Science in Society
Browse the latest in Science in Society, including blog articles, Annals research, events, Academy news and more.
Content Spotlight
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Serving the Country as an Army Engineer
November 11, 2025
Ulysses S. Grant is best known for leading the Union Army to victory during the American Civil War and serving as the nation’s 18th president, but his less-well-known grandson, who was an associate member of The New York Academy of Sciences, had his own impact on the country in the fields of civil engineering and architecture. Published November 11, 2025 By Nick Fetty A portrait photograph of MG Ulysses S. Grant III, taken in April...
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Academy’s Past – Moving on Up(town)
August 28, 2025
The Academy would spend more than half a century in its next home, which was located on the city’s Upper East Side. Published August 28, 2025 By Nick Fetty Ziegler-Woolworth Mansion | 2 E. 63rd Street | 1949-2005 When the Academy moved into the Ziegler-Woolworth Mansion on East 63rd Street it once again had its own standalone facility. The mansion served as the Academy’s home into the 21st century. The Academy’s procurement of this space...
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Street-Level AI
August 19, 2025
How one NYC cohort tested generative AI in real classrooms—with lessons for national implementation. Published August 19, 2025 By Devin Chowske Was it really just two years ago that the City declared ChatGPT had no place in classrooms? And it only took 8 months for that decision to be turned around. Eighteen months later, I’m working with The New York Academy of Sciences to help teachers bring AI into their classrooms. And now, three months after that, I’m...
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From the 2014 Blavatnik National Awards to the 2025 Soljačić Prize
August 6, 2025
A former Blavatnik National Awards Laureate has paid it forward with a prize recognizing scientific excellence in his home country. Published August 6, 2025 By Kamala Murthy 2014 Blavatnik National Awards Laureate, Marin Soljačić congratulates Pia Pilipović, winner of the 2025 Soljačić Prize. Credit: https://mzom.gov.hr/vijesti/7141 Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist and 2014 Blavatnik National Awards Laureate Marin Soljačić established the Soljačić Prize in his home country of Croatia. He used part of his $250,000 unrestricted...
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Sparking Scientific Connections at the 2025 Blavatnik Science Symposium
July 28, 2025
The 2025 Blavatnik Science Symposium, hosted by The New York Academy of Sciences, convened an extraordinary group of past and present Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists honorees for two days of cross-disciplinary exchange and forward-looking discussion on science with real-world impact. Published July 28, 2025 By Kamala Murthy A group photo of the attendees at the 2025 Blavatnik Science Symposium. Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences. Held at the Academy on July...
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The Current State of Science, Politics, and Academia
July 3, 2025
From systemic political attacks on research and threats on academic freedom to the detrimental role of misinformation on public trust and the importance of international collaboration. Published July 3, 2025 By Nick Fetty Nicholas B. Dirks Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences recently discussed the role politics will play in scientific and academic research going forward, not only in the United States but across the globe. Dirks, alongside...
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Celebrating Scientific Brilliance and Resilience
June 13, 2025
Highlights from the 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. Published June 13, 2025 By Kamala Murthy Against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea and the luminous Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Tel Aviv, Israel, over one hundred preeminent scientific researchers, dignitaries, academics, business leaders, and supporters gathered on June 4, 2025, for an unforgettable evening honoring the future of science in Israel. The 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel...
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The McClintock Letters Initiative to Support Science
June 2, 2025
The new McClintock Letters Initiative calls on researchers to share their stories about the need for federal financial support of scientific research. Published June 2, 2025 Barbara McClintock (1902-1992), Department of Genetics, Carnegie Institution at Cold Spring Harbor, New York, shown in her laboratory. This photograph was distributed when McClintock received the American Association of University Women Achievement Award in 1947 for her work on cytogenetics. Image courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives. By The...
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The Academy Goes to the Movies to Advance Science
May 28, 2025
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 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,...
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Academy’s Past – An Era of “Unprecedented Prosperity”
May 22, 2025
After an interim few years, The New York Academy of Sciences' (the Academy’s) next substantive home was in a small room at the American Museum of Natural History. Published May 22, 2025 By Nick Fetty American Museum of Natural History | 200 Central Park West | 1904-1949 Image courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History. The first cornerstone for the American Museum of Natural History’s (AMNH) 77th Street building was laid by U.S. President...
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Bringing Science to Life with Artificial Intelligence
May 14, 2025
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 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...
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Academy’s Soiree Recognizes Excellence in Science
May 12, 2025
It was an evening celebrating innovation, discovery, and leaders in science when The New York Academy of Sciences hosted its Spring Soirée at the University Club of New York. Published May 12, 2025 By Nick Fetty It was a full house for The New York Academy of Sciences' Spring Soirée, hosted at the University Club of New York. The inaugural Soiréewas a night to honor scientific excellence as several established and aspiring STEM professionals were...
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Jared Lipworth Honored for Advancing Science Comms
May 8, 2025
Jared Lipworth, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and head of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, was recently recognized by The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) for outstanding contributions to science. Published May 8, 2025 By Nick Fetty Jared Lipworth Creating scientific programming that engages general audiences is an art form. One skilled practitioner of that art form is Jared Lipworth, head of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, who was recently recognized for his accomplishments with The New...
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2025 Laureates of the Prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel Announced
May 6, 2025
Three scientists from Israeli universities will each be awarded US$100,000 for their groundbreaking scientific research. Jerusalem, May 6, 2025 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and The New York Academy of Sciences announced today the Laureates of the prestigious 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. This year’s Laureates, who will each receive US$100,000, are: Yonatan Stelzer, PhD (Life Sciences) – Weizmann Institute of Science – Recognized for breakthroughs...
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From Battling “Deep Sea Monsters” to Conserving Them
May 6, 2025
“Battling Deep Sea Monsters” sounds like a synopsis of the classic novel by French writer Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. Instead, it’s something that could have been listed on the resume of Robert Cushman Murphy, a fellow of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) more than a century ago. Published May 6, 2025 By Nick Fetty Image courtesy of the Brooklyn Eagle - May 24, 1925 via newspapers.com. Robert Cushman Murphy...
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Janet Tobias Recognized for Advancing Science Comms
May 5, 2025
Janet Tobias, winner of an Emmy and Peabody Award, was one of four Honorees recently recognized by The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) for outstanding contributions to science. Published May 5, 2025 By Nick Fetty Janet Tobias Tobias, well-respected by her colleagues for her curiosity, tenacity, and passion for educating audiences about science, was presented with the 2025 Communicating Science Award during the Academy’s recent Spring Soirée, hosted at the University Club of...
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The Urgent Need for Attention Sanctuaries
April 11, 2025
The commodification of our attention in digital realms has been the focus of news reports, academic research, and even the hit Netflix series “Adolescence.” Researchers and activists are increasingly calling for spaces where we can escape the daily deluge of screen-based content. Published April 11, 2025 By Brooke Elliott Image courtesy of reewungjunerr via stock.adobe.com. More than nine states have implemented rules about cell phone use in schools, and with good reason. Smartphones and digital...
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Academy’s Past – A New Name for a New Era
April 8, 2025
The Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York was renamed The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) in 1876 to better encapsulate the work and mission of the organization during this era of broad scientific discovery. Published April 8, 2025 By Nick Fetty Mott Memorial Hall. Image courtesy of the New York Public Library. Mott Memorial Hall | 64 Madison Avenue | 1867-1878 The Lyceum of Natural History in the City...
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The UK’s Brightest Young Scientists Shine in London at the 2025 Blavatnik Awards
April 3, 2025
Three remarkable Laureates and six Finalists were recognized for their groundbreaking scientific discoveries during a gala at The Orangery, Kensington Palace, in London Published April 3, 2025 By Kamala Murthy The 2025 Honorees of the Blavatnik Awards in the UK standing outside The Orangery at Kensington Palace. Each year, the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom celebrate the brightest young scientific minds across the UK. In 2025, three remarkable Laureates and six...
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One of Early America’s Engineering Marvels
March 26, 2025
One of the Academy’s earliest Honorary Members had an immense impact on transportation and economics in the United States during the 19th century. Published March 26, 2025 By Nick Fetty DeWitt Clinton. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. DeWitt Clinton, one of The New York Academy of Sciences’ earliest Honorary Members, had a significant political, economic and social impact on New York City and state, though his contributions reverberated across the country. Clinton was born in...
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A Pioneer in Pap Smears and Cancer Research
March 19, 2025
During her more than half century career, May Chinn, MD, MPH, advanced access to medical care for low-income residents in Harlem, with many of her contributions directly impacting healthcare for women and other disenfranchised populations. Published March 19, 2025 By Brooke Elliott May Edward Chinn during her years at Teacher's College, ca. 1917. Image courtesy of George B. Davis Ph.D./E.F. Foley via NIH. May Edward Chinn was the first woman to graduate from the Bellevue...
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Then Along Came the Second Trump Administration
March 12, 2025
Academy President and CEO Nicholas B. Dirks highlights some of the ways higher education and science in the United States are under threat during the second Trump Administration. Published March 12, 2025 Originally published by Times Higher Education By Nicholas B. Dirks A 1940 Group photo of E. O. Lawrence, A. H. Compton, V. Bush, J. B. Conant, K. Compton, and A. Loomis. Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy/Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory via Wikimedia...
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A Social Scientist and Social Critic
March 6, 2025
One of The New York Academy of Sciences early Fellows advanced anthropological understandings of Native tribes. Her social sciences background also extended into feminism and broader societal critiques. Published March 6, 2025 By Nick Fetty Elsie Clews Parsons. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Elsie Clews Parsons was born to a prominent New York family in 1875. She earned a BA from the recently established Barnard College prior to completing her PhD in sociology from Columbia...
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Academy’s Past: Fire Leads to Academy Setback
February 18, 2025
A devastating fire would destroy the Lyceum’s next home, including the Lyceum’s priceless collection that took half a century to assemble. Published February 18, 2025 By Nick Fetty NYU Medical School | 14th Street and 3rd Avenue | 1851-1866 Courtesy of The New York Public Library The Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York’s (the Lyceum’s) next home was in the newly constructed NYU Medical School at the intersection of E. 14th...
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Get Ready with the Disaster Response Game
February 12, 2025
A new virtual scenario game established by the International Science Reserve prepares users for responding to crises like wildfires, hurricanes, and food security. Published February 12, 2025 By Mila Rosenthal, PhD We can’t always predict where a disaster will happen next. What we do know is that scientists have a critical role to play in reducing risk and solving problems in a crisis. If you are a scientist looking to prepare for crisis response, the...
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Q&A with Academy Board Member Tom Franco
January 28, 2025
Tom Franco is a Senior Advisor with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC and is also a member of the Board of Governors for The New York Academy of Sciences. With an extensive background in law, business, entrepreneurship, and teaching, he brings a valuable perspective to the Board. We spoke with him to learn more about his background, what motivates him, and why he chose to get involved with the Academy. Published January 30, 2025 By...
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The Tata Transformation Prize Celebrates the 2024 Winners in Mumbai
January 8, 2025
The New York Academy of Sciences continues its partnership with India’s Tata Group for the second annual Tata Transformation Prize. Published January 8, 2025 By Kamala Murthy On Friday, December 13, 2024 the Tata Group and The New York Academy of Sciences honored the 2024 Tata Transformation Prize Winners at an impressive award ceremony and dinner at the historic Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. Launched in 2023, the Tata Transformation Prize identifies and supports visionary...
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Artificial Intelligence and Animal Group Behavior
December 23, 2024
By linking cognitive strategy, neural mechanisms, movement statistics, and artificial intelligence (AI) a team of interdisciplinary researchers are trying to better understand animal group behavior. Published December 23, 2024 By Nick Fetty A bay-breasted warbler in Central Park. Image courtesy of Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. A new research paper in the journal Scientific Reports explores ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can analyze and perhaps even predict animal behavior. The paper, titled “Linking...
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Isolationism Will Make Science Less Effective
December 23, 2024
Increasing global scientific cooperation is fundamental to the mission of the International Science Reserve. Effective collaboration will positively impact how we solve global challenges. Published December 23, 2024 By Mila Rosenthal, PhD Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash. The COVID-19 pandemic was a global human disaster. But the damage done could have been even worse had the spread of the virus not been countered by vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, all developed by the medical and...
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Winners of the 2024 Tata Transformation Prize Celebrate Bold Innovation for India and Beyond
November 25, 2024
Three rising scientific stars in India are recognized for their solutions to the nation’s urgent challenges in malnutrition and diabetes, energy storage, and a new RSV vaccine. Mumbai, India | November 25, 2024 – Tata Sons and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the second cohort of Winners of the Tata Transformation Prize. The Prize recognizes and supports visionary scientists in India who are developing breakthrough technologies that address India’s most significant societal challenges in...
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Peter Salovey, PhD, named Chair, Board of Governors of The New York Academy of Sciences
November 19, 2024
Former president of Yale University to assume leadership role of the Academy’s Board of Governors New York, NY | November 18, 2024 – Peter Salovey, PhD, a social psychologist and early pioneer in the field of emotional intelligence, has been named as Chair, Board of Governors, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy). He will oversee the governance of the Academy and its 26 Member board, and work with current President and CEO, Nicholas...
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Academy’s Past – A Home to Ourselves
October 29, 2024
Unfortunately for the Lyceum, the time spent in its first standalone facility was short-lived. Published October 29, 2024 By Nick Fetty Lyceum Building | 563 Broadway | 1836 – 1844 From the New York Academy of Medicine. For the first time in its relatively short history, The Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York (“the Lyceum”) had its own standalone building when it moved into 563 Broadway, south of Prince Street. The...
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The New York Academy of Sciences’ Scientist-in-Residence Program Honored as a Finalist in the Education, Art, & Culture category for The 4th Annual Anthem Awards
October 21, 2024
Cast your vote today to help the Academy be an Anthem Awards winner for the second year in a row. New York, NY | October 21, 2024 – The New York Academy of Sciences announced that its Scientist-in-Residence program was named an Anthem Awards Finalist in the Education, Art, & Culture category in The 4th Annual Anthem Awards. In the Anthem Awards’ most competitive year, Scientist-in-Residence was short-listed from over 2,300 entries submitted from 34...
