STEM Pathways
Browse the latest in STEM Pathways, including blog articles, Annals research, events, Academy news and more.
Content Spotlight
press-release
The New York Academy of Sciences’ Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program Wins Bronze in The 5th Annual Anthem Awards
November 24, 2025
For the third year in a row, the Academy’s educational programming has been recognized by “the largest and most comprehensive social impact award.” New York, NY | November 24, 2025 – The Anthem Awards have recognized The New York Academy of Sciences’ Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program as a Bronze Winner in the Education, Art & Culture: School/University category. This marks the third time in as many years that the Academy’s educational programming has been recognize...
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Power Skills that Propel Success in Tech
November 3, 2025
What separates good technologists from great leaders? A candid conversation on the human skills that drive innovation, collaboration, and success in tech. Published November 3, 2025 By Brooke Grindlinger, PhD Panel moderator Brooke Grindlinger (The New York Academy of Sciences, left) with Kamilah Thomas, Jyoti Shah, Rafif Srour Daher, and Ashley M. Scott at the 2025 Women Impact Tech Accelerate Conference. In a world where technology evolves faster than most of us can track, it...
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The Junior Academy Symposium Sparks Creative Solutions to Modern Problems
July 28, 2025
Though separated by geography and Zoom screens, the desire to connect and create was on full display during the annual Virtual Student Symposia on Thursday, June 27th, 2025. Published July 28, 2025 By Jennifer Atkinson The New York Academy of Sciences honored the hard work and innovation from members of The Junior Academy, totaling 3,372 students across the 2024-2025 Academic Year. The symposia focused on the winning teams' proposed solutions for this year’s Innovation Challenges....
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Reflections from Academy Member Prof. Mirza S. Baig
July 2, 2025
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. It comes from genuine hard work, patience, and above all, integrity.” Published July 2, 2025 By Mirza S. Baig, PhD Mirza S. Baig Nearly a decade ago, I had the honour of being featured in the #IAmNYAS series by The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy). Looking back, my journey as an immunologist and Academy member has been shaped by perseverance,...
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Putting the Spotlight on NYC Innovation
June 25, 2025
The New York Academy of Sciences’ Scientist-in-Residence Student Showcase is an opportunity to explore scientific innovations taking place in New York City. Published June 25, 2025 By Jennifer Atkinson Photo by Nick Fetty/The New York Academy of Sciences. Students of all ages buzzed about posters and 3D dioramas of every shape, size, and color. In the air was a sense of nostalgia, one that harkened back to school science fairs from our youth. Students dressed...
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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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The Immeasurable Impact of an Effective Mentor
May 2, 2025
Eugene Mananga, PhD, a professor of physics and chemistry at the City University of New York (CUNY), recently received the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Published May 2, 2025 By Nick Fetty Eugene Mananga, PhD When Professor Eugene Mananga, who is also a member of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy), got the news that he would receive this prestigious award, he admits he never even contemplated...
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Recognizing the STEM Teacher and Mentor of the Year
April 30, 2025
This year’s award-winning teacher-mentor duo has been inspiring young minds and promoting STEM education for three years. They were recently honored by The New York Academy of Sciences for their work. Published April 30, 2025 By Brooke Elliott Megan C. Henriquez (left) and Brittany Beck pose with their awards during the Spring Soirée hosted at the University Club of New York on April 22, 2025. The New York Academy of Sciences’ (the Academy’s) Scientist-in-Residence (SiR) program...
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The Junior Academy’s Impact on an Aspiring Engineer
April 25, 2025
Ruhi Samudra is a high school senior in Irvine, California. She was involved in the Junior Academy, igniting her passion for environmental science and inspiring her to start her science website, Bubbles & Beakers. She is starting at UC Berkeley this fall as a Bioengineering Major. Published April 25, 2025 By Brooke Elliott Ruhi Samudra Ruhi Samudra’s interest in STEM first began in eighth grade when she took part in her middle school’s Science Olympiad....
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The Lasting Impact of the Junior Academy
April 16, 2025
Rebecca Zolotor, PharmD, currently serves as dean and vice president for the School of Health Sciences at Purdue Global. Her passion for public health can be traced back to her time at the Junior Academy more than 30 years ago. Published April 16, 2025 By Brooke Elliott Rebecca Zolotor gives a presentation as a member of the Junior Academy in 1992. Dr. Rebecca Zolotor’s passion for science was ignited in ninth grade when she read...
