Learning - NYAS

March 13, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Are you interested in building a career in STEM? Join The New York Academy of Sciences for an exciting monthly online event series designed to explore the vast opportunities within STEM fields. This series offers unique access to experts across industries.

Each session features guest speakers from distinguished organizations, including Noven Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and more. Gain invaluable insights into their career journeys, the roles they hold today, and the innovative work they do.

Engage in live Q&A sessions to ask questions that will help shape your own career path. Whether actively pursuing a STEM career or simply exploring possibilities, this event series provides the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.

This series is open to all, regardless of age or background, and is the perfect opportunity to network and learn. Don’t miss your chance to connect with leading STEM professionals and take the next step in your career journey!

This is the sixth session in the Chat with Experts series, and it will feature Xuemei Cai, MD, Senior Medical Director, Head of Clinical Research for Biomeasures, Endpoints and Study Technologies (BEST), Research and Development, Pfizer. Explore the full lineup of events in the series.

Speaker

Xuemei Cai, MD

Xuemei Cai oversees a group within the Pfizer Research and Development team focused on clinical innovation and developing and qualifying digital endpoints in patient-centric clinical trials. She joined Pfizer in 2015 in the Quantitative Medicine group within the Neurosciences Research Unit developing and deploying novel technologies and helped found and runs a clinical research unit called the Pfizer Innovation Research Laboratory. She is an original member and co-founder of the global non-profit Digital Medicine Society dedicated to the advancement of digital innovation for equitable healthcare.

Before joining Pfizer, Xuemei obtained her MD from Harvard Medical School and completed neurology residencies and fellowships at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties. She continues to treat patients and teach medical students, residents, and fellows at Tufts Medical Center.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

By attending this session, you will receive an exclusive 50% discount for upcoming events in the series.

Chat with Experts featuring Rachel Lackner, PhD

February 13, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

This is the fifth session in the Chat with Experts series, and it will feature Rachel Lackner, PhD, Research Associate at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Explore the full lineup of events in the series.

Speaker

Rachel Lackner, PhD

Rachel Lackner is a Research Associate in the Department of Scientific Research at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was previously an Andrew W. Mellon Conservation Fellow, where her research focused on the identification of organic dyes and pigments and the development of advanced mass spectrometry techniques. Prior to working at The Met, Rachel received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

By attending this session, you will receive an exclusive 50% discount for upcoming events in the series.

Chat with Experts featuring Maggie Johnson, PhD

January 9, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

This is the fourth session in the Chat with Experts series, and it will feature Maggie Johnson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Red Sea Research Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Explore the full lineup of events in the series.

Speaker

Maggie Johnson, PhD

Maggie Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Marine Science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). After completing postdoctoral fellowships with the Smithsonian Institution and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, she took a position in the Red Sea Research Center where she began building the Global Change Ecology Lab at KAUST. Professor Johnson studies coral reefs across the globe, from the central tropical Pacific to Caribbean Panama, and seeks to understand what role humans are playing in the rapid degradation of these valuable ecosystems. In addition to her research interests, Professor Johnson is strongly committed to supporting women and underrepresented groups in the sciences and actively works on recruiting and supporting a diverse research group.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

By attending this session, you will receive an exclusive 50% discount for upcoming events in the series.

Chat with Experts featuring Shihadah Saleem, MS

December 5, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

This is the third session in the Chat with Experts series, and it will feature Shihadah Saleem, MS, Director of Youth Programs and Pathways at the New York Hall of Science. Explore the full lineup of events in the series.

Speaker

Shihadah Saleem, MS

Shihadah Saleem is the Director of Youth Programs and Pathways at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, NY. She works to provide NYC high school and college students with STEM-focused workforce and youth development opportunities through NYSCI’s Science Career Ladder, Explainer program and free teen events. Shihadah is a committed board member of the National Girls Collaborative Project and co-chair of the STEM PUSH Network’s Steering Committee.