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Deepfakes and Democracy in the Digital Age
October 8, 2024
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 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...
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Ready, Set, Respond: How Playing an Outbreak Simulation Game Helps Scientists Prepare for the Next Pandemic
October 3, 2024
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 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...
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Beyond the Beaches: Revealing the Real Puerto Rico II
October 1, 2024
Part Two: A Lasting Impact What started off as a discovery excursion with many unknowns quickly yielded promise and proved to be one of The New York Academy of Sciences’ greatest early 20th century achievements. Published October 1, 2024 By Nick Fetty From The Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands While celebrating its centennial in 1917, The New York Academy of Sciences also celebrated the success of one of its early scientific...
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The New Age of the United States of Science
September 23, 2024
Scientists, engineers, educators, policymakers, and the public must work together to ensure the United States remains globally competitive. Published September 23, 2024 By Nick Fetty Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences. A panel of experts took a deep dive into science education, policy, economics, and more during the United States of Science event, hosted by The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) and the Science & Technology Action Committee (STAC) on...
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Academy’s Past – A Need for More Space
September 18, 2024
The Lyceum’s third home served as a placeholder until funds were raised for a standalone facility. Published September 16, 2024 By Nick Fetty New York Dispensary | White Street and Center Street | 1831 – 1836 From The New York Public Library. The Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York (“the Lyceum”) called the New York Dispensary home from 1831 to 1836. The Lyceum – which would rename itself The New York...
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Nine Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholars for the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists Announced
September 17, 2024
Cutting-edge research includes the study of the human ribosome to combat cancer, interfacing machines with the human brain to better understand neurological characteristics, and decoding the “dark matter” of viral genomes to mitigate viral threats. New York, NY | September 17, 2024 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the three Laureates and six Finalists of the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. The Awards honor outstanding...
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Beyond the Beaches: Revealing the Real Puerto Rico I
September 16, 2024
Part One: Into the Unknown Relatively little was known about the small Caribbean Island prior to a series of expeditions led by The New York Academy of Sciences in the early 20th century. Published September 16, 2024 By Nick Fetty From Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1915 Puerto Rico is known for its beautiful beaches, rich rainforests, and bioluminescent bays that attract tourists from all over the world. Upon the conclusion...
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2024 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Announced
September 12, 2024
A molecular biologist from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a chemical engineer from UC Berkeley, and an earth scientist from Cornell University are this year’s Laureates. New York, NY | September 12, 2024 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences named three women scientists as Laureates of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, marking the second time since the launch of the awards ten years ago that all three Laureates are women. Each will receive...
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The Ethics of Developing Voice Biometrics
August 29, 2024
Various ethical considerations must be applied to the development of artificial intelligence technologies like voice biometrics to ensure disenfranchised populations are not negatively impacted. Published August 29, 2024 By Nitin Verma, PhD Nitin Verma, PhD, (left) conducts an interview with Juana Caralina Becerra Sandoval at The New York Academy of Sciences' office in lower Manhattan.Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences. Juana Catalina Becerra Sandoval, a PhD candidate in the Department of the...
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Singing Lemurs Strike a Chord with Scientists
August 9, 2024
Do you like to sing in the shower or at karaoke? New research suggests a group of peculiar primates may have played an evolutionary role in your ability to do so. Published August 9, 2024 By Nick Fetty Closeup of an indri under the sunlight. Image courtesy of Holly EdwardsWirestock - stock.adobe.com. Before Beyoncé we had the Beatles. Before the Beatles we had Beethoven. And before Beethoven? Lemurs! …Lemurs??? A new study recently published in...
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Academy’s Past: A Budding Institution
August 6, 2024
The Lyceum’s second home housed “the richest collection of reptiles and fish in the country.” Published August 6, 2024 By Nick Fetty The New York Institution | Chambers Street | April 1817 – 1831 From The New York Public Library The Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York (“the Lyceum” – which would become The New York Academy of Sciences in 1876) moved into its second home off Chambers Street in April...
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The Fraught and Fruitful Future of Fungi
August 1, 2024
The humble fungi are part of our daily lives from food and therapy to entertainment and biomaterials. Published August 1, 2024 By Nick Fetty Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences What If Fungi Win? Immunologist and mycologist Arthuro Casadevall, MD, PhD, posed such a question in his recently published book, penned with co-author Stephanie Desmon, MA. It was also the topic of the final installment of the 2024 Authors at the Academy...
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Academy’s Past: Where It All Began
June 25, 2024
The Lyceum shared its first home with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, not far from the City Hall building that still stands today. Published June 25, 2024 By Nick Fetty The College of Physicians and Surgeons | 3 Barclay Street | January 1817 – April 1817 From The New York Public Library. The story of The New York Academy of Sciences starts where many New York stories have – in downtown Manhattan. It was...
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Innovative New Art Exhibit Showcases the Importance of Coral Reefs
June 13, 2024
Artist Mara G. Haseltine combines ingenuity with practicality to draw attention to environmental issues facing coral reefs. Published June 13, 2024 By Nick Fetty https://vimeo.com/954866011 Art and science come together in a striking new exhibition at The New York Academy of Sciences that celebrates World Oceans Day. The exhibit, entitled “Blueprints to Save the Planet: 1 Coral Reefs: Exploring the ‘Art’ of Sustainable Reef Restoration,” includes a replica of the Rococo Cocco Reef designed by...
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The New York Academy of Sciences and the Leon Levy Foundation Announce the 2024 Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience
May 29, 2024
Nine early career scientists are part of the 2024 cohort including researchers from The Rockefeller University, Albery Einstein College of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Flatiron Institute, and NYU. New York, NY | May 29, 2024 – The New York Academy of Sciences and the Leon Levy Foundation announced today the 2024 cohort of Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience, continuing a program initiated by the Foundation in 2009 that has supported 170 fellows...
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Building Trust Through Transparency in Biorisk Management
May 13, 2024
Transparency is key to the entire framework of responsible life sciences research. Note: The reflections in this blog are of Dr. Syra Madad and Dr. Filippa Lentzos and do not represent the viewpoints of TAG-RULS DUR, the World Health Organization or The New York Academy of Sciences. Published May 13, 2024 By Syra Madad, D.H.Sc., M.Sc., MCP, CHEP, and Filippa Lentzos First meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life...
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Exploring the Ethics of Human Settlement in Space
April 15, 2024
While there are many scientific and engineering considerations that need to be applied to the human settlement of outer space, author Erika Nesvold argues in her new book that we mustn’t forget about the ethical and social justice dimensions. Published April 15, 2024 By Nick Fetty Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences Astrophysicist Erika Nesvold discussed her recently published book, Off-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space, during the...
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Innovations in AI and Higher Education
April 12, 2024
From the future of higher education to regulating artificial intelligence (AI), Reid Hoffman and Nicholas Dirks had a wide-ranging discussion during the first installment of the Authors at the Academy series. Published April 12, 2024 By Nick Fetty Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences It was nearly a full house when authors Nicholas Dirks and Reid Hoffman discussed their respective books during an event at The New York Academy of Sciences on...
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Experiencing the 2024 Solar Eclipse in NYC and Beyond
April 10, 2024
As a historic eclipse graced the skies above New York City and other parts of the country on April 8, 2024, staff members with The New York Academy of Sciences were not going to miss out on this rare opportunity. Below are submissions from a handful of Academy staff who documented this historic happening. Published April 10, 2024 By Nick Fetty Sanaz Masserat (center), Event Coordinator, views the eclipse near the 9/11 Memorial in lower...
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Yann LeCun Emphasizes the Promise of AI
April 8, 2024
The renowned Chief AI Scientist of Meta, Yann LeCun, discussed everything from his foundational research in neural networks to his optimistic outlook on the future of AI technology at a sold-out Tata Knowledge Series on AI & Society event with the Academy’s President & CEO Nick Dirks while highlighting the importance of the open-source model. Published April 8, 2024 By Nick Fetty Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences Yann LeCun, a Turing...
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Prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel Announces 2024 Laureates
March 26, 2024
לקריאת ההודעה בעברית לחצו כאן Three scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel will each be awarded US$100,000 for their groundbreaking scientific research Jerusalem | March 26, 2024 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and The New York Academy of Sciences announced today the Laureates of the 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. This year’s Laureates, who will each receive US$100,000, are: Schraga Schwartz, PhD (Life...
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Celebrating Girls and Women in Science
February 10, 2024
The New York Academy of Sciences has been promoting women and girls in science since at least 1877. Those efforts continue today. Published February 10, 2024 By Nick Fetty Erminnie Smith As the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, The New York Academy of Sciences is proud to reflect on its efforts of making the sciences more accessible for all. The Academy began admitting women as members in 1877,...
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Academy President’s New Book Explores Contemporary Challenges in Higher Education
February 1, 2024
The book details Nicholas B. Dirks’ years in leadership roles at Columbia and Berkeley during an era of vast changes in the culture of academia. Published February 01, 2024 By Nick Fetty Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, reflects on the challenges he encountered and the lessons he learned during his long career in university leadership, from being chair of the Anthropology department at Columbia, to his time...
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The Junior Academy of The New York Academy of Sciences Announced as Silver Anthem Winner in Education or Literacy Platform for the Third Annual Anthem Awards
January 30, 2024
The Academy announced today that its highly regarded Junior Academy has been named the Silver Anthem Winner in Education or Literacy Platform. New York, NY | January 30, 2024 – The New York Academy of Sciences announced today that its highly regarded Junior Academy has been named the Silver Anthem Winner in Education or Literacy Platform in the Third Annual Anthem Awards. Launched by The Webby Awards in 2021, the Anthem Awards honors mission-driven work of people, companies,...
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Prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK to bestow £480,000 to nine scientists across the UK
January 17, 2024
Nine outstanding researchers were recipients of the 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK, with the funds totaling £480,000. The 2024 Awards recognise scientific advances driven by researchers who have: Used new research in RNA structure to improve crop resilience Detected water and other life-signalling molecules from planets beyond the solar system Designed new enzymes never before seen in nature or a lab Encoded photons with information in new ways that enable the...
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Takeda and The New York Academy of Sciences Announce 2024 Innovators in Science Award Winners
December 5, 2023
The 2024 Innovators in Science Awards recognize innovative science that has significantly advanced the field of research in cancer immunology. 2024 Award Celebrates Outstanding Research in Cancer Immunology Winners Discovered Novel Connections Between the Immune System and Cancer Recipients Each Receive Unrestricted USD 200,000 Awards OSAKA, Japan, and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts | December 5, 2023 – Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the winners of the 2024 Innovators in Science Award...
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The Junior Academy of The New York Academy of Sciences Honored as a Finalist in the Education, Art, & Culture category for the Third Annual Anthem Awards
December 5, 2023
The Junior Academy has been named a Finalist in the Education, Art, & Culture category in the Third Annual Anthem Awards, which recognizes mission-driven work. New York, NY | December 5, 2023 – The New York Academy of Sciences announced today that its highly regarded Junior Academy has been named a Finalist in the Education, Art, & Culture category in the Third Annual Anthem Awards. The Anthem Awards, launched by The Webby Awards in 2021,...
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Prehistoric Sloth-Like Creatures May Have Roamed the US
November 28, 2023
An Annals article and lecture given by Samuel L. Mitchill in 1823 presented paleolithic research suggesting that the territory of the Megatherium americanum may have extended farther north than scientists had previously thought. Published November 28, 2023 By Nick Fetty An illustration of what the Megatherium americanum may have looked like.Image by Nobu Tamura. Licensed via CC BY-SA 4.0.No changes were made to the original work. Massive sloth-like creatures may have been roaming the land...
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Neuroscience and Music VII: Connecting with Music Across the Life Span
November 10, 2023
Continuing a long-running collaboration between Ann NY Acad Sci and the community of scientists in the cross-domain fields of neuroscience and music, this collection presents papers invited from participants of the 2021 Neurosciences and Music conference in Aarhus, Denmark, organized by the Mariani Foundation. Several previous collections of papers have been published in Ann NY Acad Sci, including volumes 1423, 1337, 1252, 1169, 1060, and 999. See https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1749-6632.neuroscience-music-vii.
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The Sciences
November 10, 2023
Articles, news, and commentary on scientific developments of social and cultural interest. "A continuing feast for the mind and the eye," The Sciences magazine was a unique forum for examining issues in all areas of science. Winner of seven National Magazine Awards, The Sciences was published from 1961 to 2001. Beginning in 2023, content in the spirit of The Sciences is now being commissioned for publication as a special front-half section of Ann NY Acad...
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Biology of Social Behavior
November 10, 2023
This collection of papers explores the biological underpinnings of social behavior through a series of experiments, reviews, and perspectives. These papers include a wide range of species ranging from ants to monkeys and analyzes the biology of social behavior in relation to their epigenetic, ecological, evolutionary, and neuromolecular mechanisms and influences. The novel experimental findings, timely reviews, and unique perspectives will provide important contributions to advance the field of the biology of social behavior. The...
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First Winners of the Tata Transformation Prize Announced Today, Celebrating Pathbreaking Innovation in India
November 7, 2023
Three rising stars in science are recognized for their cutting-edge solutions to food security, sustainability, and healthcare. Mumbai, India | 7 November 2023 – Tata Sons and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the first Winners of the Tata Transformation Prize. The prize recognizes and supports visionary scientists in India who are developing innovative solutions to critical societal challenges. Three scientists were selected from 169 entries by an international jury of renowned experts...