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From the Dance Floor to the Neurobiology Lab
April 2, 2025
Constantina Theofanopoulou, PhD, a leading researcher in neurobiology is an accomplished flamenco dancer. She’s also a mentor for The New York Academy of Sciences. Published April 2, 2025 By Brooke Elliott Image courtesy of constantinatheofanopoulou.com. Constantina Theofanopoulou, PhD, is an accomplished neurobiologist who served as a mentor for The New York Academy of Sciences Afterschool STEM Program from 2019 to 2022. She taught biological concepts to elementary and middle school students in underserved communities across...
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Academy Member was Female Trailblazer in Astronomy
March 31, 2025
One of the early members of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy), Margaret Burbidge, PhD was an influential astrophysicist and proponent of women’s equality in science. Published March 31, 2025 By Brooke Elliott Astrophysicist Margaret Burbidge at the Science Research Council in Holborn, London, after the announcement of her appointment as Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, November 1971. Image courtesy of Michael Webb via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed via Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. No...
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Become a More Inclusive and Effective Science Communicator
March 7, 2025
Advice and insights from sci-comm professionals on how to deliver your message so that everyone has the opportunity to engage with and benefit from scientific knowledge. Published March 7, 2025 By Lydia Jennings, PhD; Elizabeth Bojsza, MFA; Amy Sharma, PhD; and Zamara Choudhary, MA In fall of 2024, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) partnered with 2030 STEM to produce a five-part series, titled Inclusion in STEM. The series supported the Academy’s commitment...
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Q&A with Academy Board Member Armen Avanessians
February 4, 2025
Armen Avanessians is the former Head and Chief Investment Officer, Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s (GSAM) Quantitative Investment Strategies Group and is currently a member of the Board of Governors for The New York Academy of Sciences. With an educational background in electrical engineering, and extensive professional experience in finance, he brings a valuable perspective to the Board. We interviewed him to learn more about his background, how engineering principles can be applied to the world...
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New Journal Provides Career Advancing Platform for Teen Researchers
January 13, 2025
The new publication will follow the same rigorous standards as traditional academic journals, and will foster interdisciplinary dialog and thoughtful innovation among emerging changemakers. New York, NY | January 13, 2025 – Convergence, a new peer reviewed journal launched today by Indigo Research and The New York Academy of Sciences, will provide a platform for aspiring students in the humanities and STEAM, to publish their own work across a variety of genres including academic research,...
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Explore STEM Careers with the Academy
November 27, 2024
With our national and global economy increasingly powered by STEM, it’s crucial to offer opportunities to explore the careers available in these fields. Published November 27, 2024 By Zamara Choudhary A recent study, titled STEM and the American Workforce, found that two thirds of people in the United States are employed in STEM-related occupations. The analysis took an inclusive view of STEM, accounting for all occupations that contribute to STEM-related work regardless of educational attainment....
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The New York Academy of Sciences Receives Grant to Connect Young People From Diverse Places and Backgrounds Through Virtual Exchange
November 19, 2024
A grant from the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative will enable the Junior Academy to give young people global collaboration and learning opportunities – without them having to leave their home communities. New York, NY | November 19, 2024 – Today, the Stevens Initiative announced The New York Academy of Sciences (The Academy) is one of nine schools, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations to receive funding to run virtual exchange programs that connect...
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The New York Academy of Sciences Partners with 2030 STEM on Inclusion in STEM Series
October 25, 2024
Promoting inclusive STEM classrooms, labs, and workspaces is just one part of The New York Academy of Sciences’ broader mission of advancing science for the public good. Published October 25, 2024 By Zamara Choudhary Numerous studies have demonstrated the value of a diverse workforce, especially the inclusion of people from underrepresented groups in the STEM fields. A diverse workforce brings multiple perspectives and ways of thinking. The result catalyzes innovation, promotes creativity, and allows more...
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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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Advocating a Better Future for Postdocs
September 17, 2024
Blavatnik Regional Awards Finalist Nicole Lake, PhD, is now a strong advocate for postdoctoral researchers. She offers advice on how postdocs should advocate for one another. Published September 17, 2024 By Nicole Lake, PhD As postdocs, we are not just passive participants in our journey. We are active shapers of our own experience. We must learn and apply a wide range of skills, from research and teaching to networking and time management. Another crucial skill...