For over 15 years, Shihadah has provided rich STEM and youth development programs and opportunities for students, professionals, and the community. Shihadah continues to be a fervent collaborator, networker and convener, always willing and ready to help make connections, show support, and push for sustainable and actionable changes in STEM education, industry, and non-profit sectors.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

By attending this session, you will receive an exclusive 50% discount for upcoming events in the series.

Chat with Experts featuring Mahwish Khan, PharmD, RPh

November 21, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

This is the second session in the Chat with Experts series, and it will feature Mahwish Khan, PharmD, RPh, Associate Director of Medical Affairs and Medical Information at Noven Pharmaceuticals. Explore the full lineup of events in the series.

Speaker

Mahwish Khan, PharmD, RPh

Dr. Mahwish Khan is the Associate Director of Medical Affairs and Medical Information at Noven Pharmaceuticals. She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) in 2019 from Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy – Long Island University. Throughout her training, she spent 6+ years in direct patient care working at various care settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities and pharmacies throughout NYC. Following graduation, she transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, where she has 5+ years of experience across US/Global Medical Affairs projects. Dr. Khan has experience leading medical readiness activities for new product launches and developing life cycle management strategies across psychiatry and neurology. She has a passion for bringing science to life by developing meaningful relationships with key healthcare experts and educating patients through holistic approaches.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

By attending this session, you will receive an exclusive 50% discount for upcoming events in the series.

Defining Inclusion in STEM

October 23, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET

Session 1: Defining Inclusion in STEM

Inclusion, in its broadest sense, refers to the practice of ensuring that all individuals are respected, valued, and supported within a community or society, regardless of their differences. Each individual should feel confident and comfortable being their authentic selves without fear of judgment or retaliation.

But what does inclusion look like in the context of STEM fields? What are some barriers to inclusion in STEM? And what unique potential does fostering a culture of inclusion have on promoting social justice and driving innovative solutions to our society’s problems? Explore the answers to these questions and learn more at the first session of our ‘Inclusion in STEM’ series, featuring Alfred M. Mays, Chief Diversity Officer and Strategist and Senior Program Officer for Diversity and Education at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

About the Series

The Inclusion in STEM series delves into a few of the many topics that are essential for actively cultivating a culture of inclusion in STEM, including defining inclusion, promoting inclusive pipelines through mentorship, finding solidarity and power through joining affinity groups, being an inclusive leader, and communicating research in a way that centers inclusion, equity, and intersectionality. Learn more about the series and explore the full lineup of events.

Speaker

Alfred M. Mays currently serves as the Chief Diversity Officer and Strategist for Science Education and Diversity at Burroughs Wellcome Fund where he directs a portfolio of competitive and strategic grant programs. Prior to Alfred assuming this role, he served as an independent consultant with a service delivery that included strategic planning, project incubation, design, and implementation. Alfred has served as an enabler within several education initiatives to include the Collaborative Project, a 21st Century Program that was supported by the North Carolina General Assembly, staff advisor to North Carolina’s eLearning Commission, Director of Special Projects at the University of North Carolina – Office of the President, and regional director for the North Carolina Model Teacher Education Consortium. Alfred enjoys facilitating youth leadership and empowerment activities and serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations. He has been recognized for his contributions with many organizational successes to include Government Wide Best Practices.

Sponsor

Thought Partner

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

By attending this session, you will receive an exclusive 50% discount for upcoming events in the series.

Chat with Experts featuring Lev Sviridov, D.Phil

October 17, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

This is the first session in the Chat with Experts series, and it will feature Lev Sviridov, D.Phil, Director at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College. Explore the full lineup of events in the series.

Speaker

Lev Sviridov, D.Phil

Dr. Lev Sviridov, joined the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College in 2013 as an Acting Director. Following a national search, Dr. Sviridov was appointed Director in 2014. He received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from The City College of New York and a D.Phil degree in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Prior to his service as Acting Director, Dr. Sviridov served as a Senior Research Associate at the CUNY Energy Institute, where his research led to the founding of Urban Electric Power, a non-lithium energy storage company based in Pearl River, New York. In addition to his responsibilities, he serves as Vice Chair of Human Rights First and on the selection panel for the Sloan Award for Teaching of Math and Science in New York City Public Schools, and as Chair of the Development Committee for the Foundation for City College.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

By attending this session, you will receive an exclusive 50% discount for upcoming events in the series.