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Combining Science and Entrepreneurship to Help Others
September 7, 2023
Junior Academy participant Sebsa wants to pursue a career that enables her to combine science and entrepreneurship. Published September 7, 2023 By Nicole Pope For Sebsa, a 14-year-old student living in Amman, Jordan, it all began with an ad on social media via the Royal Health Awareness Society, urging teens interested in science and innovation to apply for the Junior Academy Challenge. Sebsa’s curiosity was triggered, but she hesitated at first. Few of her schoolmates...
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Q&A: Meet ISR’s First Science Community Manager
August 17, 2023
The ISR created a community to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration across borders to support disaster preparedness. Published August 17, 2023 By ISR Staff Earlier this year, the ISR launched a Beta version of a free, digital hub for the 4,000+ scientists in the ISR network. The ISR Community builds on the learnings from our first readiness exercise in 2022, a test case around wildfires, where we asked scientists to submit proposals for how they would manage a cross-border wildfire...
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The New York Academy of Sciences Announces First Cohort of Post-Doctoral Fellows in Inaugural Artificial Intelligence and Society Fellowship Program with Arizona State University
August 14, 2023
The AI & Society Fellowship was developed to address the unmet need for scholars who are trained across technical AI and social sciences and the humanities. New York, NY | August 14, 2023 – Three post-doctoral scholars have been named as the first cohort of Fellows for the Artificial Intelligence and Society Fellowship program. Launched by The New York Academy of Sciences and Arizona State University in April 2023, the fellowship was developed to address...
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2023 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists Honorees Announced
August 9, 2023
The Awards honor postdoctoral scientists from tri-state academic and research institutions in chemistry, physical sciences & engineering, and life sciences. New York, NY | August 9, 2023 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the three Laureates and six Finalists of the 2023 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. The Awards honor outstanding postdoctoral scientists from academic research institutions across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut in three disciplinary categories: Chemistry, Physical Sciences &...
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2023 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Announced
July 26, 2023
The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences announce the 2023 laureates of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists. New York, NY | July 26, 2023 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences announced today the 2023 laureates of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists. Each will receive $250,000, the largest unrestricted scientific award for America’s most innovative, faculty-ranked scientists and engineers who are under the age of 42. The...
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Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
June 6, 2023
The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists seek to identify and honor exceptional young scientists and engineers 42 years of age and younger. Honorees are selected based on the quality, novelty, and impact of their research and their potential for further significant contributions to science. For previous issues of awardee papers, see Ann NY Acad Sci (2012) 1260 and Ann NY Acad Sci (2013) 1293. Or click https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1749-6632.blavatnik-awards.
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International Science Reserve Honored as a Fast Company World Changing Idea
May 2, 2023
Fast Company honored the ISR as a World Changing Idea for its ongoing work to create a global scientific network focused on rapid crisis response. New York, NY | May 2, 2023 – The International Science Reserve (ISR), an initiative of the New York Academy of Sciences, today announced that Fast Company honored the ISR as a World Changing Idea for its ongoing work with private and public partners to create a global scientific network focused on rapid crisis response. The...
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The New York Academy of Sciences Launches New Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Artificial Intelligence and Society with Arizona State University
April 17, 2023
Merging technical AI research with the social sciences and humanities, the program aims to inform the future use of AI for the benefit of humankind. In response to the urgent need to incorporate ethical and humanistic principles into the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI), The New York Academy of Sciences has partnered with Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society to launch an AI and Society post-doctoral fellowship program....
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Prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel Announces 2023 Laureates
April 3, 2023
לקריאת ההודעה בעברית לחצו כאן Three young scientists at leading research institutions in Israel will each be awarded US$100,000 for their groundbreaking scientific research Jerusalem | April 3, 2023 – The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and The New York Academy of Sciences, announced today the Laureates of the 2023 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. This year’s Laureates, who will each receive US$100,000, are: Shai Carmi, PhD (Life Sciences) – The Hebrew University of...
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Announcing the “2023 Blavatnik Awards in Israel Symposium”
March 23, 2023
How can DNA teach us about the history of populations? What is protein folding and how does it relate to neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases? How can we make cloud computing more secure? The three recipients of the 2023 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel will answer these questions and more in a morning of free and exciting lectures, on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The Blavatnik Family...
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The International Science Reserve Recognized with Anthem Award for Crisis Response Partnerships
February 15, 2023
The International Science Reserve (ISR) has won an Anthem Award for its ongoing work to create a global scientific network focused on urgent disaster response. New York, NY — The International Science Reserve (ISR), an initiative of The New Academy of Sciences, today announced that it has won an Anthem Award for its ongoing work with private and public partners to create a global scientific network focused on urgent disaster response. The Anthem Awards celebrate purpose and mission-driven...
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Nine UK-based Scientists Receive the Esteemed Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK
January 18, 2023
Researchers using ancient DNA to tackle future challenges, uncovering the mystery of dark energy, and understanding the origin of cell life through liquids. Using ancient DNA to learn how to tackle challenges of the future Uncovering the mystery of dark energy; one of the biggest challenges in modern cosmology Using liquids to understand the origin of cellular life Top prize in each category awarded to a woman scientist https://vimeo.com/789328725 January 18, 2023—London, UK: Today, the Blavatnik Family...
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Tata Sons and New York Academy of Sciences Announce Prize to Honour Scientists in India
January 4, 2023
The Tata Transformation Prize will recognize Indian scientists for research to solve societal needs and promote economic competitiveness Mumbai, India | 4 January 2023 – Tata Sons and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the Tata Transformation Prize to recognize and support promising scientists in India who are developing innovative technological solutions to critical societal challenges. The new prize will be awarded each year to three scientists for innovations in each of three areas: food security, sustainability, and...
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When Waters Rise: Cross-Border Science for Global Flood Response
December 12, 2022
What role can scientific experts play in international flood prediction and response? Published December 12, 2022 By ISR Staff Around the world, flooding is wreaking havoc on people's daily lives with increasing magnitude and frequency. Communities in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Cameroon are experiencing some of the worst floods in a decade, as they sweep across western and central African borders. In Pakistan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and the United States—such as in...
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How to Address our Climate Communications Crisis
September 15, 2022
From pandemics to climate change, it's no longer a question whether effective science communication is necessary. Published September 15, 2022 By ISR Staff From the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change, it's no longer a question whether effective science communication is necessary to deal with crisis and avert further disaster. The way the scientific community communicates urgent messages can make or break how the public responds to a crisis. Ineffective communications result in inertia or skepticism...
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Are You Ready for the Next Global Crisis?
August 18, 2022
Strong networks, open data sharing, and building public trust are key to addressing future global crises. August 18, 2022 By Mila Rosenthal, PhD Since our launch in early 2022, the International Science Reserve (ISR) has rapidly expanded a network of scientists who are poised to respond to the next big crisis. The ISR aims to take action on crises that are complex, international, and where science and technology can effectively respond. The ISR works in...
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Advancing Science for the Public Good into 2050
June 9, 2022
One lesson from the COVID pandemic was the importance of preparation. Published June 9, 2022 By Nicholas B. Dirks My journey leading the New York Academy of Sciences roughly coincides with the global calamity of SARS-CoV-2. As I reflect on my two-year anniversary, I cannot help but consider how much we have depended on scientists for the development of vaccines and therapeutics. Even though we are still experiencing the long tail of the pandemic, we...
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Future-Proofing for the Public Good
April 14, 2022
The International Science Reserve, in coordination with The New York Academy of Sciences, is an ambitious future-proofing initiative for the public good. Published April 14, 2022 By Nicholas B. Dirks With its long history of championing science-based solutions to global challenges, the Academy is ideally situated to establish the International Science Reserve (ISR). The ISR will be a network of networks: of communities of experts across scientific disciplines, across sectors, and across borders. The Academy...
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The Evolution of a Global Scientific Readiness Force
March 16, 2022
With global talent from various fields, we have an invaluable reserve of expertise to tackle a future emergency. Published March 16, 2022 By Dario Gil In June 2020, we were all in one of the first waves of the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which had crippled our world. And back then, neither I nor anyone else could anticipate just how much damage and dread this disease would bring – and for many, feelings of uncertainty and...
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A New Administration and a Renewed Investment in STEM
December 23, 2021
Alondra Nelson and Nicholas Dirks discuss the priorities for the Biden-Harris Administration's Office of Science and Technology Policy. Published December 23, 2021 By Roger Torda Alondra Nelson Alondra Nelson, at The New York Academy of Sciences’ (the Academy's) recent Annual Meeting, told an audience of Academy Members that science, like representative government, is always a work-in-progress. “There’s an interesting parallel between scientific research and democracy in the sense that they both are never quite realized,...
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Academy Opens Nominations for 2022 Innovators in Science Award in Gastroenterology
April 14, 2021
Early-career scientist, outstanding senior scientist each to receive US$200,000 in program sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceuticals New York, NY | April 14, 2021 – The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) has opened nominations for the 2022 Innovators in Science Award, which will recognize significant achievement among early-career and senior scientists in the field of gastroenterology. This marks the first time scientists engaged in transformative research in gastroenterology will be eligible for the award, administered by the...
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A New Approach to Sustainable Plastics and Polymers
March 4, 2021
Adrienne Hollis, PhD, JD, the Senior Climate Justice and Health Scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, explains the role scientists must play in mitigating the harm caused by plastic waste and pollution from polymer production. Published March 4, 2021 By Stephen D. Albright, PhD Sunset over petrochemical plants in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) New scientific discoveries often have profound impacts beyond what...
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Challenges in Food and Nutrition Science
June 1, 2020
The New York Academy of Sciences' work in nutrition science aims to address global issues such as food security which affects infants, adolescents and the aging population. Published June 1, 2020 By Carina Storrs, PhD Image courtesy of monticellllo via stock.adobe.com. According to the United Nations, malnutrition is “a trap from which people cannot easily escape.” And it is a trap that affects every country in the world. In 2015, ending hunger and ensuring access...
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A Promising Yield: Seeds Banks and Field Stations
May 1, 2020
Researchers are improving crop traits by conserving their undomesticated relatives. Published May 1, 2020 By Carina Storrs, PhD In the 1960s, some wild beans were collected from the sides of roads and other patches of wild land in Mexico and stored in aluminum pouches in freezers at one of the seed banks maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in Pullman, Wash. There they stayed for the next four decades until 2012 when...
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Darwin’s Dilemma: The Origin and Evolution of the Eye
October 1, 2019
Award-winning science writer Carl Zimmer explains the "creation" of the organ so complex that it baffled even Darwin. Published October 1, 2019 By Carl Zimmer "The eye to this day gives me a cold shudder," Charles Darwin once wrote to a friend. If his theory of evolution was everything he thought it was, a complex organ such as the human eye could not lie beyond its reach. And no one appreciated the beautiful construction of...
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Developing Practical Solutions to Everyday Challenges
October 1, 2019
The Academy works with partners in industry, academia and government to develop solutions for everyday challenges. Published October 1, 2019 By Robert Birchard Matthew Friedman For more than a decade the Academy has worked with partners in industry, academia and government to identify solutions to every day challenges through its innovation challenges. “These challenges provide a platform for people to hone their STEM skills on a level playing field — no lab, credentials or financial...
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Advancing Science in an App-Driven World
June 1, 2019
Apps and other digital platforms have become part of our daily lives for everything from social interaction to ordering dinner. These technologies are also providing intriguing opportunities to accelerate the use of science to improve our daily lives. Published June 1, 2019 By Jennifer L. Costley and Chenelle Bonavito Martinez Image courtesy of Pixel-Shot via stock.adobe.com. According to the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of all Americans own smartphones. For the 18 through 29 set...
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Science and Social Media: #facepalm or #hearteyes?
June 1, 2019
Beneath all the negative noise, science can flourish on social media, but users must be diligent, measured, and ethical with how they use this powerful platform. Published June 1, 2019 By Kari Fischer, PhD Image courtesy of Poramet via stock.adobe.com. Somewhere in between those halcyon days of Facebook as a friendly college social media network and the acrimonious 2016 elections, meme-filled newsfeeds took over, and social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest transformed...
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The Need for Centralized Info in Crisis Management
May 1, 2019
Junior Academy students develop an app that addresses the immediate mental health needs of those impacted by hurricanes and other traumatic natural crises, much of which is worsened because of the lack of centralized information during crisis scenarios. Published May 1, 2019 By Mandy Carr Four high school students from around the globe came together for the Junior Academy's Natural Disasters: Relief & Recovery Challenge to create a solution that could help reduce future devastation....
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Citizen Science in the Digital Age: Eagle Eyes
May 1, 2019
Science is a tool for combatting disinformation and making informed decisions. Published May 1, 2019 By Robert Birchard The term "citizen science" first entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014. It describes a long-standing tradition of collaboration between professional and amateur scientists. Perhaps no field is as closely associated with citizen science as astronomy, where amateur stargazers continue to sweep the skies for unidentified heavenly bodies. Today, with the advent of smartphone technology, even more...
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Citizen Science in the Digital Age: Learning Across the Globe
May 1, 2019
The GLOBE program aims to understand how the Earth’s spheres interact as a single system. Published May 1, 2019 By Robert Birchard The term "citizen science" first entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014. It describes a long-standing tradition of collaboration between professional and amateur scientists. Perhaps no field is as closely associated with citizen science as astronomy. Here amateur stargazers continue to sweep the skies for unidentified heavenly bodies. Today, with the advent of...
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Remembering Former Board Chair Kurt Salzinger
November 13, 2018
Dr. Salzinger fled Nazi-occupied Austria for NYC as a child. He went on to have a distinguished career as a professor in behavioral psychology. Published November 13, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard The New York Academy of Sciences extends its sincerest condolences to the family of Kurt Salzinger, PhD, who was a Member for many decades, and served on our Board of Governors for ten years in the seventies and eighties,...
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Remembering Past President Dr. Rodney Nichols
September 6, 2018
The New York Academy of Sciences is saddened to announce the passing of Rodney W. Nichols, PhD, past President and CEO of the Academy from 1992 to 2001. Published September 06, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard In addition to being an author of two books and many papers, Dr. Nichols, an applied physicist who was a graduate of Harvard University, served as a consultant to the White House Office of Science...