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Self-Advocacy Played Important Role in My Journey
September 17, 2024
Blavatnik Regional Awards Laureate Raghavendra Pradyumna Pothukuchi, PhD, had to advocate for himself to find the right work-life balance. He offers advice so fellow postdocs can do the same. Published September 17, 2024 By Raghavendra Pradyumna Pothukuchi, PhD Raghavendra Pradyumna Pothukuchi, PhD, celebrates his wife's birthday with their two children. We all enjoy science and research, but it’s hard to deny that academic life is grueling. This is especially so as a postdoc, which is...
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A New Approach to Postdoc Work-Life Balance
September 17, 2024
Blavatnik Regional Awards Finalist Amy R. Strom, PhD, offers advice on the subtle differences postdocs must consider when finding work-life balance. Published September 17, 2024 By Amy R. Strom, PhD Amy Strom and partner Akshay Tambe. Is work-life balance truly harder for postdocs than other professions? The short answer is yes, and there’s a reason you’ll find so many “How I Found Balance” articles written by academics. These narratives often focus on the number of...
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Assisting Dementia Patients with AI and AR
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2024: “Wearables” Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences Team members: Riya K. (India) (Team Lead), Shreeniket B. (United States), Sysha R. (India), Prakul P. (India), Tisha S. (India), Medha T. (United States) Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that affects 55 million people worldwide and 1 in 10 people older than 65 in the United States, according to the...
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Students Make Sustainable Fashion Statement
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2024: “Circular Textiles” Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Team members: Rachita J. (India) (Team Lead), Mariia H. (Ukraine), Sofía R. (Colombia), Alex B. (United States), Sylvia X. (United States), Altynay N. (Kazakhstan) Textiles and fashion are important sectors for the world economy but as demand increases, so do the environmental and human costs – due to...
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Improving Classroom Accessibility with AI
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2023: “Cognitive Classrooms” Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by NEOM Team members: Dawik D. (Team Lead) (Qatar), Atharv K. (India), Anoushka T. (India), Abhay B. (India), Asmit B. (India), Jefferson L. (United States) Mentor: Aryan Chowdhary (India) 250 million children worldwide lack access to a decent education due to extreme poverty, child labor, or discrimination, according to data from the United Nations. A shortage...
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Alternatives To Mineral Space Mining
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge – Fall 2023 “Minerals of Technology” Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Team members: Sriyash T. (Team Lead) (India), Radoslav K. (United States), Aarish K. (United States), Rehan S. (India), Aashritha T. (United States), Farhan M. (United States) For the “Minerals of Technology” Junior Academy Innovation Challenge, high school students were asked to come up with an innovative...
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The Environmental Benefits of Vertical Farming
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge – Fall 2023 "Green Homes, Green Schools, Green Communities" Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences Team members: Iga P. (Team Lead) (Poland), Eliska B. (Slovakia), Alfiya K. (Kazakhstan), Ivanna V. (Ukraine), Linda M. (Slovakia), Nouha O. (Tunisia) Mentor: Adeola Akinsulure (Nigeria) In Fall 2023, The New York Academy of Sciences invited high school students from around the world to...
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Supporting Scientists in the South Bronx
July 17, 2024
Nayem Haque not only wants to inspire tomorrow’s scientists, but also to motivate the next generation of mentors who train these aspiring science professionals. Published July 17, 2024 By Nicole Pope A mentor for The New York Academy of Sciences is motivated to inspire tomorrow’s scientists as a result of his own positive classroom experience nearly a decade and a half ago. “Walking through the doors of my old school as an adult, I was...
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Big Time Research from the Junior Academy
July 11, 2024
Rising young stars in science are celebrated for their innovative ideas in artificial intelligence and sustainability applications. Published July 11, 2024 By Kaitlin Green The New York Academy of Sciences’ Junior Academy celebrated the hard work and dedication of students from the 2023-24 academic year on June 27th, 2024, during the annual Virtual Student Symposia. More than 80 students, mentors, coaches, sponsors and partners, in 29 countries, were invited to celebrate a successful year...
