STEM Pathways

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 Immeasurable Impact of an Effective Mentor

Eugene Mananga, PhD, a professor of physics and chemistry at the City University of New York (CUNY), recently received the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Published May 2, 2025

By Nick Fetty
Digital Content Manager

When Professor Eugene Mananga, who is also a member of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy), got the news that he would receive this prestigious award, he admits he never even contemplated he could earn such an honor.

“It was astonishing and extremely impressive to have the value of my STEM mentoring be considered at the highest level,” he said. “My life has been full of directions I never could have imagined.”

The Value of Education and Hard Work

Eugene Mananga’s life story began in the Central African nation of Cameroon. He was the youngest of eight children in a middle-class family. His mother was forced to abandon her educational journey in third grade (the highest level of education offered to girls at that time) while his father didn’t make it past elementary school. Despite these limitations, his parents instilled in him the value of education and hard work.

Prof. Mananga excelled in his math classes in elementary and high school. He also developed an interest in physics and had an appreciation for the work of early classic physicists like Isaac Newton. “At an early age, I found physics more real as it is concerned with all aspects of nature on both the macroscopic and submicroscopic levels compared to mathematics that I would say instead is a language of physics,” he said.

As an undergraduate at the University of Yaounde in his home country, he majored in physics with a minor in chemistry and went on to graduate in the top five percent of his class. He remained at the university to earn his MS in physics and a diploma of advanced studies (DEA) in physics, securing first rank and becoming one of the youngest students in Africa ever to earn a DEA in physics. Prof. Mananga was the first in his family to graduate from high school and from college.

“This unique opportunity brought pride to my family and a heavy sense of responsibility on my part,” he said in reflection.

Next, he pursued a doctorate in mechanics degree in theory of solitons at Yaounde, though he did not defend his thesis. Instead, he decided to attend a university in France (his first language is French) or the United States in order to achieve his career aspirations.

Coming to America

Prof. Mananga arrived in New York City in 1999. In the next six years he would earn an MA in physics from the City College of New York, as well as an MPhil and PhD, both in physics from the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Graduate Center. His doctoral research, advised by Steve Greenbaum, PhD, focused on condensed matter physics and materials science. This work led to the first report on the effect of high pressure on self-diffusion in a membrane. The report was impactful because it illustrates how the pressure dependence of self-diffusion coefficients can be a useful tool in characterizing molecular motion in fuel cell membranes, batteries, and energy storage–areas of deep importance to sustainability.

He then pursued a series of postdoctoral positions that took him from the U.S. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission to Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Once appointed to a joint assistant professorship with Bronx Community College and the CUNY Graduate Center, he made it a goal to get tenured as fast as possible.

“To the best of my knowledge, I am the first and only faculty member from the CUNY system who was promoted from associate professor to full professor in a one-year time period,” he said, adding that tenure now enables him to place more emphasis on mentoring and research.

In addition to his CUNY faculty appointments, Prof. Mananga is an adjunct professor of applied physics at New York University, a selected fellow at the KAVLI Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California Santa Barbara, and has received highly selective visiting faculty fellowships from the U.S. Department of Energy to mentor students and to conduct research at major US national laboratory such as Brookhaven National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Impactful Research

Prof. Mananga’s research spans a range of topics in condensed matter physics, materials science, computational chemistry, and, to a lesser extent, nuclear medicine. His most recent research has involved controlling the spin dynamics in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and using computational methods based on density functional theory (DFT) to characterize materials systems in zeolites, catalysts, fuel cells, batteries, and energy storage. He believes these areas are critical to sustainability. His work utilizes a range of methods, from experimental solid-state NMR to theoretical chemical physics and spectroscopy to modern computational chemical science with high-performance computing.

Prof. Mananga teaching a recitation class at the City College of New York in 2001.

“I am best known for my work on the Floquet-Magnus expansion, a mathematical technique widely applied in NMR spectroscopy, condensed matter physics, and applied mathematics,” he said.