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An Illustrated History of Science Denial
June 6, 2018
In an age where instant communication can immediately spread misinformation, the consequences of scientific denialism are more serious than ever. Published June 06, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard Still, it’s important to maintain perspective and remember that scientific denialism is not a new phenomenon. For as long as scientists have challenged our understanding of the world, there have been science denialists who oppose new consensus. Below is a brief illustrated history...
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The Enhanced Humans: Risks and Opportunities
May 10, 2018
Scientists, ethicists, and other experts gather to discuss the promises and potential consequences of advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence aimed at improving human performance. New York, NY | May 10, 2018 — From eyeglasses that restore sight to robotic prosthetics to replace limbs, people throughout history have sought to overcome the limitations of the human body. New advancements in such technologies and their implications will be explored at “The Enhanced Human: Risks and Opportunities,” presented...
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New Award Aims to Advance Science in Israel
May 1, 2018
The Blavatnik Family Foundation hosts the first Blavatnik Awards Ceremony in Israel in collaboration with The New York Academy of Sciences and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Take a look at the spectacular occasion. Published May 1, 2018 By Kamala Murthy The Blavatnik Family Foundation in collaboration with The New York Academy of Sciences and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, hosted the Inaugural Ceremony and Gala for the Blavatnik Awards in...
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Israel’s Most Promising Researchers of 2018
May 1, 2018
Three outstanding Israeli Scientists win the 2018 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel during its inaugural year. Published May 1, 2018 By Kamala Murthy For over a decade in the United States, the Blavatnik Awards have honored exceptional young scientists and engineers. The award highlights their extraordinary achievements, recognizing their remarkable promise for future discoveries, and accelerating innovation in their research. Established in 2007, the Blavatnik Awards are a signature program of the Blavatnik...
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New Blavatnik Awards Advance Science in the UK
March 7, 2018
The Blavatnik Family Foundation Hosts the UK’s First Blavatnik Awards Ceremony at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in Collaboration with The New York Academy of Sciences Published March 7, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard A gala evening celebrating the UK’s most promising young faculty-level scientists, the 2018 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom, was held on March 7, 2018 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The...
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The Crucial Need for Ethics in Space Exploration
January 19, 2018
Dr. Lucianne Walkowicz is determining the ethics of exploring Mars. Published January 19, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard Lucianne Walkowicz, PhD While generations of stargazers have dreamt of the fantastic possibilities inherent in space exploration and colonization, few have concerned themselves with the ethics of such endeavors. Lucianne Walkowicz, PhD, astronomer at the Adler Planetarium and Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology in the John W. Kluge Center...
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The Need to Support American Higher Education
December 8, 2017
The New York Academy of Sciences believes that the future of American economic growth is inexorably linked to a vibrant and dynamic higher education system and a STEM literate workforce. Published December 08, 2017 By The New York Academy of Sciences The following is a statement from The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) on the tax reform bill currently before Congress. America’s achievements in science and technology—the envy of the world, and the...
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Announcing the Honorees of the Inaugural Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom
December 8, 2017
Nine outstanding scientists from six U.K. academic institutions receive a total of $480,000. Published December 8, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Richard Birchard The New York Academy of Sciences and the Blavatnik Family Foundation announced the first Honorees of the Blavatnik Awards in the United Kingdom. Three Laureates, in the categories of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemistry, will each receive an unrestricted prize of $100,000. In addition, two Finalists in each category...
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Imagining the Next 100 Years of Science and Technology
October 1, 2017
As the Academy approaches its third century, we asked our members about the scientific discoveries they think might be made in the next 100 years. Published October 1, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard As The New York Academy of Sciences approaches its third century, we started thinking about the scientific discoveries that might be made in the next 100 years. So, we invited some of our most extraordinary young and senior scientist members,...
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Innovative Ideas for a Better Tomorrow Today
October 1, 2017
The 2017 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists Laureates exemplify the kind of fearless thinking that can make revolutionary ideas become reality. Published October 1, 2017 By Hallie Kapner As physicist Niels Bohr (among others) has said: "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Just ten years ago, it would have been a stretch for even the most optimistic prognosticator to predict that the iPhone, then a newborn technology, would be in one...
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Laying the Scientific Foundation in New York City
May 1, 2017
Described by his contemporaries as a “chaos of knowledge,” a “living encyclopedia,” and a “stalking library,” first Academy President Samuel L. Mitchill dabbled in a variety of disciplines, building a unique level of scientific proficiency that was very rare at the time. Published May 1, 2017 By Douglas Braaten, PhD Samuel Latham Mitchill was a rare polymath for his time. Born in North Hempstead, New York, in 1764, he had remarkably varied interests, which ranged...
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Out of the Lab and Onto the Market
May 1, 2017
A look inside an innovative program that encourages new business start-ups. Published May 1, 2017 By Carina Storrs, PhD Jessica Akemi of Cornell presents on plans to commercialize CO2 conversion technologies at the NEXUS-NY demo day in Rochester, NY. Photo courtesy of doerrphoto.com New York State policy makers and business leaders looking to encourage new business start-ups should take a look at an innovative program developed by New York State Energy Research & Development Authority...
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The New York Academy of Sciences – A Concise History
April 12, 2017
Published May 1, 2017 By Douglas Braaten, PhD Founded in 1817 as the "Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York," by a small group of science enthusiasts, led by Samuel Latham Mitchill, a polymath and prominent politician who represented New York in the U.S. Congress, determined to create an organization that anyone interested in natural science could join in order to learn from experts, and that provided a venue for public consumption of...
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Pioneering Anthropologist Advances the Academy
January 1, 2017
Anthropologist Margaret Mead brought attention to cultural perspectives on scientific change. Published January 1, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard “The Academy has stood for new ideas, for the adventurous and experimental,” said Margaret Mead, at a celebration of the Academy’s 150th anniversary in 1967. “Adventurous and experimental” well describes Mead’s own career. As a new PhD in the 1920s, she carried out pathbreaking—and controversial—anthropological fieldwork on childhood and adolescence among indigenous South Pacific peoples....
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The Important Role of Support and Motivation
October 1, 2015
Learn how Yalemtsehay Mekonnen, PhD, has taken the lead in academia in Ethiopia and in motivating young female scientists. Published October 1, 2015 By Diana Friedman Yalemtsehay Mekonnen, PhD Not only was Academy member Yalemtsehay Mekonnen, PhD, among the first graduates from Addis Ababa University. She went on to become the first female professor in Ethiopia. Her impressive research and publishing track record in cell biology and human physiology focuses specifically on analyzing medicinal plants used in communities...
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From Running a Lab to Running Marathons
September 23, 2015
Postdoctoral associate Robert S. Jansen doesn't just love his work; he also loves running marathons. Published September 23, 2015 By Diana Friedman Robert S. Jansen Like many scientists working in New York and around the US, Academy member Robert Jansen is originally from outside the US. In his case, home is just over the Atlantic Ocean in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. But today he's a postdoctoral associate in medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. What is the focus of your...
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A New Report On the “Global STEM Paradox”
January 26, 2015
This comprehensive report answers the recent paradoxical question: if we’re graduating record numbers of STEM students, why are STEM jobs still unfilled? Published January 26, 2015 By Stacy-Ann Ashley Today the New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) released a new report, "The Global STEM Paradox," in an effort to better define the state of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and careers worldwide. The report paints a shocking picture of the state of...
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The Need for Scientific Partnership in the US, China
December 12, 2014
A new partnership aims to strengthen relations between the United States and China enabling the two countries to share ideas and solve global innovation and economic challenges. Published December 12, 2014 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of 健太 上田via stock.adobe.com. Earlier this month, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) and China Center New York announced a joint mission to develop scientific collaboration between New York and Beijing. The announcement was made during a...
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From Successful Actor to Impactful Science Advocate
November 3, 2014
Actor and science advocate Alan Alda discusses his passion for communication — in science, in theater, and in life. Published November 03, 2014 By Diana Friedman Starring Alan Alda & Candice BergenNovember 9 — December 5Use Offer Code: LIFElovelettersbroadway.com Alan Alda gets uncomfortable making small talk at parties, but he is passionate about authentic, effective communication. Especially where science is concerned. An actor, writer, and director whom many know from his Emmy Award-winning roles in...
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A New Effort to Promote STEM Across the Globe
September 24, 2014
With a goal of reaching 1,000,000 students in over 100 countries, an unprecedented public-private partnership just launched a multi-million-dollar investment in STEM education. Published September 24, 2014 By Diana Friedman On September 22, 2014 at the United Nations, heads of state, leaders of UN agencies, senior executives of major multinational corporations, and major philanthropists announced the launch of the Global STEM Alliance, a collaboration of governments, companies, schools and NGOs devoted to increasing access to STEM...
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The Critical Role of Democracy in Advancing Science
August 1, 2014
A look at the history and future of two groundbreaking bastions of knowledge dissemination. Published August 1, 2014 By Gina Masullo In an industry with more than 28,000 academic journals, to say that interested audiences have abundant choices for how they consume scientific information would be a gross understatement. But that wasn’t always the case. When the first issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Annals) was published in 1823, it was...
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40 Years of Advancing Science for the Public Good
August 1, 2014
The Sciences, published by the Academy for 40 years, became one of the most honored science magazines in America. The contents of the entire run of issues are now available for members to enjoy online. Published August 1, 2014 By Peter G. Brown In 1961, the year The Sciences was born, the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man launched into space. Roger Maris hit 61 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth’s record. Catch 22...
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The Caped Crusader for Better Mental Health Outcomes
July 24, 2014
Andrea Letamendi, PhD, discusses the value of addressing mental health issues through the lens of beloved fictional narratives. Published July 24, 2014 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of rudall30 via stock.adobe.com. In honor of Batman's 75th anniversary, DC Entertainment declared July 23 Batman Day. What does this have to do with science? More than you might expect, with a little imagination. For psychologist Andrea Letamendi, PhD, the Batman world, with its roster of criminally insane villains, is...
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A Science State of Mind in the Empire State
June 1, 2014
An introduction to New York’s newest role: that of an undisputed scientific powerhouse. Published June 1, 2014 By Sharon Begley Image courtesy of ecst22 via stock.adobe.com. Come, New York has long beckoned: come achieve your dreams and create what has never existed before—come build America’s first department store and largest stock exchange, her first pizzeria and first public brewery. Come make New York City the nation’s capital of finance and media and fashion, and come...
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Live from New York, It’s Einstein a Go Go
June 1, 2014
Presenting science updates on Australian public radio helps to bridge the gap between continents, and spark scientific interest among people half a world away. Published June 1, 2014 By Jennifer Henry I am passionate about communicating science, basically to anyone who is interested. Every two months I do a call-in radio segment on a weekly science program called “Einstein A Go Go,” on public radio station 3RRR-FM in Melbourne, Australia (which happens to be my...
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Opportunities for Inter-Generational STEM Engagement
May 27, 2014
At today’s White House Science Fair, The New York Academy of Sciences pledges to positively impact the STEM education crisis through innovative, impactful, and inspiring programming. Published May 27, 2014 By Diana Friedman Attending the White House Science Fair, (left to right) Rocket21 CEO Mark Grayson, student Thompson Whiteley, and Academy Board Chair and SUNY Chancellor of Education Nancy Zimpher. At the White House Science Fair on May 27, 2014, The New York Academy of...
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The Mischievousness Early Life of a Nobel Laureate
December 1, 2013
Nobel laureate and Academy Chairman Emeritus Torsten Wiesel maps receptive field properties within the visual cortex, etching a singular vision for his own life. Published December 1, 2013 By Marci A. Landsmann Torsten Wiesel When examining the life of a Nobel laureate, what generally emerge are clear bends in the path: chance situations, meetings, and discoveries that serve as critical signposts to lead an intellectual down the road to greatness. In the same way, our...
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New York City and the History of Philanthropy
November 1, 2013
Global leaders of business and philanthropy are contributing to a scientific resurgence, the likes of which New York, and the world, has never before seen. Published November 1, 2013 By Noah Rosenberg Image courtesy of Volodymyr Shevchuk via stock.adobe.com. The year was 1924 and Albert Einstein was desperately in need of funding. And so he did what legions of scientists, emerging and renowned alike, would later do in his footsteps: he turned to philanthropists. In...
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Research in New York City is Having a Global Impact
November 1, 2013
A convergence of industry research and development is transforming science and technology in the New York metro area—and beyond. Published November 1, 2013 By Steven Barboza Image courtesy of kwanchaift via stock.adobe.com. In its quest for creating new products as one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, there’s hard science at work behind PepsiCo’s research and development initiatives. For instance, in the area of flavors, PepsiCo scientists have enlisted a high-tech company robot,...
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From New York City to the Rest of the World
November 1, 2013
The scientists, engineers, and organizations that call New York home are increasingly interacting with citizens and governments in cities and towns across the world, working together to solve some of humanity’s most challenging problems. Published November 1, 2013 By Hallie Kapner Vials from the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. On an inner city Johannesburg street, a new mother’s cell phone registers a text message. It reminds her to breastfeed her baby, and to give...
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Engineering New York into a STEM Hub
November 1, 2013
From the New York Genome Center to the New York Stem Cell Foundation, the New York science scene has, through unique alliances and partnerships, become greater than the sum of its parts. Published November 1, 2013 By Hallie Kapner A New York Genome Center researcher works with a sample. As Willa Appel, chief executive officer of the New York Structural Biology Center (NYSBC), shares the story of the city’s first major collaborative life science research...
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From Survival to Joy: The Science of Fear
October 25, 2013
Is it weird that feeling afraid is so fun we have a holiday for it? Besides aiding in survival, the experience of fear can actually be enjoyable. Published October 25, 2013 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of andras_csontos via stock.adobe.com. Happy Halloween! It's the time of year we revel in the revolting and fete our fright. Fear is one of the oldest responses life has evolved to its environment. It's so ancient that it's common...