Ethical AI

Overview

AI is changing the landscape of the world as we know it. It offers opportunities to impact humanity in positive ways by minimizing human error, streamlining data analysis and decision-making, as well as lowering risk to human lives – to name a few benefits. At the same time, with deep-fakes, biased algorithms and the ethical questions around AI such as art generators and chat-gpt, we as a society must grapple with the challenges of AI. How can we maximize the benefits of AI while also implementing useful boundaries to minimize the disadvantages and dangers? Can we create systems or implement new technology to address ethical issues surrounding AI? In this challenge, you will develop a solution to address one specific issue that AI poses.

Challenge

Design a technical solution that addresses and considers one clearly outlined and defined issue that AI poses in our global society.

Consider the following when designing your solution:

What are some of the issues that AI poses in our society? What are the impacts or implications of those issues?
Focus on one specific issue that AI poses. How could your solution be used by society at large? How would you propose governments use your solution?
Are there any downsides to your solution? What else would you and your team have to consider to create an ethical solution?
Who is your solution calling upon to act or implement? How does your data or solution support that societal change or law?
How can you integrate community co-design into your solution?

See the challenge course syllabus.

Success Evaluation Criteria

Solutions will be judged based on the following criteria:

Innovation and Design Thinking: Is the design and approach unique and/or innovative? Does the design show a high degree of originality and imagination?
Scientific Quality: Are the appropriate references and analytical methods used and are the insights derived correctly?
Presentation Quality: Is this concept concisely and clearly explained? Are the findings/recommendations communicated clearly and persuasively?
Commercial Viability/Potential: Does the solution have the potential to make a difference?
Sustainability: What is the social impact on local communities? How does the solution incorporate positive environmental or social objectives? Is the solution in line with a sustainable or justice focused future?
Teamwork and collaboration: Was the experience a collaborative endeavor? Was the knowledge gained from the experience reflected upon and tied back to a civic engagement mindset? (From Personal Reflections)

See the challenge rubric.

Winners

The winning team, Reducing BIAS in AI models, had a futuristic approach in designing a technical solution that addresses and considers one clearly outlined and defined issue that AI poses in our global society.

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)

Upcycling and Waste Management

Overview

Imagine you are going to the store and you make some purchases. How much of that purchase will end up in a landfill? Did that product contain recyclable packaging? Now think about all of the waste you produce, food waste, product waste, textile waste… It can be overwhelming to think about. Do you know how much waste you produce in one day, one month, one year? Is it more or less than what you were expecting? How can you reduce that consumption and encourage others to consume less?

In this challenge, you will be designing a comprehensive solution to waste management at a scale that makes a measurable impact. It’s not only us as individuals who waste and contribute to unmanageable waste sites but large companies and corporations too. In this challenge we will explore how we can make small and large changes that lead us all to a more mindful and resourceful future.

Challenge

Design a solution to reduce waste generation by encouraging long-term product use and shifting away from the “use-and-dispose” culture.

You will design an end-to-end/overall solution that takes into account product design, business model, and societal behavioral and mindset reset needed to make changes possible.

Your solution should focus on one specific product category, such as electronics, clothing, food containers, household items, and more.

When designing your solution, think about the following:

Durable Product Design: How can products be made more durable and repairable to ensure long-term use?
Behavioral Change: What educational or incentive-based approaches could encourage people to adopt waste prevention habits?
Sharing Economy: Could a platform be created to facilitate product sharing, renting, or second-hand exchanges within a community?
Repair and Maintenance: How can repair services be made more accessible and affordable to extend product life?
Data Tracking: How can technology monitor product usage and encourage responsible disposal only when necessary?
Business Model: How can sustainable practices be integrated into profitable business models that encourage long-term product use and reduce waste?

Whenever possible, consider whether your product can be upcycled and have a second life.

See the challenge course syllabus.