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Showcasing The New York Academy of Sciences’ Spring 2024 Interns
May 23, 2024
Throughout the year, The New York Academy of Sciences welcomes student interns who join staff teams to gain valuable firsthand experience working on practical projects that help to advance the Academy’s mission of “science for the public good.” Published May 23, 2024 By Zamara Choudhary The New York Academy of Sciences has a long history of supporting aspiring young professionals through its broad portfolio of education initiatives. And this spring, the Academy continues that legacy...
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How to Make Your Junior Academy Application Shine
April 19, 2024
Each year we seek out passionate STEM-interested students from around the world to join our signature high school research program. Here are four smart tips that will give your application an edge. Published April 19, 2024 By Kaitlin Green Through the Junior Academy of The New York Academy of Sciences, high school students ages 13-17 develop research, innovation, and collaboration skills. They leverage these skills to compete in Innovation Challenges sponsored by industry-leading companies, where...
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A New Partnership Aims to Strengthen US-China STEM Collaborations
March 12, 2024
The New York Academy of Sciences and the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology are teaming up to advance science and innovation on a global scale. Published March 12, 2024 By Nick Fetty Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, shakes hands with Zhiqiang Han, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, after signing a memorandum of understanding for a new collaboration between the two...
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A Telemedicine App for Rural Communities
December 21, 2023
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2022: “Public Health Impacts of Climate Change.” Published December 21, 2023 By Nicole Pope In Fall 2022, 42 international teams of high school students participated in a Junior Academy Challenge. Their goal was to find innovative solutions for the multiple impacts of climate change on human health. The winning team, MiHealth — comprised of Betsy D. (United States, Team Lead), Joanna A. (United States), Mehmet A. (United...
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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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A New Approach to Dealing with Oil Spills
November 16, 2023
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2022: "Exploring the Extremes" Published November 16, 2023 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by NEOM Team members: Ellen B. (Team Lead) (Philippines), Valeria S. (Peru), Joaquin S. (Peru), Smriti K. (Nepal), Tanisha T. (Indonesia) Mentor: Jasmine P. (United States) “Exploring the Extremes” required participating teams to offer new solutions to the major issues of our time. The winning team, “Go Green Sea Blue”, took an ambitious, multi-pronged approach...
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The Junior Academy Induction Ceremony
November 14, 2023
Dr. Groome presents during The New York Academy of Sciences' 205th Annual Meeting. Nearly 3000 students were inducted into the Junior Academy as part of its newest cohort. Published November 14, 2023 By Meghan Groome, PhD At its 205th Annual Member Meeting on November 14, 2023, The New York Academy of Sciences launched a new tradition: the induction of our Junior Academy members into our membership ranks. The Junior Academy has been engaging students since...
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STEMM Excellence
November 10, 2023
This collection of papers addresses talent and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). Experimental and review papers address important issues on STEMM talent and education including how to ignite and promote interest in STEMM, transform STEMM talent into academic and professional achievement, and translate research on STEMM talent into programs that maintain interest and success in STEMM fields. Many of these articles focus on populations that have been left out of STEMM...
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Our Life is Safer with Smart Shelter Team
November 2, 2023
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2022: "Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Homes" Published November 02, 2023 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Ericsson Team members: Al-Zahraa A. (Team Lead) (Oman), Tahra A. (Oman), Miaad A. (Oman), Taher A. (Oman) Mentor: Venkatesan Subramaniyan (India) The Middle Eastern Sultanate of Oman is vulnerable to extreme weather events like hurricanes and air depressions, which can cause severe damage and threaten lives. In Spring 2022, the New...
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Better Diets Mean Better Mental Health
August 21, 2023
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2022: “Building Community to Support Student Mental Health" Published August 21, 2023 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by S&P Global Team Members: Catherine L. (Team Lead) (China), Advika S. (India), Cara C. (United States), Snigdha S. (India), Shruthi D. (United States), Shivani D. (India) Mentor: Katherine Wert (United States) Many adolescents struggle with mental health issues and a conflicted relationship with food, brought on by a variety of...
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Fresh New Methods for Clean Air and Water
July 1, 2023
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2023: “Water Sustainability” Published July 1, 2023 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Team members: Yuanning (Helen) H. (Team Lead) (United States), Aadi M. (United States), Riya K. (United States), Nachammai A. (United States), Sheila M. (United States), Ayazhan K. (Kazakhstan) Mentor: Kalyani Neti (India) As climate change continues to threaten water supplies around the world, the ability to access...