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The Irreparable Impact of the Shutdown on Science
October 17, 2013
The shutdown has had serious repercussions for scientists who play an important role as public servants. What happens even when these shutdowns are short-lived? Published October 17, 2013 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of Worawat via stock.adobe.com. Yay, the government's back on! In the meantime, scientists from a broad spectrum of subject areas have had to endure severe setbacks. Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, summed up many frustrations in this New York Times article: "How many...
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How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Peer Review
October 3, 2013
A recent "sting operation" highlights important questions about the peer review system and how to publish, disseminate, and debate scientific findings. Published October 03, 2013 By Diana Friedman Science writer John Bohannon recently went undercover...for science! As Ocorrafoo Cobange, a made-up biologist at the also fictitious Wassee Institute of Medicine in Asmara, Bohannon wrote a terrible paper about the anti-cancer virtues of a molecule he claimed to have extracted from lichen. "Any reviewer with more than...
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A Theologist’s Perspective on Science and Ethics
September 13, 2013
Christiana Peppard, PhD, assistant professor of theology, science, and ethics at Fordham University, discusses the relation between science and ethics. Published September 05, 2013 By Christiana Peppard, PhD Image courtesy of bittedankeschön via stock.adobe.com. According to a study performed by Yale law professor Dan Kahan et al, just thinking about politics messes with one's ability to be objective, even when it comes to something as seemingly apolitical as numeracy. Participants were asked to analyze two identical...
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A Scientist’s Perspective on Ethics and Morality
September 12, 2013
What can science tell us about ethics? Piercarlo Valdesolo, PhD, Director of the Moral Emotions and Trust Lab at Claremont McKenna College, scientifically investigates our moral decision-making processes. Published September 12, 2013 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of Kaspars Grinvalds via stock.adobe.com. Scientists must often consider the importance of ethical and interpretive frameworks for thinking about data and the results and cultural contexts of scientific inquiry. Dr. Piercarlo Valdesolo, Director of the Moral Emotions and Trust...
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How Can Scientists Better Engage the Public?
August 29, 2013
The debate over whether scientisim is a problem points out an opportunity to engage people in science in more constructive ways. Published August 29, 2013 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of kubko via stock.adobe.com. There's been a lot written lately debating scientism. There are various definitions of this concept but, basically, some fear that "Science" is appropriating questions that are supposed to be under the purview of "The Humanities," while others contend that science is the only reasonable way...
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Beautiful Proof? Scientific Images, Art, and Evidence
August 19, 2013
Scientific images occupy an interesting place at the intersection of art and science. Can artistic principles be used to more effectively communicate science to the public? Published August 19, 2013 By Maryam Zaringhalam, Ivan Oransky, and Nina Samuel "After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well." -Einstein Scientific images are often beautiful as well as...
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A New Pitch to the Science of Music
July 19, 2013
Though it has been more than seven decades in the making, researchers were finally able to "catch the viscous pitch, the unicorn of the scientific world, in the act of dropping." Published July 19, 2013 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of sanee via stock.adobe.com. Last Thursday, something happened that has never happened before. After almost 70 thwarted years, a simple drip proved that basic scientific curiosity can still yield novel delights, as well as the...
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A Region on the Verge of Discovery
June 1, 2013
The NY tri-state area pulses with scientific progress and energy, changing the world far beyond its borders. Published June 1, 2013 By Steven Barboza The nursery rhyme about London Bridge falling down gives a fair assessment of the fate of bridges. Patch them up with wood and clay, and the wood and clay will wash away. Iron and steel would fare better, but eventually these bridges will bend and bow. But what about plastic? Structural...
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The Devastating Impact of Politicizing Research
May 9, 2013
A recently proposed bill sparks controversy over NSF research funding criteria. How will this impact basic research and the broader realm of science? Published May 9, 2013 By Diana Friedman John Holdren, PhD Last month, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the Committee on Space, Science, and Technology, drafted what he calls the "High Quality Research Act." The bill aims to harness the National Science Foundation's (NSF) funding decisions to the national interest. "That would...
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The Need for Afterschool STEM Opportunities
October 19, 2012
Dr. Meghan Groome was recently asked to provide City Council testimony on the success of the Academy’s Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program. Published October 19, 2012 By Meghan Groome, PhD Meghan Groome, PhD On Tuesday, October 16, 2012, Meghan Groome, PhD, was asked to provide testimony for the New York City Council on the topic of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) opportunities in afterschool programs. Dr. Groome runs the Academy's Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program, which...
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Aligning Scientific Efforts in Mexico
August 1, 2012
The state of Yucatán uses local policies to promote science and technology. Published August 1, 2012 By Raul Godoy-Montañez and Alfonso Larqué-Saavedra Mayan Observatory at the ruins in Chichén-Itzá. The state of Yucatán in Mexico is widely known as the land of the classic Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. While Yucatán is characterized by age-old cultural traditions, the past does not define this area that is home to 2 million people. Yucatecan society...
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Your Creative Mind: Art Meets Science
August 1, 2012
What can you gain by venturing into the abstract? Published August 1, 2012 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of Tarun via stock.adobe.com. Creativity is a learned skill, not an innate ability; such is the premise of Tina Seelig’s new book, inGenius: A Crash Course on Creativity. But what of those deep-seeded cultural assumptions—that artists, writers, and musicians are born creative, while those in more technical fields (scientists, engineers, and mathematicians) are simply not? Seelig, the...
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Expanding Educational Empires in a Globalized World
June 1, 2012
Higher education is not immune to the effects of globalization. Academics must be proactive to remain internationally competitive. Published June 1, 2012 Image courtesy of Kizilkaya Photos - istockphoto.com. By Mitch Leventhal, as told to Diana Friedman The concept of “study abroad” experiences has changed drastically since I began my career in education. Thirty years ago, studying abroad was thought of as something “those humanities students do.” Rather than being seen as integral to succeeding...
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Crowdsourcing for Health Across Borders
June 1, 2012
Through a novel crowdsourcing exercise, Scientists Without Borders leverages insights from animal science to tackle malnutrition. Published June 1, 2012 By Shaifali Puri Image courtesy of FarhanMohib via stock.adobe.com. Global problems demand global resources to solve them—such is the theory behind the creation of Scientists Without Borders, an initiative that designs and executes projects to tackle these challenges and provides a free web-based platform where users from around the world connect to address pressing global...
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What Makes Science of Interest to the Public?
April 18, 2011
Mariette DiChristina reviews the vast expanse of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) news and decides not only what is newsworthy but also what is of interest to the general public and, more importantly, to the magazine’s readership. Image credit: Modified from March Mosaic 3, created by Darcy Gill using the collage tools on flickr.com. Original images (left to right, from top row to bottom) by Solar ikon, Hamed Saber, [Zenat El3ain]TM, rutlo, Alex Barth, booleansplit,...
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The Future of Science Education in New York
January 15, 2011
A group of education professionals from across New York state gathered to discuss important changes in teacher preparation, the integration of math and reading and writing curricula, and the role of scientists in the classroom. Published January 15, 2011 By Adrienne J. Burke On January 11, 2011, education leaders and stakeholders from across the state gathered to discuss major issues in science education facing New York State. Over 200 educators, administrators, scientists, and policymakers braved the snow to attend the panel...
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What is the Life Science Angel Network?
November 18, 2010
The “Life Science Angel Network” will promote innovation and match healthcare startups with early-stage funding. Published November 18, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke The New York Academy of Sciences launched the Life Science Angel Network (LSAN) at an event at the Academy’s lower Manhattan headquarters on Thursday, November 18. The new investment network is designed to connect scientists and entrepreneurs with funding to support innovations in biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare IT. The Academy's partners...
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Cooking for Geeks: Chemistry from the Kitchen
November 8, 2010
Do you know about the chemical and physical process that occur when cookies are baked in a toaster oven? Engineer-turned-cookbook-author Jeff Potter explores the chemistry of the kitchen in his new book. Published November 8, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Pixel-Shot via stock.adobe.com. On November 1, 2010, cookbook author, software engineer, and self-proclaimed geek Jeff Potter visited The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) to talk about how to teach chemistry...
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Supporting Science and Innovation in Russia
September 13, 2010
Scientists in the Academy's Innovation & Sustainability program have advised Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev on steps his country must take to evolve an innovation economy. Published September 13, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Ellis Rubinstein Academy CEO Ellis Rubinstein last week delivered a report to Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev on steps his country must take to evolve an innovation economy. The report, "Yaroslavl Roadmap 10-15-20: 10 Years to Implement, 15 Steps to Take,...
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The History and Science of Ship’s Hull on WTC Site
September 1, 2010
The New York Academy of Sciences is hosting an event to explore the hull of an 18th century ship that was recently unearthed on the site of the World Trade Center. Published September 1, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke 7 World Trade Center. The Tribute WTC Visitor Center and The New York Academy of Sciences will present "An Historic Hull on Hallowed Ground: Three Experts Discuss the 200-Year-Old Ship Next Door," a free public event...
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Uniting the Best Science Minds in the US, Spain
March 8, 2010
A three-year partnership will establish, disseminate, and promote science in Catalonia, some of which will engage non-scientific members of the public. Published March 8, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Aerial view of Placa d'Espanya, landmark in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Image courtesy of marcorubino via stock.adobe.com. The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) and Talència, (formerly known as the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació) of Barcelona have established a collaboration aimed...
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Embracing Globalization in Science Education
March 1, 2010
The globalization of universities must be embraced, not feared, in order to advance STEM research internationally and empower the next generation. Published March 1, 2010 By Ben Wildavsky Image courtesy of Алексей Доненко via stock.adobe.com. For several years now—and not for the first time in our nation’s history—CEOs, politicians, and education leaders have regularly decried the shortcomings of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education in America’s elementary and secondary schools. And they have vigorously...
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A Case for American STEM Education
March 1, 2010
Acts of Congress, research studies, passionate scientific community leaders, and a new Academy initiative all aim to stem the collapse of American STEM education. Published March 1, 2010 By Alan Dove, PhD On October 4, 1957, a rocket launched from the steppes of Kazakhstan delivered the first artificial satellite into Earth’s orbit, giving the Soviet Union an early lead in the defining technological competition of the Cold War. In response, a new generation of American...
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A Science Collaboration Between the U.S. and Russia
February 24, 2010
Academy President and CEO Ellis Rubinstein is part of the first “U.S.-Russia Innovation Dialogue” Published February 24, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Ellis Rubinstein Academy President and CEO Ellis Rubinstein joined a ground-breaking delegation of U.S. technology experts in Russia last week. The first “U.S.-Russia Innovation Dialogue” was held in Moscow and Novosibirsk, Siberia, and was an outgrowth of a pact made between Presidents Obama and Medvedev last July 6 in Moscow, through which they...
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The Growth of Citizen Science: Amateur Research
December 1, 2009
New technology and changing attitudes have made it so that science is no longer restricted to those who have PhDs and wear lab coats. Published December 1, 2009 By Darlene Cavalier and Alex Soojung-Kim Pang A child experiments with a walkie talkie. Image courtesy of LumineImages - via stock.adobe.com. Yale University astrophysics professor Kevin Schawinski studies how galaxies form. But his most valuable tool isn’t a telescope or arcane theory. It’s Galaxy Zoo, a project...
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A Mind for Math, A Heart for Helping
December 1, 2009
Darwin Society donor and award-winning mathematician Peter D. Lax reflects on a career in mathematics, the Manhattan Project, and the paradox of education. Published December 1, 2009 By Adelle C. Pelekanos Peter D. Lax Lauded for his numerous contributions to pure and applied mathematics and physics, and his integral role in the development of modern computational mathematics, Peter D. Lax is one of the greatest minds in his field. He has earned the highest honors...
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A New Approach to Treating HIV/AIDS in Iran
September 17, 2009
The recipients of the 2009 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award are a widely acclaimed brother duo known for their successful HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment work. Published September 17, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of stu-khaii via stock.adobe.com. Two Iranian physicians, brothers long involved in fighting HIV/AIDS in that country and tried and sentenced to prison in January 2009, have been named recipients of the 2009 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights...
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Celebrating the “The Century of Science”
August 10, 2009
Old and new friends gather to celebrate science at The New York Academy of Sciences' Fifth Annual President's Reception. Published August 10, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke An illustration of the 7 World Trade Center building, home to The New York Academy of Sciences. The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) prides itself on being an institution that builds bridges and establishes connections between people who might otherwise not have the chance to get...
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New Advances in Algorithmic Trading Strategies
June 30, 2009
From "dark pools" to "algorithmic trading", Wall Street is adapting to meet the needs of the 21st century finance world. But what does this mean for investors? Posted June 30, 2009 By Alan Dove, PhD Image courtesy of wutzkoh via stock.adobe.com. Algorithmic trading is a complex undertaking that isn't always optimally employed. One area in which the strategy can go awry is when it is used in dark pools. Dark pools of liquidity are a...
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The Culture Crosser: The Sciences and Humanities
May 1, 2009
The Academy’s symposium “The Two Cultures in the 21st Century” considers a now 50-year-old lament that a divide between the sciences and the humanities impedes social progress. Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum put C.P. Snow’s famous University of Cambridge Rede Lecture into context. Published May 1, 2009 By Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum Raffaello Sanzio, The School of Athens, 1511 Born in 1905 in Leicester, Charles Percy Snow grew up in a family that barely...
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From New York City to Washington D.C.
April 4, 2009
A replica of The New York Academy of Sciences' (the Academy's) icon will stand in the National Academy of Sciences' Great Hall in Washington. Published April 4, 2009 By Attila Szász In honor of the bicentennial of Charles Darwin’s birth, the Academy’s bust of its legendary member is being replicated for display in the Great Hall of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. The replica is being produced using a state-of-the-art digital scanning and...