His key contributions are in three areas:

In Solid-state NMR spectroscopy, where alongside Thibault Charpentier, PhD, during his stint at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, the duo introduced the Floquet-Magnus expansion in solid-state NMR. Furthermore, their work in spin dynamics has contributed to the study of high resolution in solid-state NMR.
In quantum physics and magnonics, where his work on the Floquet-Magnus expansion theory and applications could be extended, enabling new applications in quantum mechanics and spintronics.
In medical imaging and nuclear medicine, where his postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital has contributed to the detectability of a myocardial defect in a cardiac PET study to investigate better diagnostic imaging techniques in nuclear medicine.

To date, Prof. Mananga has more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific articles to his name. He’s also received a handful of prestigious research awards including the 2024 Distinguished Mentor Award from the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and the 2018 Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Chemical Society (New York Section).

The Impact of Mentors

Prof. Mananga receiving the 2018 Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Chemical Society.

From his parents and siblings to his professors and colleagues, Prof. Mananga is quick to attribute strong mentors as playing a significant role in his success.

“Accepting this highest honor without acknowledging those who have mentored and educated me since my childhood would be ungrateful,” he said of receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. “My work could not have been possible without the assistance of numerous colleagues and the mentees I have mentored.”

Prof. Mananga offers various tips that he thinks are the keys to effective mentoring:

Failure should be seen as a learning opportunity for development. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
The most important qualities that other mentors can help students and mentees develop for effectively engaging and impacting them are: creativity, judgment, communication, organization, and persistence.
Encourage mentees to ask questions, and even to challenge the mentor when applicable.
Engage and provide opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Be willing to embrace change.

“I believe that mentoring prowess is similar to scientific knowledge that builds on others’ work, and that discovering truth is a result of combining past discoveries,” said Prof. Mananga. “Isaac Newton once wrote that if he had seen further than others, it was because he stood on the shoulders of giants.”

Appreciation for Sports, Music, and Dancing

Just as much as his life and career have been widely varied, so are his hobbies and interests outside of work. He’s a supporter of the Cameroon national soccer team and is proud to point out that the team “holds the record as the first African country ever to reach the quarter final in the World Cup in 1990.” A fan of boxing, he enjoys rewatching the famous 1974 heavyweight championship bout between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. Dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the fight took place in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He also enjoys music, listening to everything from classical composers like Beethoven and Mozart, to popular artists like Otis Redding, Bob Marley, Beyoncé, and Rihanna. He even dances.

“They might not want to admit it, but my daughters can testify that I am a good dancer of early style Assiko music from artists like Jean Bikoko Aladin to the modern style of Olivier de Clovis and Belka Tobis,” he said with a laugh.

In reflection of his life that was “full of directions [he] never could have imagined,” Prof. Mananga cannot overstate the importance of impactful mentors for a productive career and a fulfilling life.

“As a mentor, one of the most valuable things you can do is to pay attention, do the right things, and help others without forecasting anything in return,” he said. “By taking positive steps, mentors are telling mentees that they can excel. Everything we do helps build the next generation.”

Are you interested in being an impactful mentor like Professor Eugene Mananga? Check out mentoring opportunities available at the Academy.

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!

Chat with Experts featuring Yaihara Fortis Santiago, PhD

June 26, 2025 | 1:00 – 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 seventh session in the Chat with Experts series, and it will feature Yaihara Fortis Santiago, PhD, Director, Pipeline Training Programs, Sloan Kettering Institute. Explore the full lineup of events in the series.

Speaker

Yaihara Fortis Santiago, PhD

Dr. Fortis Santiago holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras and a PhD in Neuroscience from Brandeis University. Upon graduating with her PhD, she joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow. In 2014, she joined the New York Academy of Sciences, where she created the first leadership program for STEM graduate students: the Science Alliance Leadership Training. And in 2017, she joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to lead the postdoctoral office. More recently, in 2025 she expanded her portfolio to oversee MSK’s scientific Pipeline Training Programs. She is also a doctoral scholar of the Leadership Alliance, and a former fellow of the 92Y Women inPower fellowship.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

The Lasting Impact of the Junior Academy

Rebecca Zolotor, PharmD, currently serves as dean and vice president for the School of Health Sciences at Purdue Global. Her passion for public health can be traced back to her time at the Junior Academy more than 30 years ago.