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Developing a New App to Empower Urban Farmers
July 1, 2023
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2023 “Urban Gardens” Published July 1, 2023 By Nicole Pope Team members: Tianze H. (Team Lead) (United States), Tianlai H. (United States), Radwa A. (Egypt) Mentor: Olusola Ladokun (Nigeria) Urban gardening can be an effective way to provide fresh and healthy food at a low cost, particularly in parts of the world where food security remains elusive. But it involves many variables– climate, soil, location, sun exposure,...
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Collaboration is Key to Solving Global Issues
June 29, 2023
The New York Academy of Sciences works in partnership with New York City high schools to promote interest in STEM subjects among students. Many high school students from New York have taken part in Junior Academy challenges, which enable them to team up with peers from various countries around the world to devise innovative solutions to real-life issues. Published June 29, 2023 By Nicole Pope We interviewed Angela, and a group of students from around...
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Math Anxiety: Experimental and Developmental Perspectives
March 29, 2023
This collection of papers brings together experimental and developmental perspectives on how mathematics anxiety impacts mathematics performance: studies within experimental psychology; studies on neural substrates of mathematics anxiety and its links to mathematics performance, and studies of interventions targeting emotional, behavioural, and cognitive aspects of mathematics anxiety. Importantly, intervention studies, apart from obvious practical benefits, shed unique light on causal mechanisms. The virtual issue is edited by Flavia H. Santos, Ann Dowker, Krzysztof Cipora, and...
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From the Lab to the Classroom
February 17, 2023
Inspired by her father's appreciation for education and giving back, Chuhyon Corwin became a high school science teacher. Published February 17, 2023 By David Freeman Neuroscience researcher and EnCorps Fellow, Chuhyon Corwin, traded her research lab for the classroom in a New York City public high school where she works as a science teacher. Thanks to a partnership between The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) and the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program, Korean-born Corwin, an...
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Technology for More Sustainable Agriculture
December 1, 2022
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2022: "The Green Redesign" Published December 1, 2022 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Ericsson Team Members: Jiho L. (Team Lead) (Republic of Korea), Ansh T. (India), Riya K. (India), Arshroop S. (India), Aman A. (India), Rawnaq A. (Oman) Mentor: Olusola Ladokun (Nigeria) Among the 85 teams that embarked on the Green Redesign Challenge in Fall 2022, one team stood out. By improving irrigation and reducing the waste...
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An Innovative Approach to Predicting Forest Fires
December 1, 2022
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2022: “Forestry for a Sustainable Future” Published December 1, 2022 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Prolonged droughts, caused by climate change, have amplified the risks of forest fires around the globe– making blazes bigger, more frequent, and more intense. These fires devastate vast swathes of forests and often spread into residential areas, threatening lives and housing. Research by the University of...
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Work-Life Balance is Key in the Hybrid Environment
September 21, 2022
Daniel Brandenburg, the 2022 Blavatnik Regional Awards Finalist in Physical Sciences & Engineering, offers tips on how to find a healthy work-life balance in the new age of hybrid work. Published September 21, 2022 By Daniel Brandenburg Daniel Brandenburg For many of us, COVID ushered in an era of working from home. I was traveling for a scientific conference when Brookhaven National Laboratory first sent all employees home to work. It was an eerie experience...
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Meeting Electricity Needs in the Philippines
July 1, 2022
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2022: "Flexible Use of Electricity" Published July 1, 2022 By Roger Torda Team Members: Abhi G. (Team Lead) (India), Marianne I. (Philippines), Shreya J. (Canada), Angel I. (Philippines), Elijah U. (Nigeria) Mentor: Muhammad Mahad Malik (Pakistan) For this Junior Academy challenge on Flexible Use of Electricity, the five Power On team members chose to address a thorny issue: the energy deficit in the Philippines, where electricity demand...
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Raising Awareness about Water Quality in Ukraine
December 15, 2021
Meet Sea Saviors, the winning team of the Fall 2021 Junior Academy Challenge "Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems.” Published December 15, 2021 By Roger Torda In the fall of 2021, six budding scientists entered the Junior Academy Challenge and teamed up online to address eutrophication in the Black Sea area and the Dnieper River that runs across Ukraine. Team members were Anzhelika-Mariia H. (Team Lead) (Ukraine), Kusum S. (Nepal), Aman Kumar F. (India), Manan P. (India),...