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Darwin’s Descendants: Reflecting on his Impact
March 1, 2009
Six leading scholars reflect on the enduring influence of Charles Darwin and demonstrate how his work continues to inspire scientists across disciplines. Charles Darwin circa 1854. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Published March 1, 2009 By Janet Browne, Paul Ekman, Stuart Kauffman, Robert May, Massimo Pigliucci, and Charles Raison The theory of natural selection that Charles Darwin first articulated in print in 1859 is still the fundamental idea on which all modern biological studies are...
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The Role of Government in Advancing Science
March 1, 2009
As President Obama takes steps to “restore science to its rightful place,” Washington insiders and Academy members weigh in on his challenges and priorities. Published March 1, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke President Obama and his science team, from left, NOAA Chief Jane Lubchenco; President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology Co-Chairs Harold Varmus and Eric Lander, Presidential Science Adviser and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren;...
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From the Annals Archive: How Darwin Upended the World
March 1, 2009
From the archive of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, the 1909 address of Academy President Charles Finney Cox recalls the chilly reception to Darwin’s Origin of Species 50 years earlier. Published March 1, 2009 Adapted from works by Charles Finney CoxAcademy President (1908-1909) From the March 1909 issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. … It was only when The Origin appeared, in November 1859, that the world awaked...
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An Academy Member’s Work in Prime Time
March 1, 2009
For Academy member Paul Eckman, art imitates life as he lends his psychological expertise to a popular television show focused on snuffing out liars. Published March 1, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of kanpisut via stock.adobe.com. Decades into a distinguished psychology career researching and decoding the facial expressions of people from California to Papua New Guinea, Paul Ekman, a member of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy), now finds himself dedicating...
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How Science Can Keep America Globally Competitive
March 1, 2009
A Nobel Laureate, a Blavatnik Award winner, and a major industry scientist chat about what it will take to keep the US science talent pipeline pumping out quality, competitive professionals. Published March 1, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke Toni Hoover, and Garrick Utley On February 25, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) hosted a screening of the new film, Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Scientist. The hour-long documentary, directed and produced by...
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Building the Knowledge Capitals of the Future
November 1, 2008
Cities worldwide are in a race to transform themselves into hubs of science and technology expertise. Here’s a look at how a few plan to achieve that goal—some with help from the Academy. Published November 1, 2008 By Adrienne J. Burke If you made a list today of the world’s innovation hotbeds, Mexico City wouldn’t be on it. Sure, the city has become known since the 1980s as an international hub of financial services. And...
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Promoting Human Rights through Science
September 18, 2008
An imprisoned Cuban physician and a Guatemalan forensic scientist are the Academy’s 2008 Human Rights Award recipients. Published September 18, 2008 By Bill Silberg Image courtesy of Manpeppe via stock.adobe.com. An imprisoned Cuban physician and a Guatemalan forensic scientist have been awarded The New York Academy of Sciences Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award for 2008. The Academy's Human Rights Committee bestowed the awards on Oscar Elias Biscet, MD, and Fredy Peccerelli. The...
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The Innovation Advocate: Combining Science and Policy
September 1, 2008
An interview with Kiyoshi Kurokawa, a science, technology, and innovation policy advisor in Japan, who discusses his strategies for fostering scientific change. Published September 1, 2008 By Leslie Taylor Kiyoshi Kurokawa. Photo by Michael Ian. Kiyoshi Kurokawa is special advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet on science, technology, and innovation issues. He chairs the strategy council for “Innovation 25,” Japan’s long-term initiative to encourage transformation in medicine, engineering, and information technology...
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A Scientist by Trade, A Leader by Example
September 1, 2008
When it comes to supporting science, the work of past Academy President Fleur L. Stand is never done. Even in retirement she continued to advance science for the public good. Published September 1, 2008 By Adelle Caravanos Fleur Strand and her husband Curt Contribute. Revitalize. Innovate. Used as a call to action in The New York Academy of Sciences’ (the Academy’s) first ever Comprehensive Campaign, these three words can easily describe the modus operandi of...
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A Professor’s Perspective on the Chemistry of Wine
June 1, 2007
“Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile.”— Homer, The Odyssey (Alexander Pope translation) Published June 1, 2007 By James Kennedy Built in the 14th century, destroyed in the 15th, then rebuilt in the 17th, the tower of Chateau Latour in the Bordeaux region of France is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks associated with the rich history and longevity of fine red wine. Photo by...
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The Evolution and Impact of Einstein
May 25, 2007
Walter Isaacson, acclaimed biographer and onetime CNN chairman personalizes history's most famous genius in his new biography about Albert Einstein. Published May 25, 2007 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Having already penned a bestselling book about the life of Ben Franklin and another on Henry Kissinger, Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute, became interested in Albert Einstein as the subject of his third biography while working as managing editor at...
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Two Centuries of Science Research at Your Fingertips
May 1, 2007
Academy members will soon have access to the entire historical collection of the 'Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,' dating back to 1823. Published May 1, 2007 By Adelle Caravanos From Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1915 Published continually for 184 years, the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences is now available online in its entirety for the first time. It stands as the longest-running American scientific serial publication....
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Exploring the Science of Haute Cuisine
March 1, 2007
French chemist Hervé This is a founder of the field of molecular gastronomy which uses the tools of science to explore the methodology and mechanisms of the culinary arts. Published March 1, 2007 By Adelle Caravanos Image courtesy of NORN via stock.adobe.com. Students in introductory chemistry courses are taught one important and seemingly obvious rule: Do not eat in the laboratory. But for French chemist Hervé This, eating in the lab is the whole point....
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National Security, Neuroscience and Bioethics
November 27, 2006
In his book Mind Wars, bioethicist Jonathan Moreno tells why the defense industry is interested in new discoveries in neuroscience. He explores why the defense department funds brain research, and what scientists should do about it. Published November 27, 2006 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of metamorworks via stock.adobe.com. Jonathan Moreno was first exposed to brain research as a child. He was 10 when two dozen subjects arrived at the 20-acre sanitorium run by...
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Evolution and Intelligent Design in the Classroom
September 1, 2006
“I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection, in order to mark its relation to man’s power of selection.”-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, First edition Published September 1, 2006 By Mary Crowley Image courtesy of Camilla via stock.adobe.com. The past year has certainly been a banner year for evolution. Research in genome sequencing that shed light on the inner workings of evolution...
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The Good, Bad, and Ugly of an NYC Biotech Pioneer
July 1, 2006
From fast growth and profitable sales to research improprieties and legal trouble: the story behind ImClone. Published July 1, 2006 By Pamela Sherrid and Sibyl Shalo Boosters of the biotech industry in New York City face a conundrum when it comes to ImClone Systems, Inc. On the one hand, the company should be a poster child for why New York is a great place for biotech. Founded by local scientific talent and located at 180...
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Archeological Discoveries Shed Light on Old New York
July 1, 2006
Slavery, landfill and brothels: Archeologists are learning more about the history of New York City after recent discoveries in downtown Manhattan that date back to the city's pre-colonial days. Published July 1, 2006 By Diana Wall New York City map, circa 1755. Image courtesy of Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division. New York is unique among American seaboard cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston in that it is regarded as a city with a...
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Back to the Future: The Academy’s History
July 1, 2006
A pitiless creditor, arson, and rivalry between medical schools: All play a role in the history of the Academy’s real estate. Learn about the Academy's history, dating back to 1817. Published July 1, 2006 By Simon Baatz The New York Institution on Chambers Street, home to several intellectual societies, housed the Academy in the early 19th century. In a pleasant twist of fate, its move Downtown returns The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy)...
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PATH Forward: Connecting New Jersey and New York
July 1, 2006
Santiago Calatrava’s new transport terminal will encourage Downtown residents, commuters and tourists to look up and marvel. Published July 1, 2006 By Fred A. Bernstein Image courtesy of sean via stock.adobe.com. In his first completed project in New York, the Spanish-born architect Santiago Calatrava designed a time capsule meant to be opened in the year 3000. Calatrava’s bulbous, polished metal box, which stands outside the American Museum of Natural History, was clearly inspired by nature....
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Enjoying What New York City has to Offer
July 1, 2006
An intrepid neuroscience postdoc at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory heads downtown for museums, fine dining, and rock ‘n roll. Published July 1, 2006 By Linda Wilbrecht Nighttime fun at the Knitting Factory. Image courtesy of Update magazine. To me “going downtown” has always meant “good food.” This is especially true in Manhattan, where some of the best restaurants in New York City are concentrated below Canal Street. I asked two friends to join me at...
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An Architectural Historian’s Perspective of NYC
July 1, 2006
Lower Manhattan boasts new work by the world’s foremost landscape designers, as well as timeless vistas of New York Harbor Published July 1, 2006 By Francis Morrone Image courtesy of oldmn via stock.adobe.com. Lower Manhattan was once notorious for its lack of parks and greenery. As the oldest part of New York, it was built up when most of Manhattan Island was still countryside and wilderness. Who needed open spaces when all around was one...
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The Anthropic View of the Universe
June 9, 2006
According to Leonard Susskind, the universe we know might be just one crude but carefully balanced case among a host of different universes, each with its own physical laws. Published June 9, 2006 By Sheri Fink, MD, PhD Sponsored by: The New York Academy of Sciences and Little, Brown & Co. Image courtesy of Maximusdn via stock.adobe.com. Stanford University professor Leonard Susskind has had an illustrious career in theoretical physics. He is known as a "father of string theory"—the idea that...
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Strategies from Successful Women Scientists
May 25, 2006
Author and former scientist Ellen Daniell discussed how participating in a small problem-solving group can lead to success in academic and other careers. Published May 25, 2006 By Leslie Knowlton Sponsored by: The New York Academy of Sciences and Yale University Press. Image courtesy of sutlafk via stock.adobe.com. Almost 30 years ago, Ellen Daniell, then an assistant professor of molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley and the first woman in her department, joined a small bimonthly group...
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The Art of Sci-Fi: 80 Years of Movie Posters
May 1, 2006
A new art exhibit combines art and science as it explores 80 years of science fiction movie posters. See the styles of different artists from Argentina and the United States to Germany and Japan. Published May 1, 2006 By Fred Moreno Image courtesy of Update: The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine, May/June 2006 via Posteritati. Ever since science gave birth to the cinema more than a century ago, the link between the two has...
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The Road to Discovery in 20th Century Science
April 14, 2006
For author Alan Lightman, reading landmark scientific papers provides a window into the lives and intellectual adventures of the men and women behind the 20th century's most influential ideas. Published April 14, 2006 By Karen Hopkin Otto Loewi. Image courtesy of Institute of Pharmacology, Graz, CC-BY-SA-3.0-DE, via Wikimedia Commons. The key experiment came to him in a dream. It was 1921 and Otto Loewi, a German pharmacologist, was looking for a way to determine how...
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Resolving Evolution’s Greatest Paradox
March 3, 2006
Darwin's theory of natural selection has never been very good at explaining novelty or complexity in living organisms. The new theory of "facilitated variation," however, promises to fill in the gaps. Published March 3, 2006 By Robin Marantz Henig Sponsored by: The New York Academy of Sciences and Yale University Press. Charles Darwin in 1868. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. "I came neither to praise Darwin nor to bury him," Marc Kirschner, founder and chair of the department of...
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The Genius of Quantum Physicist Richard Feynman
February 3, 2006
Missives from Feynman in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track, a book of his letters edited by daughter Michelle Feynman, reveal his genius and wit. What was his contribution to the canon of 20th-century quantum physics? Published February 3, 2006 By Chris H. Greene Richard Feynman in 1959. Image via Wikimedia Commons. "Science alone of all the subjects contains within itself the lesson of the danger of belief in the infallibility of the greatest...
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Lee Smolin: A Crisis in Fundamental Physics
January 1, 2006
With an infinity of universes proposed, and more than 10400 theories, is experimental proof of physical laws still feasible? Published January 1, 2006 By Lee Smolin Image courtesy of WP_7824 via stock.adobe.com. For more than two hundred years, we physicists have been on a wild ride. Our search for the most fundamental laws of nature has been rewarded by a continual stream of discoveries. Each decade back to 1800 saw one or more major additions to...
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Reef Madness and the Meaning of Coral
November 11, 2005
While the nineteenth century's greatest scientific debate was that over Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, the century's other great scientific debate, almost forgotten now, posed problems even more vexing than the species question did. Published November 11, 2005 By David Dobbs Image courtesy of Chonlasub via stock.adobe.com. The Other Debate of Darwin's day Asked to name the 19th century's major scientific squabble, most people will correctly name the row over Darwinism. Few recall the era's...
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Promoting Science, Human Rights in the Middle-East
October 17, 2005
Two human rights activists are named winners of the Academy’s Human Rights Award for 2005. Published October 17, 2005 By Fred Moreno Image courtesy of Manpeppe via stock.adobe.com. Two activists who have long fought for the rights of scientists-especially in the Middle East-received the 2005 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award at the Academy's 187th Business Meeting held on September 29. The 2005 winners are Zafra Lerman, distinguished professor of Science and Public Policy...
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Bringing a Scientific Perspective to Wall Street
October 6, 2005
Emanuel Derman was a pioneer in the now-established field of financial engineering, which was influenced by his background in theoretical physics. Published October 6, 2005 By Adelle Caravanos Image courtesy of helivideo via stock.adobe.com. Emanuel Derman, director of the Columbia University financial engineering program, and Head of Risk at Prisma Capital Partners, will speak at the Academy on October 19. The self-described “quant” will discuss his unusual career path, from theoretical physics to Wall Street,...
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Exploring Nature and Nurture of Women in Science
September 2, 2005
Are gender disparities in the STEM fields a matter of nature or nurture? A panel of experts explored the ways in which these two seemingly opposing viewpoints interact. Published September 2, 2005 By David Berreby In 1993, the makers of the Talking Barbie doll included, among its 270 recorded phrases, the sentence "Math class is tough!" Did they do this because girls don't like math as much as boys? Or do girls not like math...
