The Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program
Inspire the Next Generation of Scientists
The New York Academy of Sciences’ Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program (ASMP) recruits STEM professionals looking to reignite their passion for the sciences through the eyes of young scientists. Accepted mentors are connected with a group of elementary and middle school students and age appropriate curriculum with the goal of inspiring a lifelong interest in STEM. The program brings in research fellows, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, transitional scientists, or R&D specialists together to remember the pure curiosity of asking questions and finding new answers.
In partnership with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), participants are placed at one of our many afterschool sites around New York City throughout the year. For our fall term, participants commit to teaching one-hour sessions once a week, for a total of 10 sessions running from October 2nd - February 2nd, 2024. Participating Mentors receive training in STEM curriculum and youth development, and work with on-site staff to co-implement weekly sessions.
Our Impact
Since our launch in 2010, we have placed over 1,000 scientists into afterschool programs all over the NYC area and impacted 15,000+ students! Check out the map below to see some of our most recent Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program sites.
Why should you become an ASMP mentor?
Young people who have the opportunity to meet real scientists and engineers — and who are exposed to science through active inquiry-based learning — are more likely to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Yet many children have never met or interacted with a “real” scientist, particularly in the most underserved neighborhoods. By being students’ positive role model as a real-world scientist or engineer, you can inspire curiosity and excitement about STEM topics, and positively influence the career aspirations of young minds in NYC.
Need more incentive? Accepted participants also receive a stipend and a yearlong Membership to the New York Academy of Sciences!
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Timeline
"Chat with a Scientist" Events
During the school year, the Academy holds virtual “Chat with a Scientist” events in an effort to create a space for middle and high school students (and their families) to engage with real scientists, live.
These Chats are hour-long interactive webinars that give scientists the opportunity to talk to students in our programs about their paths into science, the work they currently do, and answer live questions. Our main goal is to provide students with the opportunity to “meet” and engage with scientists, and hopefully to spark their interest in learning more or even considering science in their own futures.
Through this one-time commitment, scientists who participate will have the opportunity to:
- Inspire curiosity and excitement about STEM
- Positively influence the career aspirations of students from underserved communities
- Make a difference in the lives of budding young scientists
If you are a graduate student, post-doc or STEM professional and are interested in being featured in a Chat with a Scientist event, please email asmp@nyas.org
Chat with a Scientist has wrapped up for the school year. Check out the on demand library of Chat with a Scientist '21-'22 event recordings at events.nyas.org/scientistchat and tune in again live in the fall!
Past Events:
The Impact of Climate Change
April 21st, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Caroline Juang, PhD Candidate of Earth & Environmental Environmental Sciences, Columbia University
- Jose Rafael Guarin, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia Climate School, Columbia University; NASA GISS
Materials Science and Sustainability
April 14th, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Alana Guzzetta, P.E., U.S. Concrete National Research Laboratory Manager
- Neel S. Joshi, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University
The Science of Environmental Policy
March 17th, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Mahmoud Abouelnaga, Solutions Fellow, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
- Sonia Wang, Policy Analyst, Co-owner and Student
Water and Sustainability
March 3rd, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Shah Selbe, Founder, FieldKit and Conservify
- Haydee Salmun, Associate Professor, Hunter College & The Graduate Center, CUNY
Sustainable Fashion
February 10th, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Theanne Schiros, PhD, Associate Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology
- Yuly Fuentes, MIT the Future of Fabrics
Environmental Justice and Technology
February 3, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Behruz Mahmudov, Independent Researcher and Activist, Teens Take Charge
- Joseph Kerski, MD, Geographer, Manager, Esri Education
Building Sustainably
January 13th, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Suman Gidwani, Co-Founder, EnergyGrade
- Jonathan Lane, Vice President of Infrastructure Innovation, NYC Economic Development Corporation
Sustainable Transport and Mobility
January 6th, 2022 5-6pm ET
- Stacey Matlen, Director of Innovation Programs, Partnership for NYC
- Lauren Rennee, Senior Project Manager, NYC DOT's Bicycle Unit"
The Science of Air Quality
December 16, 2021 5-6pm ET
- Madee Ku, PE, Product Advocate, Temboo
- Darren Riley, CEO & Founder, JustAir
Afterlife of Waste
December 2, 2021 5-6pm ET
- Dr. Samantha MacBride, Section Chief, Research and Optimization, Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
- Sashti Balasundaram, Founder, WeRadiate
Sustainable Food Production
November 18, 2021 5-6pm ET
- Tinia Pina, Founder & CEO, Re-Nuble
- Reilly Cooper, Microbial Ecologist, Upward Farm
Renewable Energy
November 11, 2021 5-6pm ET
- Amanda Colombo, Project Development Analyst, Safari Energy
- Obste Therasme, Assistant Professor, SUNY ESF
The role of robotics and automation in vaccine development
May 11, 2021, 4-5PM ET
- Alexi Palmer, MHSc, Senior Associate Scientist, Pfizer
- Dominique Prophete, Associate Scientist, Pfizer
How research in cells and animals lead can lead to therapeutics for humans
March 31, 2021, 4-5PM ET
- Jian An, PhD, Senior Scientist, Pfizer
- Cyndi Pinkus, Scientist, Pfizer
Drug Development for Metabolic and Rare Diseases
February 25, 2021; 4-5PM ET
- Allan Reyes, Principal Scientist, Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer
- Alexandra Srnka, Senior Associate Scientist working in the Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer
How Drug Development and Clinical Trials Really Work
December 16, 2020; 4-5PM ET
- Jyoti Ramakrisha, MD, MPH, Director of Clinical Research, Pfizer
- Aarti Sawant Basak, PhD, Associate Director of Clinical Pharmacology, Pfizer
Journeys to Working in the Pharmaceutical Industry
December 1, 2020; 4-5PM ET
- Seng H. Cheng, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of the Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer
- Monica Schenone, PhD, Lead for the East Coast Chemical Biology Group, Pfizer
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