wikimedia Foundation. The team hopes to release their findings prior to the U.S. election, but at this point, they have not observed anything particularly worrisome in terms of deepfakes.

Maya Kornberg, PhD. Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences

“What we do see is call it ‘shallowfakes.’ The tiny little change [to otherwise authentic content],” Professor Floridi said. He added that these “shallowfakes” can almost be more dangerous than deepfakes because the slight manipulations are generally less obvious.

The Issue of Credibility

Dirks then shifted the focus of the conversation to credibility. With first order effects, a person sees something untrue, then forms an opinion based on that misinformation. Dirks invited Professor Tucker to talk about his research on second order effects, in which the political consequences can be more salient and destabilizing.

Professor Tucker and his lab studied the Russian misinformation on Twitter during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. However, counter to popular belief, the researchers did not observe a significant correlation to indicate that exposure to such misinformation influenced American voter opinion.

“Yet, we spent years talking about how the Russians were able to change the outcomes of the election. It was a convenient narrative,” said Professor Tucker. “But it worried me. And I wondered for a long time after this, did that sow the seeds of doubt in people’s minds?”

With the current hype surrounding generative AI as we enter the 2024 election, Professor Tucker expressed concern that it can be a new tool to further spread misinformation.

Combatting Voter Suppression

Dr. Kornberg and her colleagues at the Brennan Center study the impact of voter suppression efforts. The researchers are studying ways to debunk, or “pre-bunk,” certain misconceptions that may be on the minds of voters. She said that purveyors of misinformation deliberately focus on simple themes like malfunctioning voter machines, distrust of election officials, and dead people voting.

Joshua Tucker, PhD. Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences.

“We saw that in 2020. We saw that in 2022. There’s a lot of reason to believe we’re going to see that in 2024,” said Dr. Kornberg. “So, we’re working to proactively get resources out to election administrators [so they can better counteract these threats].”

She cited the role of AI in further amplifying misinformation, which will make deciphering fact from fiction even more difficult for the average voter. Dr. Kornberg and her colleagues aim to get ahead of these issues by offering training and other resources for election administrators. She also advocates for experts with technical expertise in AI to advise local election official offices, municipalities, state legislatures and even congress.

“There’s a lot of demystifying for the workers themselves that we’re trying to do with our trainings about how to deal with AI,” said Dr. Kornberg. “This will help us to come up with some intelligent and timely solutions about how to combat this.”

Academy members can access an on-demand video recording of the event. Click here to listen to or watch the full conversation.

Not a member? Sign up today.

Ready, Set, Respond: How Playing an Outbreak Simulation Game Helps Scientists Prepare for the Next Pandemic

The International Science Reserve’s new “serious game” puts players in the hot seat to test their decision-making skills.

Published October 3, 2024

By Mila Rosenthal, PhD
Executive Director, International Science Reserve

Since COVID-19 hit in 2020, there have been hundreds of articles in journals and mainstream news outlets analyzing the shortcomings in the global response to the pandemic, and how we can learn from our collective mistakes. One of those articles last year, an op-Ed by Bill Gates for The New York Times, called on the world to think about what we can do now to better prepare the world for future outbreaks.

His advice? Prepare for outbreaks like firefighters tackle blazes: run drills, have dedicated teams of volunteers on standby, and build on existing expertise across institutions and specialties. The International Science Reserve (ISR), an initiative of The New York Academy of Sciences, has been working to build this exact model.

We have spent the last few years cultivating a reserve of over 11,000 scientists across 100 countries in nearly three dozen specialties who want to prepare and act when the next big crisis hits. We support them for future crises by building tools that break down borders and help them collaborate before the fire starts.

Sign-up for the ISR

Gaming for Good

This August, we proudly launched a new digital game that simulates a pathogen outbreak, just like a fire drill. The Pathogen Outbreak Game, available with free membership to the ISR, puts our network in the hot seat. In the game scenario, players act as a public health director as an unknown pathogen emerges. The game asks you to consider: What would you do differently if we experienced a crisis of the same scale and scope? What decisions would you make if you could call the shots during the next pandemic?

“The Pathogen Outbreak Game offers a compelling exploration of crisis management, challenging me to think critically, much like real-world situations.”
Hazm Talab, ISR Community Member

Developed in partnership with the Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS), the game challenges players to navigate an evolving, hypothetical public health crisis, evaluating new information that is shared as the game progresses. When a crisis hits, there are complex decisions that leaders must make to protect people and reduce the impact on society and the environment. To simulate real-world situations, players are presented with dynamic information and surveillance data about an unknown pathogen outbreak.

In a series of game rounds, players are asked to practice their decision-making skills using data to identify outbreak trends and better prepare for and reduce the public health threat. This trailer demonstrates the basics of the Pathogen Outbreak Game:

The Next Pandemic and Building a “Culture of Readiness”

So, why games? Our research found that simulating real-life scenarios or drills can improve the capacity to collaborate, communicate, and make informed decisions in high-pressure crisis situations. Gamification also makes the experience of learning crisis preparedness skills more engaging for participants, encouraging wider participation and contributing towards a culture of readiness.

“I learned the importance of carefully evaluating the credibility of information before making decisions. The game highlighted how my conclusions could change drastically based on the reliability of the sources, demonstrating the critical need to assess information accurately to identify the correct virus.”
Yury Lebedev, ISR Community Member

Our gamification-related literature review found that points, badges, and leadership boards are the best way to turn these drills into games. After they complete the game exercise, players are then encouraged to discuss their experiences with fellow scientists and experts in the ISR’s network and promote their achievements through digital badging on social media.

We do not know when another outbreak will happen, so in the meantime we need to quickly learn and grow from our mistakes, and better collaborate across disciplines and borders to save lives and reduce harm. The digital pathogen game can help build a “culture of readiness” and accustom policymakers to assessing different sources of scientific information to make decisions. It can also help scientists explore how their research could be prioritized and adapted when most needed. Together, we could build a more resilient future, one game at a time.

Are You Ready for the Challenge?

Ready to jump in? Then join us and play the ISR’s new Pathogen Outbreak Game! Earn badges, climb the leaderboard, and be recognized as a top player and top contributor in a global scientific community.

Not a member of this inclusive and impactful community? Join the ISR today.

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