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Wilson Bentley: The Man Who Studied Snowflakes
June 1, 2005
This Vermont-based farmer spent his career in the late 19th and early 20th centuries transforming the study of snowflakes into an art as well as a science. Published June 1, 2005 By Fred Moreno Image courtesy of vadim_fl via stock.adobe.com. For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the endless variety of snowflakes and their six-fold symmetry. Scientists have sought to better understand how they are formed from single crystals of ice and why complex patterns...
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The Science Behind a Tsunami’s Destructiveness
June 1, 2005
In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunamis, and with tectonic plates continuing to shift beneath the Indian Ocean, scientists are seeking answers to handle the next natural disaster. Published June 1, 2005 By Sheri Fink, MD, PhD Image courtesy of jdoms via stock.adobe.com. Stunning images of devastation and soaring body counts dominated news coverage of last December’s tsunami, leaving one of the most important questions about the disaster barely addressed: Why did so many people...
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Tsunami Relief Efforts: A Personal Account
June 1, 2005
Collaboration is key when dealing with disasters. A medical doctor offers guidance from her experience in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Published June 1, 2005 By Sheri Fink, MD, PhD A photograph of the 2004 tsunami in Ao Nang, Krabi Province, Thailand. Image courtesy of David Rydevik via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain. During two months working in Thailand and Indonesia after the tsunami, I was struck by the many ways...
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Artists Consider Manipulation of Human Form
March 31, 2005
Analyzing how cosmetic surgery, science, and art interact in a new exhibit on display at the Academy. Published March 31, 2005 By Fred Moreno Image courtesy of Acronym via stock.adobe.com. Although the Hindu surgeon Sushruta noted how to reconstruct a nose from a patient’s cheek as far back as 600 B.C., plastic surgery is said to have begun during the Renaissance with the Italian Gasparo Tagliacozzi. He originated a method of nasal reconstruction in which...
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Academy Aids Effort to Release Political Prisoner
February 3, 2005
A recipient of The New York Academy of Sciences' Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award was recently released from a Vietnamese prison. Published February 3, 2005 By Fred Moreno Image courtesy of Cavan for Adobe via stock.adobe.com. Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, a Vietnamese doctor who won The New York Academy of Sciences’ 2004 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award for his efforts to improve the lives of his fellow citizens, has...
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From Imagination to Reality: Art and Science Fiction
October 27, 2004
A new art exhibit on display at the Academy explores more than 100 years of science fiction history. Published October 27, 2004 By Fred Moreno and Jennifer Tang An illustration from the 1906 French language edition of The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, a classic in the field of science fiction. Image courtesy of Henrique Alvim Corrêa via Wikimedia Commons The blending of fantasy and prediction with science gave birth more than 100...
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The Beauty of Geometry and Art of Minimalism
September 8, 2004
New Academy art exhibit explores the beauty of the minimalist art movement, which saw a renaissance 1960s and 70s. Published September 8, 2004 By Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of YesPhotographers via stock.adobe.com. In the 19th century, mathematicians such as David Hilbert turned to the work of Euclid, the ancient Greek mathematician, for new ways in which to study geometry. Hilbert uncovered new foundations of geometry by reducing mathematics to its most basic elements: lines, squares,...
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Scientists and War: An Ethical Dilemma
August 1, 2004
Major advances were made in the development of chemical weapons between World War I and the Cold War. This would present scientists with a moral dilemma. Published August 1, 2004 By Mary Crowley Atomic cloud during Baker Day blast at Bikini atoll. Image courtesy of National Archives Catalog. Public domain. “Of arms I sing, and the man,” man,” began the Aeneid, Virgil’s epic poem on war and heroism, written in the first century BCE. Battle...
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At Any Cost: Cheating, Integrity, and the Olympics
August 1, 2004
Researchers continue to advance the science behind doping in sports and are developing detection measures to catch the cheaters. But will it be enough to maintain the integrity of the Olympic Games? Published August 1, 2004 By Diane Kightlinger Image courtesy of zhengzaishanchu via stock.adobe.com. Crossing the finish line in Athens this August should mark the climax of the athletes’ quest to put native ability, training, perseverance, and courage to work in pursuit of their...
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Advancing Human Rights and Heathcare in Vietnam
July 21, 2004
Long-imprisoned Vietnamese doctor is named recipient of Human Rights Award from The New York Academy of Sciences for his commitment to healthcare, bettering humankind. Published July 21, 2004 By Fred Moreno Image courtesy of joyfotoliakid via stock.adobe.com. Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, a 61-year old Vietnamese medical doctor who has dedicated his life to improving the lives of the Vietnamese people and who has spent nearly 25 years in prison or under house arrest, has been...
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The Science Behind Doping in Sports
July 20, 2004
Scientists fear new drugs and genetic doping lie ahead for Olympic athletes: Can cheating be stopped? Published July 20, 2004 By Diane Kightlinger Image courtesy of weyo via stock.adobe.com. Can doping athletes be stopped? With the Athens Olympics about to open, scientists are increasingly concerned that sophisticated techniques for evading drug tests will make it difficult for testers to catch athletes using steroids and other drugs, especially at future athletic competitions when genetic-based enhancements are...
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Causes and Treatments of Youth Violence
June 1, 2004
Young violence is a complicated topic with a range of different causes and treatments. Researchers from psychology, sociology, and neurobiology have teamed up to better understand this. Published June 1, 2004 By Catherine Zandonella Image courtesy of andranik123 via stock.adobe.com. There’s no simple, societal Rx, for preventing violent behavior in children and adolescents. But the latest research findings in psychology, sociology and neurobiology suggest a three-tiered approach to unlocking solutions. Youth violence plagues society and...
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Talking Teaching: A Case for Standardized Testing
June 1, 2004
While the United States’ education system is unique in many ways, embracing the proven, standardized testing practices of countries like South Korea can lead to better outcomes for American students. Published June 1, 2004 By Rosemarie Foster Image courtesy of Achira22 via stock.adobe.com. In France it’s the Baccalauréat. In Germany it’s the Abitur. In those countries, these are the standardized exams that every student must pass to graduate high school and attend college. But in...
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For the Public Good: Policy and Science
June 1, 2004
While many conjure images of beakers and Bunsen burners when thinking about science, it’s also important to consider the policy implications. Published June 1, 2004 By Eric Staeva-Vieira Image courtesy of Worawat via stock.adobe.com. Hypotheses are derived; experiments planned; results recorded. But what do the Washington elite think? The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) recently spoke with a newly minted Ph.D., Ginny Cox (Weill-Cornell ‘04), about her aspirations to examine the crossroads of...
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Quirks and Quacks: Bernard Shaw and Medical Ethics
April 19, 2004
Reflecting on ethical considerations posed by the famous Irish-born satirist nearly a century after his play critiqued aspects of the medical profession. Published April 19, 2004 By Jennifer Tang Image via Wikimedia Commons. You've invented a "miracle cure" for tuberculosis. Unfortunately, you have limited supplies of the drug and have room for only one more patient. You must choose between saving the life of a penniless doctor dedicated to helping the poor or a talented...
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Tapping into Ancient Urges for Food and Love?
March 1, 2004
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”-Aldous Huxley, Music at Night Published March 1, 2004 By Linda Hotchkiss Mehta Image courtesy of offsuperphoto via stock.adobe.com. Can music be reduced to mere brain anatomy and electrochemical interactions within the neural templates through which we experience it? Or will what we learn from science simply reinforce a reality the poets have intuited all along? A group of scientists came together in Venice...
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An Entertaining Approach to Science Education
June 1, 2003
Who said that science can’t be fun? These scientists let lose for the night to both entertain and educate their audience. Published June 1, 2003 By Dennis Gaffney Image courtesy of Chalabala via stock.adobe.com. It’s about an hour before Helen Davies is scheduled to sing in the basement grotto at the Cornelia Street Café in New York’s Greenwich Village. The crowd hasn’t yet filtered into the long and narrow bohemian space, with its low ceilings,...
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Healthy Approaches to Dealing with Stress
June 1, 2003
Neuroscientists say that a “healthy lifestyle” is perhaps the most effective prescriptions for dealing with chronic stress. Published June 1, 2003 By Jeffrey Penn Image courtesy of Farknot Architect via stock.adobe.com. Feeling stressed out? Anxious? Frustrated and angry? Looking for a way out? Some significant advances in the neurosciences are revealing that stress is actually a complex relationship of internal and external factors, and that some relatively simple lifestyle changes can contribute to a sense...
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Studying Mental Health: Categories or Dimensions?
June 1, 2003
Experts say that elements of both psychiatry and psychology should be considered when studying mental health. Published June 1, 2003 By Vida Foubiste Image courtesy of wutzkoh via stock.adobe.com. One of the dichotomies between basic and clinical research into childhood mental illness has been the nomenclature of classification. Psychiatrists have historically used “categories” to classify neurological disorders; psychologists have turned to “dimensions.” Thus, the Roots of Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents conference organizers set...
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A Scientific Explanation to the Demise of Dinosaurs
March 1, 2003
You may know that a meteoric collision likely led to the demise of dinosaurs, but did you know earth’s had at least five mass extinctions during its history? Published March 1, 2003 By Jeffrey Penn Image courtesy of Panupong via stock.adobe.com. A growing body of evidence suggests that the history of life on earth has been significantly affected by the collision of comets, meteorites and asteroids, resulting in global catastrophe and mass extinctions. “Prehistoric mass...
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Exploring Movement in Time and Space
March 1, 2003
Many of the dances choreographed by this MacArthur Foundation “genius” award winner brings in elements of science, such as the physics of kinetic sound. Published March 1, 2003 By Garry D. Reigenborn Image courtesy of Pixel-Shot via stock.adobe.com. Elizabeth Streb is a genius. She has been certified as such by the MacArthur Foundation “genius” award she received in 1997. If “genius” implies exceptional intellectual or creative power, however, Streb didn’t require any certification to qualify...
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130 Years Later: Darwin’s Theories Stand
January 1, 2003
While Darwin theorized about it more than a century ago, scientists continue to study links between emotions in humans and in animals. Published January 1, 2003 By Rosemarie Foster Image courtesy of NPD stock via stocka.adobe.com. Birds do it. Bees do it. Humans and chimpanzees do it. What do we have in common? Expressing our emotions, albeit in different ways. How we do it and why was the subject of a recent two-day conference called...
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Science and Citizenship: ‘A Matter of Trust’
January 1, 2003
Public trust in science is an issue as old as time, but experts are proposing new methods and approaches aim to change this. Published January 1, 2003 By Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of RomanR via stock.adobe.com. Scientists and policymakers now insist that the public must understand science if people are to be useful citizens – capable of functioning as workers, community members and informed citizens in a technological age. But what does public understanding mean?...
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Challenging Female Stereotypes in STEM
January 1, 2003
A new book explores the stereotypes that women overcame, as well as their accomplishments achieved, when contributing to the war effort in WWII. Published January 1, 2003 By Jeffrey Penn A colorized photo of real life “Rosie the Riveter.” Image courtesy of U.S. Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain. Advertising and other visual images during the past century have helped shape and challenge prevailing stereotypes about the role of women at home and...
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Code to Commodity: Genetics and Art
January 1, 2003
A new art exhibit at The New York Academy of Sciences explores everything from genetic iconography and gene patents to bioinformation and artificial chromosomes. Published January 1, 2003 By Dorothy Nelkin and Suzanne Anker Image courtesy of Victor Moussa via stock.adobe.com. In scientific terms, the gene is no more than a biological structure, a DNA segment that, by specifying the composition of a protein, carries information that promotes the formation of living cells and tissues....
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The Complexities of Stem Cell Research
August 1, 2002
Proponents on both sides of this at-times controversial debate each make their case, combining the science, history, policy, and ethics of the research. Published August 1, 2002 By Fred Moreno, Dan Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of NIH via Wikimedia Commons. Following the recent death of American baseball legend Ted Williams, it was learned that the former Boston Red Sox slugger’s body had been suspended in liquid nitrogen, encased in a...
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Genetic Privacy: A War Fought on Many Fronts
June 1, 2002
While genetic testing offers benefits from disease detection to casualty identification, it also creates a slew of legal and ethical questions. Published June 1, 2002 By Mary R. Anderlik and Mark A. Rothstein Image courtesy of Leigh Prather via stock.adobe.com. In 1995, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal John C. Mayfield III and Corporal Joseph Vlacovsky — along with many other U.S. service men and women — were told that DNA samples would be collected as part...
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A Framework to Improve Global Dialogue
April 1, 2002
An appreciation for and understanding of medieval Islamic science can help bridge East-West cultural divide and advance science for the public good. Published April 1, 2002 By Fred Moreno, Dana Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of Champ via stock.adobe.com. For hundreds of years medieval Islamic cities were fertile centers of learning. Wealthy, powerful patrons supported scholars and scientific thought flowered. In Cairo, al-Haytham explored the properties of light and founded the...
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The Primordial Lab for the Origin of Life
April 1, 2002
Exploring the role of RNA, DNA, nucleic acids, proteins and other elements that inform our understanding of the origins of life. Published April 1, 2002 By Henry Moss, PhD Image courtesy of issaronow via stock.adobe.com. When Thomas Cech and Sidney Altman showed that the ribozyme, a form of RNA, could act in the same manner as a protein catalyst, i.e. enzyme, origin-of-life theorists believed the central piece of the puzzle of life had been found....
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The ‘Scientific Odyssey’ of a New York Artist
April 1, 2002
Artist Frank Moore suffuses science themes in magical mix of fancy and fact in his paintings and other works of art. Published April 1, 2002 By Thomas C. Woodruff An inside shot of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Image courtesy of GualdimG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made. New York artist Frank Moore is a man of fancies and facts turned into magic. His paintings –– as visionary as they are...