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How the Brain Gives Rise to the Mind
October 21, 2021
This Year’s Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Laureate in the Life Sciences is connecting the activity of cells and synapses to emotions and social behavior Published October 21, 2021 By Roger Torda Neuroscientist Kay Tye has challenged orthodoxy in her field by studying the connection between the brain and the mind. The work has led to breakthroughs in basic science. It also points to new approaches to mental illness, with significant potential impact. Tye...
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The Key to Balancing a Research Career and Parenting
September 23, 2021
Much like being a parent, science never stops. Daniel Straus, 2021 Blavatnik Regional Awards Winner in Chemistry, provides insight on how to balance these two responsibilities. Published September 23, 2021 By Daniel Straus Daniel Straus with his family Science never stops, for better or for worse. I am a competitive person. A constant fear of mine is being “scooped” by another lab, rendering months or years of research unpublishable for a lack of novelty. Taking...
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The Exciting, Unchartered World of Nanomaterials
June 4, 2021
Imagine if we could detect health problems before they become life-threatening. Published June 04, 2021 By Benjamin Schroeder, PhD Imagine if we could charge our cell phones by plugging them into our backpack, or if we could build a biocompatible probe that could interface with our cells and detect health problems before they become life-threatening. Working at nanoscale, scientists are now capable of assembling molecules and atoms into structures that have exactly the desired properties...
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Avoiding Bias and Conflict of Interest in Science
February 18, 2021
"[C]onflict of interest is about more than money….it can come from political pressures and ideological pressures." Published February 18, 2021 By Melanie Brickman Borchard, PhD, MSc Arthur Caplan, PhDProfessor, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Arthur Caplan, PhD, says scientists, physicians, and their employers, must be on guard to ensure that quality research and good patient care remain front-and-center in a healthcare system rife with rewards for bias. Dr. Caplan is a professor of medical ethics...
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Empowering Girls in STEM, Improving Futures for All
November 10, 2020
The New York Academy of Sciences empowers young women to pursue STEM-related careers. Published November 10, 2020 By Roger Torda The New York Academy of Sciences and its Global STEM Alliance partners want to grow the STEM pipeline, and engage and retain more young women in STEM-related careers. Our programs connect motivated, enthusiastic female mentors with smart, STEM-focused high school girls from around the world to help them develop essential 21st century skills. In this...
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NYC Teacher Brings STEM to Her Social Studies Class
November 2, 2020
Servena Narine, who teaches at a New York City public school in Brooklyn, uses science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to help her elementary school students master their social studies curriculum. Published November 2, 2020 By Roger Torda This summer, Narine used time made available because of the COVID-19 shutdown to take The New York Academy of Sciences’ online course STEM Education in the 21st Century. During the eight-week course, she designed a curriculum...
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Building Bridges in the Humanities and Sciences
May 28, 2020
To understand how Nicholas B. Dirks is leading The New York Academy of Sciences, it may be helpful to learn more about three of his passions: the liberal arts, interdisciplinary studies, and southern India. Published May 28, 2020 By Roger Torda Nicholas Dirks is a historian, anthropologist and accomplished university administrator. To understand the arc of his career—and how he will lead The New York Academy of Sciences—it may be helpful to understand three of...
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Teaming Up to Advance Brain Research
May 1, 2020
The New York Academy of Sciences and Aspen Brain Institute celebrate a decade of collaboration. Published May 1, 2020 By Melanie Brickman Borchard, PhD, MSc Glenda Greenwald President and Founder, Aspen Brain Institute Bringing together some of the world’s greatest thinkers is no small accomplishment. But a decade ago, a seemingly chance meeting in Aspen led to a partnership that would bring some of the world’s leading figures from science, politics and entertainment to landmark...
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Good Teachers Yield Promising Returns for Confident Students
May 1, 2020
Developing a strong future workforce starts with training teachers to be confident in their instruction of computer science, starting in students' early school years. Published May 1, 2020 By Ravi Kumar S. Ravi Kumar SPresident, Infosys Ltd. and Chairperson Infosys Foundation USA Over the past few years, there has been growing acknowledgment that it is important to make computer science a core component of K-12 education. And how could there not be? With 500,000 jobs...