Published April 16, 2025

By Brooke Elliott
Education Communications Intern

Rebecca Zolotor gives a presentation as a member of the Junior Academy in 1992.

Dr. Rebecca Zolotor’s passion for science was ignited in ninth grade when she read The Double Helix by James D. Watson, his account of the discovery of DNA’s structure. This piqued an interest that led her to join The New York Academy of Science’s Junior Academy. There she was partnered with David Crandell, PhD, a researcher within the cardiovascular division of Lederle Labs.

Under the guidance of Dr. Crandall she quickly discovered a deep interest in research. At just 18 years old, she was included as a co-author on publications from her time working at Lederle Labs. Dr. Crandall also connected Rebecca to his mentor, the late Mario DiGirolamo, MD, a professor and researcher in the medical school, who was conducting research at Emory University. That connection was instrumental in her decision to attend Emory, where she continued to assist with research. “Their support allowed me to ask questions, make mistakes, and learn through observation and hands-on experience, shaping my growth and confidence in those formative years,” she said in reflection.

Applying Individual Skills to Team Success

Dr. Zolotor then worked under Keith Smith, EdD, for 15 years, who showed her how to combine diverse individual strengths to build a strong, cohesive team. He emphasized the importance of having a clear mission, where everyone understands how their contributions help drive the team’s success. “His guidance had a lasting impact on my professional growth and leadership approach,” she said.

The passion for science of the mentors and participants of the Junior Academy left a lasting impression on Dr. Zolotor. “I remember attending sessions at the beautiful building on 2 East 63rd Street (the home of the Academy from 1949 to 2006), surrounded by others who were just as eager to learn and make a difference,” said Dr. Zolotor, adding that it was “incredibly inspiring to be in that environment.”

Working Across the Globe

Dr. Zolotor’s time at the Junior Academy sparked a domino effect in her career. Her early experience with cardiovascular research opened her eyes to the critical role nutrition plays in overall health and quality of life, which inspired her to pursue an MS in nutritional science. This led to a post-graduate opportunity at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she co-led initiatives, including nutrition talks, supermarket tours, and cooking nights. From there, new opportunities led her to New Zealand, then Mexico, where she taught science courses at a university.

Rebecca Zolotor (seated, center) poses with her lab mates and Dr. David Crandell in the Lederle Lab in 1991.

Dr. Zolotor’s earliest research stayed with her throughout these experiences. When she returned to the U.S., she worked at the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital, managing a clinical trial focused on diabetes while earning her doctorate in pharmacy. As a pharmacist, she advanced her career in leadership roles in pharmacy management, where she gained valuable skills in team building, operations, and strategic leadership. Still, she was seeking a role where she could make a broader impact, prompting her return to academia.

A Passion for Education and Online Learning

As dean and vice president of the School of Health Sciences at Purdue Global, Purdue University’s online university for working adults, she helps students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make meaningful contributions to diverse communities.

Her commitment to scale and using technology to reach more learners aligns with her current role at Purdue Global. Their work, especially with veterans and military leaders resonated with her work on clinical trials at the VA hospital.

Career Advice from Dr. Zolotor

“Whether pursuing research, teaching, or administration, the most impactful careers are shaped by a willingness to explore new ideas, adapt to change, and learn from every experience, even ones that do not turn out as you might have desired,” said Dr. Zolotor. “Ground yourself in empathy, good communication skills, and a clear sense of purpose.”

Some of Dr. Zolotor’s career-defining moments came from people who believed in her while challenging her, which she says helped her grow. Though her initial career goals of being a researcher for a pharmaceutical company did not go as expected, she feels grateful for the many opportunities that have come her way. She advises others to remain open to possibilities even if they do not directly align with their original plan. “There was no online education when I started out, so I never could have imagined my current career. But my path has led me to incredibly meaningful work,” she said.