Success Evaluation Criteria

Solutions will be judged based on the following criteria:

Innovation and Design Thinking: Is the design and approach unique and/or innovative? Does the design show a high degree of originality and imagination?
Scientific Quality: Are the appropriate references and analytical methods used and are the insights derived correctly?
Presentation Quality: Is this concept concisely and clearly explained? Are the findings/recommendations communicated clearly and persuasively?
Commercial Viability/Potential: Does the solution have the potential to make a difference?
Sustainability: What is the social impact on local communities? How does the solution incorporate positive environmental or social objectives? Is the solution in line with a sustainable or justice focused future?
Teamwork and collaboration: Was the experience a collaborative endeavor? Was the knowledge gained from the experience reflected upon and tied back to a civic engagement mindset? (From Personal Reflections)

See the challenge rubric.

Winners

The winning team, The Last Strand – Upcycling, had a creative and innovative approach of designing a solution to reduce waste generation by encouraging long-term product use and shifting away from the “use-and-dispose” culture.

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)

Learn More

Sponsor

Remediation in South Brooklyn

Overview

Offshore wind has the potential to reimagine the cityscape of New York City. With increased summer temperatures and the heavy reliance on an overworked cooling system, New York City will be the new home to a wind farm right in our backyard. The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will be the new hub for Empire Wind 1 and Equinor’s wind farm. In this challenge you are asked to design solutions that remediate the building of offshore wind renewable energy infrastructure in New York City through the lens of STEM and the community, focusing on land and water preparation.

Challenge

At the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park, there are areas on land and in the water that call for immediate remediation to prepare for the new offshore Empire Wind complex.

Focus on one of the following areas and design a comprehensive solution for remediation:

Preparation for building on land
- Noise/traffic/actual construction/air monitoring
- Current buildings from 1970s
- Regrade hydraulics separator for run-off stormwater
Preparation in the water
- Marine traffic
  - Wind turbines and other building materials are taken in via barge or other water vessels
- Dredging
- Living edge/shorelines
- Pile driving
  - Construction approach that is used to build the foundation of a new structure

Integrate the following into your solution:

Social justice
- A concept that asserts every person should have the same rights and opportunities, and that wealth and resources should benefit everyone – is not always integrated into remediation, making already disadvantaged communities even more vulnerable to negative impacts of climate change.
- Think about how social justice can be included in your solution, looking at racial, urban, identity, accessibility, and/or environmental justice.
Community co-design
- The shared mapping of a problem, identifying shared priorities, and designing, implementing and evaluating a potential solution together with those most affected by the issue (in this Challenge, residents of Sunset Park).
New or adapted technologies (AI, AR/VR, nanotechnology, materials, robotics),
Processes, steps (such as detecting seafloor anomalies/seafloor mapping, underwater sea vehicles) that are preliminary to your solution.

Innovative solutions may be completely new ideas or solutions that have worked in other regions but are adapted for New York’s unique needs and people. Solutions need to be tested to ensure they are effective for community needs as offshore wind infrastructure is built up in the near future.

See the challenge course syllabus.

Success Evaluation Criteria

Solutions will be judged based on the following criteria:

Innovation and Design Thinking: Is the design and approach unique and/or innovative? Does the design show a high degree of originality and imagination?
Scientific Quality: Are the appropriate references and analytical methods used and are the insights derived correctly?
Presentation Quality: Is this concept concisely and clearly explained? Are the findings/recommendations communicated clearly and persuasively?
Commercial Viability/Potential: Does the solution have the potential to make a difference?
Sustainability: What is the social impact on local communities? How does the solution incorporate positive environmental or social objectives? Is the solution in line with a sustainable or justice focused future?
Teamwork and collaboration: Was the experience a collaborative endeavor? Was the knowledge gained from the experience reflected upon and tied back to a civic engagement mindset? (From Personal Reflections)

See the challenge rubric.

Winners

The winning team, Remediation in South Brooklyn: Upgrading the Hydraulic System, had an innovative approach of finding ways to remediate the areas on land and in the water to prepare for the new offshore Empire Wind complex.

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)

Learn More

Sponsor

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