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Good Mentors are Key to Student Interest in STEM
May 1, 2020
The Academy's Scientists in Residence initiative aims to jumpstart student interest in STEM. Published May 1, 2020 By Adrienne Umali, M.S.B.S., M.S.Ed. Kathrin Schilling, Ph.D.Associate Research Scientist Geochemistry, Columbia University Regardless of the field you’re in, it is likely that if you looked back at your career path, you could identify at least one person who has helped guide you to where you are today. Whether this person was a teacher, family member, coach, or supervisor,...
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A Professional Case for Effective Networking
May 1, 2020
Networking is a skill that needs to be practiced. Here's how to overcome the self-imposed barriers that may be standing in the way of becoming good at it. Published May 1, 2020 By Srikant Iyer, PhD Srikant Iyer, Ph.D. No one knows who first coined the popular saying “It’s not what you know that counts so much as who you know …” although there is some evidence it was first used in 1914 in The...
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Better Data Means Better Food
April 14, 2020
Turning data into predictive models is not a simple task. Published April 14, 2020 By Roger Torda Shelf life is an important variable when it comes to snack foods. But how can shelf life be predicted when new products are being developed? The starting point is often data from taste tests. Turning that data into a predictive model is not a simple task. And that is why PepsiCo, teaming with The New York Academy of...
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Collaborating Today for a Better Tomorrow
March 3, 2020
Junior Academy team works together to solve the problem of the lack of refrigeration in rural Tanzania. Published March 3, 2020 By Marie Gentile and Roger Torda Belinda Baraka Boniphace, 17, of Tanzania, runs an online market connecting sellers to buyers. She noticed that high temperatures in her area and a lack of cold storage options were significantly impacting the quality of produce available in her town of Dar es Salaam and nationwide. Vegetables would...
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A New Approach to Natural Disaster Preparation
October 30, 2019
A natural disaster inspired one high school student to use science to help others. Published October 1, 2019 By Mandy Carr Luis G. Alvarez Luis G. Alvarez, 17, is a member of the Junior Academy at Colegio Integral Mesoamericano Patzicia in Guatemala; a volatile environment that is subject to earthquakes, tropical storms and volcanic eruptions. And on June 3, 2018, he experienced the eruption of Volcan de Fuego. “I remember hearing something like rain falling...
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So, You Want to Publish a Scientific Paper?
October 1, 2019
Learning how to craft a scientific paper so that it is accepted for publication takes practice. An expert provides his perspective. Published October 1, 2019 By Douglas Braaten, PhD Learning how to craft a scientific paper so that it is accepted for publication takes practice. It also requires attention to details across many domains. Many advice resources are available, and I encourage any young scientist to carve out time to focus on what to do —...
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The Challenge of Keeping Women in STEM
October 1, 2019
Efforts to close the gender gap in STEM by encouraging girls to study science have resulted in more young women considering careers in science. Yet systemic biases in academia create an uncertain future. Published October 1, 2019 By Sonya Dougal, PhD Many women who earn PhDs in life sciences choose to pursue non-academic careers during the critical period between receiving their doctoral degree and becoming an independent investigator. This gender specific phenomenon, described as a “leaky...
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Non-STEM Skills Give an Edge to STEM Professionals
October 1, 2019
Today's employers want workers who have “soft skills,” such as being a good listener or thinking critically. Published October 1, 2019 By Pinelopi Kyriazi Joseph Borrello, Sinai Bio-Design, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai According to a new report from Cengage, an educational technology and services company, employers want college graduates who have “soft skills,” such as being a good listener or thinking critically, but they have difficulty finding such candidates. Such so-called “soft” skills are...
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Help Wanted to Close the Skills Gap
October 1, 2019
The fastest growing occupations over the next decade will be in the energy, health and education sectors. Published October 1, 2019 By Joan Lebow Fabio Manca, Head of the Skills Analysis team at the OECD Centre for Skills According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastest growing occupations over the next decade will be in the energy, health and education sectors, while the medical and technical sectors will contain the highest paying occupations. All these...
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Grant Rejection Could Be the Best Thing for Your Career
October 1, 2019
Four different sciences and engineers share their experiences of transitioning from academia into research-focused private sector positions. Published October 1, 2019 By Ann Delfaro As a doctoral student, microbiologist Natasha Frank was known for challenging assumptions. Her scientific skepticism and technical skills steered more than one experiment to safety when it threatened to tank, and classmates routinely approached her for advice. Few were surprised, then, when Frank accepted a postdoctoral position at the Pacific Northwest...