Outside of STEM, Dr. Zolotor enjoys staying active, whether it be working out or spending time outdoors. A native of Brooklyn, NY, she also loves cooking and baking bread and has recently begun creating a cookbook with her children’s favorite recipes, exploring food plating and food photography.

Dr. Zolotor’s experience exemplifies the value of the Junior Academy. The connections and experiences made through the Junior Academy continue today.

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

Spring Speed Networking

May 14, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET | In-Person Event

115 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10006

Are you looking to expand your network and forge meaningful connections with other STEM professionals? Join The New York Academy of Sciences for a dynamic evening at our upcoming Spring Speed Networking Event! Meet multiple professionals across STEM fields through a structured networking activity, followed by open mingling with complimentary refreshments. Whether you are a seasoned professional, student, a startup founder, or just looking to meet new people, this event offers a perfect opportunity to connect with a variety of like-minded STEM professionals in a structured, time-efficient format. Space is limited. Register today and take the opportunity to expand your network!

Please ensure you have access to a smart device (e.g., phone, tablet, or laptop) with internet connectivity during the event to participate in live interactive polls and Q&A sessions.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $10.00

From the Dance Floor to the Neurobiology Lab

Constantina Theofanopoulou, PhD, a leading researcher in neurobiology is an accomplished flamenco dancer. She’s also a mentor for The New York Academy of Sciences.

Published April 2, 2025

By Brooke Elliott
Education Communication Intern

Image courtesy of constantinatheofanopoulou.com.

Constantina Theofanopoulou, PhD, is an accomplished neurobiologist who served as a mentor for The New York Academy of Sciences Afterschool STEM Program from 2019 to 2022. She taught biological concepts to elementary and middle school students in underserved communities across New York City, serving as a role model to young people interested in the sciences.

“The skills I gained–communication, adaptability, and inspiring curiosity–continue to shape my approach to mentoring and leading research teams today,” she said.

Her favorite part of working with young students? Their unfiltered curiosity. As they grow older, Prof. Theofanopoulou finds that adults often hesitate to ask questions out of fear of seeming naive. Children don’t have these reservations, and their relentless curiosity is both uplifting and a reminder of how essential it is to maintain an inquisitive spirit in science.

Witnessing “eureka” moments, whether it was understanding a challenging concept or successfully completing an experiment, is what made the Academy program so rewarding.

Greece, Genomics, and Greatness

Prof. Theofanopoulou grew up in Greece, and her early educational life was marked by incredible teachers across all disciplines. “I was equally thrilled to win the Kid Fairytale Prize at age seven and to represent my school in highly competitive national mathematics contests like the ‘Thales’ competition,” she said, adding that the prize was awarded by the major Greek publisher Minoas.

Captivated by the ‘mystery’ of language, she pursued linguistics for her undergraduate studies, feeling that this field stood somewhere in between the sciences and humanities. “I do believe that scientists clearly benefit from skills traditionally associated with the ‘humanities’, such as crafting clear scientific writing or developing persuasive grant proposals. Interdisciplinary abilities are essential in science and scientific leadership,” said Prof. Theofanopoulou.

After earning her PhD in Neuroscience of Langue from the University of Barcelona, she completed research stays at Duke University and Rockefeller University which earned her a “Universal PhD” title. She then pursued postdoctoral research at The Rockefeller University, with a focus on the neurobiology of speech and the genomics of social communication. She joined the faculty of CUNY Hunter College from 2022 to 2023 and now holds a position as a research assistant professor at The Rockefeller University.

Connecting Neurobiology and Dance

In addition to being an influential scientist, Prof. Theofanopoulou is also an accomplished flamenco dancer. In 2012, she was awarded first prize by the Spanish Dance Society and has been dancing since she was five years old.

It wasn’t until recently that Prof. Theofanopoulou realized she could combine her love of dance with her passion for science, using her insights into the neurobiology of dance to benefit her research in the neurobiology of speech. Because humans and select bird species (including parrots) are the only beings with advanced vocal learning abilities and clear rhythmic entrainment (dance), she hypothesized that there might be a shared neural pathway and evolutionary mechanisms underlying these two behaviors. She began exploring the two fields in tandem, integrating her choreography skills into experimental designs.