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Supporting Dissident Scientists in Cuba
March 1, 2002
As part of the Academy’s continued efforts to advance human rights, a representative recently visited Cuba to advocate for imprisoned dissident scientists. Published March 1, 2002 By Fred Moreno, Dan Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of andy via stock.adobe.com. A representative of The New York Academy of Sciences’ (the Academy’s) Committee on Human Rights of Scientists traveled to Cuba in late November to visit the physics faculty at the University of...
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The Structural Design Of The Twin Towers
January 1, 2002
One of the structural engineers of the Twin Towers reflects on the destruction of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Published January 1, 2002 By Linda Hotchkiss Mehta The Twin Towers circa March 2001. Image courtesy Jeffmock, GNU Free Documentation License, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made to the original work. Although he lost many friends on September 11, Academy Member Leslie Robertson is thankful to be among the fortunate New Yorkers who did not lose family members...
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The Ethics of Surveillance Technology
January 1, 2002
In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks there’s been more emphasis on protecting public places and tracking terror threats. But what are the ethics of this? Published January 1, 2002 By Fred Moreno, Dan Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of Kate via stock.adobe.com. Picture yourself living each day under the watchful eye of a network of surveillance cameras that track your movements from place to place. Every time you enter...
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What Caused the ‘Bang’ of the Big Bang?
January 1, 2002
We are living in "the golden age of cosmology” as scientists and engineers continue to learn more about the universe's origin that led to us being here today. Published January 1, 2002 By Fred Moreno, Dan Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of sripfoto via stock.adobe.com. We’re all familiar with the Big Bang theory –– the most widely known model explaining the evolution of the universe. According to this standard model, the...
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Saving Lives in the Aftermath of Sept 11 Attack
November 1, 2001
Academy member and medical doctor Robert Lahita didn’t hesitate to use his medical knowledge to help others during this traumatic experience. Published November 1, 2001 By Fred Moreno, Dan Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of VOJTa Herout via stock.adobe.com. On September 24, in a cheerful ceremony as part of the Academy’s 183rd Annual Meeting, Dr. Robert Lahita received a special award in appreciation of his years of service as a member of...
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An Anthropologist’s Reflections on Margaret Mead
October 1, 2001
Dr. Constance Sutton reflects on the lasting impact imparted on her by pioneering female anthropologist Margaret Mead. Published October 1, 2001 By Constance Sutton, PhD Margaret Mead Margaret Mead had a profound influence, personally as well as professionally, on the lives of many people. Dr. Constance Sutton, professor of Anthropology at New York University and a fellow of The New York Academy of Sciences, knew Mead for 24 years. Following are some recollections of Mead...
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Environmentalism in the K–12 Science Classroom
October 1, 2001
Advocacy or science? A recent forum sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences emphasizes challenges teachers face when teaching environmental science. Published October 1, 2001 By Fred Moreno, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of WavebreakMediaMicro via stock.adobe.com. Educating young people about global warming, biodiversity, the importance of conservation and other matters has become a major issue in K–12 education. Students are taught sensitivity to the natural environment, the potential impact of human...
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The Economics of Transportation Infrastructure
March 1, 2001
From jobs to goods, the region’s transportation infrastructure is critical to economic prosperity of not just the tri-state, but the entire country. Published March 1, 2001 By Veronica Hendrickson, Allison L. C. de Cerreño, Ph.D., and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D. Image courtesy of leungchopan via stock.adobe.com. The Tri-State region represents 19% of the nation's total value of product shipments annually, and 10% of the nation’s tonnage. But, New York and New Jersey are each their...
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Transportation Infrastructure in the Tri-State
March 1, 2001
Adequate funding has enabled the tri-state to develop some of the most robust transportation infrastructure in the nation, but more funding is necessary for the region's economic prosperity. Published March 1, 2001 By Veronica Hendrickson, Allison L. C. de Cerreño, Ph.D., and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D. Image courtesy of Guy Bryant via stock.adobe.com. Rail Infrastructure in the Region TREND: A Shrinking Asset... The region’s freight system is home to a whopping 5,119 miles of operated...
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Federal R&D Spending in the Tri-State Region
January 1, 2001
With federal research funders like the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, the tri-state region is well positioned to advance research and development in the coming years. Published January 1, 2001 By Frank B. Hicks, Ph.D., Allison L. C. de Cerreño, Ph.D., and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D Image courtesy of AlexGo via stock.adobe.com. Federal funding for research in the Tri-State region (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) depends on broader trends in Federal...
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The Convergence of Natural and Human Science
September 1, 2000
Leading scientists and scholars ponder the ethical and philosophical dimensions at the intersection of molecular biology and neuroscience. Published September 1, 2000 By Henry Moss Stuart A. Kauffman of the Santa Fe Institute presents material from his forthcoming book, Investigations, at the Academy Conference, “Unity of Knowledge: The Convergence of Natural and Human Sciences.” On the far left is Joshua Lederberg, Nobel laureate and President Emeritus of the Rockefeller University. Seated in the middle is...
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Examining the Psychology of Olympic Athletes
August 1, 2000
Olympic records in endurance events will continue to fall as the physiological limits of athletes still has not been reached. Published August 1, 2000 By Jill Stolarik Image courtesy of Drobot Dean via stock.adobe.com. As the 2000 Olympic Games prepare to open in Sydney, sports fans around the world will continue to see new records being set-especially in endurance events such as swimming, cycling and long-distance running-predicts a scientist studying the physiological limits of athletic...
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Devastating: In the Eye of the Beholder
July 1, 2000
Exploring some of the ethical issues around medical science, recent breakthroughs in genetic discovery, and the broader impacts on society. Published July 1, 2000 By Allison C. de Cerreño Image courtesy of ustas via stock.adobe.com. It seems that not a day goes by without hearing about some new advance in the area of genetics. Whether it is mapping a new chromosome or finding a new marker for disease, the pace of discovery is sometimes awe-inspiring....
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Exploring the State and Local Roles in Education
July 1, 2000
From government support to tuition inflation, here’s breakdown of the different education funding sources and their impact on the tri-state region. Published July 1, 2000 By Frank B. Hicks, Ph.D. and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D. Image courtesy of Drazen via stock.adobe.com. Government Support TREND: A Significant Economic Sector Based on employment, education is the single largest functional section of government in the region, employing 832,000 workers in 1998. Together, the state and local governments of...
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Community College Output Keeps Pace in Tech Fields
June 1, 2000
From K-12 education to community colleges to adult job training, all of these areas contribute to the workforce and economic wellbeing of the region. Published July 1, 2000 By Frank B. Hicks, Ph.D. and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D. Image courtesy of .shock via stock.adobe.com. Dot-com entrepreneurs may be today’s darlings of the trading floor, but a technology-intense economy rests on a much broader base of workers. Of particular, but often unrecognized, importance in educating these...
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Of Stereotypes and Scientists: STEM in Popular Media
May 1, 2000
Exploring the ways in which scientists are depicted, often in less-than-flattering ways, in movies. But is this just a reflection of the public’s conflicting attitudes toward scientists? Published May 1, 2000 By Allison L.C. de Cerreño Image courtesy of Maya Kruchancova via stock.adobe.com. Genetically modified food is a hot topic today. Advocates point to its tremendous potential, while detractors highlight concerns about possible environmental and health effects. At times, debates degenerate to name-calling, with some...
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Adnan Waly: A Life and Career in Physics
May 1, 2000
From high-voltage mistakes to a visit with the Gestapo, physicist Adnan Waly talks about a life and career in science. Published May 1, 2000 By Merle Spiegel Image courtesy of WP_7824 via stock.adobe.com. The New York Academy of Sciences’ (the Academy’s) most valuable asset is the knowledge and experience of its members. Ninety-year-old Adnan Waly — an Academy member for 49 years, and an active member of its Lyceum Society — has watched and been...
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Russian Engineer Acquitted of Espionage Charges
April 18, 2000
While Aleksandr Nikitin has been temporarily acquitted on espionage charges, a higher court has appealed the case. Published April 17, 2000 By Merle Spiegel Image courtesy of Grispb via stock.adobe.com. Nikitin says it was his wife, Tatyana, who made sure the world didn’t forget about him. Tatyana Tchernova tried to maintain some human contact with the unannounced visitors. She offered them something to eat. It was the middle of the night, October 5, 1995, in...
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Exploring the Biology Behind the Music We Love
March 1, 2000
The Biological Foundations of Music conference will examine why and how the human brain has such an affinity for music. Published March 1, 2000 By Merle Spiegel Image courtesy of photology1971 via stock.adobe.com. Music is a part of all human cultures – and of almost every individual’s life, from infancy to death. We are uniquely able to produce and respond to music. It’s time we took it seriously. This spring, the Academy will host a...
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Exploring New Frontiers in Canopy Ecology
March 1, 2000
Exploring the science of canopy ecology, some of which takes place 120 feet off the ground. Published March 1, 2000 By Merle Spiegel Image courtesy of jittawit.21 via stock.adobe.com. After millennia on the ground, we’re headed back to the treetops. That’s what Bruce Rinker would like, anyway. Rinker, an avowed acrophobe, has shinnied his way into the tops of trees from Africa to New York, from Central and South America to Florida. The science of...
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The Tremendous Impact of Immigration on NYC’s Economy
March 1, 2000
Immigrants play a vital role in supporting the tri-state region’s science and engineering industries and contributing to the broader economy. Published March 1, 2000 By Frank B. Hicks, Ph.D. and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D. Image courtesy of THANANIT via stock.adobe.com. The Tri-State region has always been a magnet for immigrants. And nothing diversifies like diversity. The region's bountiful collage of cultures and accessibility to global transportation continues to attract the largest portion of the nation's...
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A New Case for More Equity in STEM Outcomes
March 1, 2000
Trends and data on graduates from traditionally underrepresented groups, the "digital divide," college preparation, and foreign STEM investment. Published March 1, 2000 By Frank B. Hicks, PhD, and Susan U. Raymond, PhD Image courtesy of methaphum via stock.adobe.com. Graduates from Traditionally Underrepresented Groups TREND: More Grad Students in Science and Engineering from Traditionally Underrepresented Groups Nationally and regionally, Blacks and Hispanics (who make up about one fifth of the national and one quarter of the...
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From the Front Lines of the Japanese Scientific World
March 1, 2000
A scientific researcher, writer, and translator, Academy member Toshiyuki Esaki plays a critical role in promoting and advancing science in service of the public good. Published March 1, 2000 By Fred Moreno, Anne de León, and Jennifer Tang Toshiyuki Esaki, a member of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy), doesn’t have much time for leisure travel, having been only to London (once) and Honolulu (twice) — with the purpose of each trip being...
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A New Ethical Framework to Urban Archeology
March 1, 2000
Anthropologist Anne-Marie Cantwell explores the ethical dilemmas that those in her field face and provides guidance for acknowledging past injustices. Published March 1, 2000 By Fred Moreno, Anne de León, and Jennifer Tang When you think of archaeology, you don’t normally think of New York City. But Anne-Marie Cantwell, a professor at Rutgers University-Newark, exemplifies that combination to a “T.” She’s one of America’s most prominent archaeologists and New York City is one of her...
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Making Science More Accessible to the Public
March 1, 2000
One of the most popular writers and lecturers on scientific topics, Stephen Jay Gould aims to make science more accessible to the public. Published March 1, 2000 By Fred Moreno, Anne de León, and Jennifer Tang When he was five years old, Stephen Jay Gould took the short trip from Queens to the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan with his father. That visit sparked an interest in paleontology that blossomed throughout his boyhood...
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The Immeasurable Value of Advancing Science
March 1, 2000
For members like Carolyn Foster, The New York Academy of Sciences offers a “neutral ground” where academics and industrial scientists can come together to advance a common goal. Published March 1, 2000 By Fred Moreno, Anne de León, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of Sebastian Kaulitzki via stock.adobe.com. Nearly 30 years ago, Carolyn Foster attended a mini-symposium sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) that had a profound effect on her life....
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The Catalyst to the Revolution in Life Sciences
January 1, 2000
From the physical and life sciences to tackling diseases and discovering the root of health disparities, the Academy’s programming is diverse and impactful. Published January 1, 2000 By Merle Spiegel Image courtesy of Souvik via stock.adobe.com. Just as research of the past century gave the world remarkable advances in many areas of science and engineering, the future promises even more stunning progress. The life sciences exemplify the prospects. It is not just a glib headline...
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October 30, 2025 ·
Cybersecurity public health: Institutions and disciplines
Contributors: Adam Shostack|
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October 29, 2025 ·
Conceptualizing Young People's Experiences of Climate Change Awareness: A Narrative Review
Contributors: Daniella Watson| Teaghan Hogg| Tara Crandon| Ans Vercammen| Chloe Watfern| John Jamir Benzon Aruta| Fiona Charlson| Emma Louise Lawrance|
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Contributors: Yessenia Chavez| Hongdao Meng| Yujun Liu| Jamie Mayer| Nathan Campbell| Christopher Wright| Alex Amidei| Insha Butail| Sydney Fields| Makenna Green| Layla Katharine Santana| Chloe Steffel| Angela J. Grippo|
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October 03, 2025 ·
A Moment Versus a Lifetime: Patterns of Loneliness and Perceived Causes in People's Lived Experiences
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Genetic Diversification of Crimean‐Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Lineage Europe 1
Contributors: Yan Li|
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October 03, 2025 ·
Longitudinal Effects of Continuous Music Training on Cognitive Development: Evidence From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
Contributors: Assal Habibi| Eustace Hsu| Jed Villanueva| Shan Luo|
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October 01, 2025 ·
Avoiding Pain to Others Motivates Effortful Prosocial Behavior
Contributors: Claudia Massaccesi| Lei Zhang| Giorgia Silani| Claus Lamm|
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September 27, 2025 ·
The Dark Side of Ideology: Ideological Worldviews and Antidemocratic Attitudes
Contributors: Artur Nilsson| Ali Teymoori|
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September 24, 2025 ·
Loneliness in schizophrenia: Just loneliness
Contributors: Daphne J. Holt|
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