“My goal is not to inspire others to follow my exact path but rather to encourage them to identify what truly excites them and pursue it with passion and dedication,” she said.

Commitment to Diversity in Science

For Prof. Theofanopoulou, supporting underrepresented communities in science is an obvious and necessary cause. “It is profoundly unjust to exclude individuals from pursuing their passions based on identity. Scientifically, a narrow pipeline of voices can never produce the best ideas,” she said. As a woman in a male-dominated scientific field and an international scholar navigating multiple cultural and linguistic contexts, she has experienced many of the challenges that underrepresented groups face.

It’s clear that improving representation requires both a top-down and bottom-up approach, according to Prof. Theofanopoulou. Systemic support structures, such as targeted initiatives and mentorship programs like the Academy’s Afterschool STEM Program, foster inclusive lab cultures through everyday actions. It’s through this mentorship that Prof. Theofanopoulou works to improve the community for the generations of young scientists she inspires.

Learn more about the Academy’s educational initiatives and how you can become an impactful mentor just like Prof. Theofanopoulou.

Prof. Theofanopoulou will give a short lecture and showcase her flamenco dance skills during the “Rhythms of Exchange: the Latin American Influences on Flamenco Arts” event on April 15 at The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, 10065, New York, NY. This free event begins at 5 p.m. and is open to the public. RSVP today if you want to attend!

Academy Member was Female Trailblazer in Astronomy

One of the early members of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy), Margaret Burbidge, PhD was an influential astrophysicist and proponent of women’s equality in science.

Published March 31, 2025

By Brooke Elliott
Education Communications Intern

Astrophysicist Margaret Burbidge at the Science Research Council in Holborn, London, after the announcement of her appointment as Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, November 1971. Image courtesy of Michael Webb via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed via Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. No changes made.

Margaret Burbidge, PhD was the first woman to serve as director of the Royal Observatory, a recipient of the National Medal of Science, and a designer of instruments carried aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. She was also the first director of the University of California’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, paving the way for generations of women in the male-dominated scientific community.

Early Life

Eleanor Margaret Peachey was born on August 12, 1919, in Davenport, northwest England to chemistry lecturer Stanley Peachey and wife Majorie Scott, who had been his student. Her early life was defined by her parents’ scientific and intellectual curiosity.

It was at just four years old, while crossing the English Channel on holiday with her parents, that Margaret’s passion for astronomy began. As she looked up into the clear night sky, she saw stars in a way she never could have imagined in urban London. She became “smitten” with astronomy, and though she excelled in all her classes, it was science she took a special interest in as she grew older.

In 1936, Burbidge enrolled at University College London, where she studied astronomy, physics, and mathematics. She graduated in 1939 with first-class honors and stayed on to receive her PhD from the University of London in 1943. While she was a student, she met fellow student Geoffrey Burbidge, and the pair married in 1948.

Breaking Down Gender Barriers

In the late 1940s, there weren’t many women in the scientific community. When Dr. Burbidge applied for the Carnegie Institution for Science fellowship, which would have given her access to the Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena, California, she was denied based on her gender. Women were not allowed to use the prestigious telescopes because “men making the rules somehow developed the idea that the wives of the astronomers would not like the thought of their men working with women ‘during the night’!”

Dr. Burbidge wasn’t going to let this stop her, though, and in a bold move to continue her work, she posed as her husband’s assistant to gain access to the observatory. Even then, the pair was made to live in a rustic, unheated cottage miles from the other, male, scientists, who were accommodated with a private chef.

Contributions to Astrophysics

During her decades-long career, Dr. Burbidge made many contributions not only to astrophysics but to humanity. Some of her most influential work was done in collaboration with her husband, including the landmark article “Synthesis of the Elements in Stars.”

The paper, published in 1957 and often referred to as the BBFH paper, is one of the most influential scientific articles to date and revolutionized the public’s understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis–the process by which stars create nearly all of the elements in the periodic table. They demonstrated how the essential elements–carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen–were created in the cores of stars.

She also worked with quasars, short for “quasi-stellar radio sources,” which are the brightest and most distant objects in the universe. She extensively researched the origins of these fascinating phenomena and helped to demystify them.

A Big Bang in Research

Dr. Burbidge was always a free thinker and unafraid to challenge the prevailing theories of the time. Most notable was her skepticism of the “Big Bang Theory”–the majority view in the scientific community, which states that the universe was created by a single explosion and has been expanding ever since. The Burbidges were proponents of the steady state concept, which held that the universe has no beginning and end, only the continual creation of matter.

She also helped to design the instruments aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Launched in 1990, it has revolutionized our understanding of the universe as it orbits Earth every 95 minutes and looks back billions of years into the past.

Academia and Accomplishments

Dr. Burbidge did more than introduce new ideas to the established scientific community; she expanded the field through her teaching. During the course of her career, she worked at the California Institute of Technology, the Harvard College Observatory, the Yerkes Observatory, the University of Chicago, and the McDonald Observatory. Her commitment to education, something that had been in her family since her father’s days as a chemistry professor, increased her status as a trailblazer for aspiring scientists.

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan awarded Dr. Burbidge the National Medal of Sciences, which only 10 women have received in its history. Further, she served as director of the Royal Observatory from 1972 to 1973 without being named Astronomer Royal, another act of discrimination against her gender. It was the first time in 300 years that the positions were not held simultaneously.

Equality for Women

Dr. Burbidge’s commitment against discrimination was an important aspect of her life and work, and in 1972, she refused the Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy because it was only awarded to women. In an interview with Science Magazine in 1991, she said, “If my strong feeling is against any kind of discrimination, I have to stretch that to include discrimination for women too.”

She was the first woman to serve as president of the American Astronomical Society. Other accolades include the Helen B. Warner Prize from the American Astronomical Society and the Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. She was also selected as an Honorary Life Member of The New York Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Burbidge passed away in 2020 at age 100. As part of the lasting testament to her legacy in astronomy, she has an asteroid named for her, Minor Planet 5490 Burbidge.

Also read: A Pioneer in Pap Smears and Cancer Research

Navigating Your Career Pivot: Opportunities in Science Nonprofits

A group of white arrows pointing upwards, with one red arrow angled diagonally toward the top right

April 15, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET | Hybrid Event

115 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10006

Science nonprofits stand at the forefront of shaping scientific advancement through impact investing, philanthropy, education, and advocacy, and an exciting array of career opportunities for scientists exist within these organizations. This workshop, presented by Brooke Grindlinger, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of The New York Academy of Sciences, is intended to help early-career scientists (grad students, postdocs, faculty) transition to and learn about nonprofit roles.

Through interactive sessions and case studies, participants will:

Gain knowledge about the kinds of science nonprofits and the types of roles available within these organizations
Delve into skills valued by nonprofits
Identify relevant skills already existing within their repertoire and determine strategies to fill skill gaps
Explore compensation trends within science nonprofits
Gain the tools needed to plan pathways for a lab-to-nonprofit transition and investigate long-term career paths within nonprofits

Attendees are strongly encouraged to join in-person at the Academy’s space on 115 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10006 to take full advantage of the event. The program will also be offered live online.

Please note the event will begin promptly at 6:00PM.

Speaker

Dr. Brooke Grindlinger

Microbiologist Dr. Brooke Grindlinger serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at The New York Academy of Sciences. Committed to leveraging science for positive impact, she strategically guides the scientific facets of the Academy’s diverse program portfolio, spanning life, chemical, and physical sciences, as well as social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. A sought-after expert speaker, Dr. Grindlinger has graced prestigious platforms such as the United Nations, South by Southwest, and the US National Institutes of Health. With a knack for addressing pivotal topics at the nexus of science and society, she contributes insights to podcasts and webinars and has written for esteemed publications including The Washington Post, International Business Times, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Formerly the Science Editor for The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Dr. Grindlinger’s impactful Academy leadership garnered her recognition as a “Most Notable in Nonprofits and Philanthropy” by Crain’s New York Business Magazine.

Pricing

Member: Free

Nonmember: $20.00

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