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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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Recognizing Breakthrough Scientists in the Tri-State
September 14, 2019
New breakthroughs in controlling mosquito populations, quantum gravity and reducing chemical byproduct waste are among the cutting edge research being honored by the 2019 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. Published September 14, 2019 By Kamala Murthy https://vimeo.com/356738631 This year the Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists received 137 nominations from 20 academic institutions in the tri-state area. A jury of distinguished senior scientists and engineers from leading academic institutions selected three outstanding scientists as Winners...
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Advice for Transitioning from Academia to Policy
May 20, 2019
Mentoring had a profound impact on Adriana Bankston, PhD, as she transitioned from academia to a career in science policy. She offers guidance on how to effectively mentor the next generation. Published May 20, 2019 By Adriana Bankston, PhD Adriana Bankston, PhD Mentoring is a necessity, not just during a particular phase in one’s life, but throughout one’s professional progression. And while I know that certain mentors can provide excellent training for academic careers and...
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The 2019 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists National Laureates
May 1, 2019
Our showcase of the inspiring honorees breaking new ground in life sciences, chemistry and physical sciences. Published May 1, 2019 By Carina Storrs, PhD Life Sciences Laureate Heather J. Lynch, PhD, Stony Brook University A pursuit of penguins leads to new territories in technology It may be hard for penguin enthusiasts to believe, yet Heather Lynch PhD says the “most fun part of the entire year” is not the four months a year she and...
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2019 Blavatnik Award winners in Israel and the UK
May 1, 2019
Meet the rising stars who are receiving recognition for their ground-breaking research. Published May 1, 2019 By Robert Birchard 2019 Blavatnik Award Laureates, Israel Life Sciences Laureate Michal Rivlin, PhD, Senior Scientist and Sara Lee Schupf Family Chair, Weizmann Institute of Science Dr. Michal Rivlin is a neuroscientist who has made the paradigm-shifting discovery that cells in the adult retina can exhibit plasticity in their selectivity and computations. One of the first demonstrations of neuronal...
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How to Improve Your Presentation Skills
May 1, 2019
Jayne Latz A professional communication coach provides guidance on how you can improve your communication skills. Published May 1, 2019 By Jayne Latz You have a major presentation and you work on the perfect PowerPoint and practice reading your notes. But on the big day it feels like your presentation falls flat. Sound familiar? If public speaking gives you anxiety, you’re not alone. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said that “According to most studies, people's number...
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2019 Blavatnik UK Awardees Are Bettering the World
May 1, 2019
Learn more about the ceremony that celebrated this year's Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom. Published May 1, 2019 By Kamala Murthy The 2019 honorees of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK 2019 Blavatnik Awards Laureate Professor Konstantinos Nikolopoulos Professor of Physics at the University of Birmingham Back Row (Left to right) The 2019 Finalists: Kathy Niakan, Igor Larrosa, Rachel O’Reilly, Gustav Holzegel, Máire O’Neill, Timothy Behrens; Front Row...
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UK Blavatnik Awardees Are Bettering the World
May 1, 2019
From cybersecurity and genome-editing to unraveling the mysteries of the atom and deciphering the complexities of the human brain, these nine young scientists are making a positive impact on our world. Published May 1, 2019 By Kamala Murthy The Laureates and Finalists of the 2019 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom are shaping the future of science. A distinguished jury of leading UK senior scientists and engineers selected the nine 2019 Blavatnik Awards...
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Publishing Evolves in a Connected World
April 29, 2019
In many ways, the process from paper submission to publication has not changed much in 40 years. However, some changes are underway. Published May 1, 2019 By Anni Griswold Douglas Braaten, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Scientific Publications Editor-in-Chief, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences In the days before artificial intelligence mined obscure gems from the scientific literature; before preprint servers posted study results without pausing for peer review; when social networking meant cocktail...
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Simple Tips for Teaching the Complexity of Science
April 25, 2019
Whoever said, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach" never ventured into a lab at any American institute of higher education to speak to its graduate students. Published April 25, 2019 By Marie Gentile, Robert Birchard, and Mandy Carr Barbara Houtz They’re not only expected to be research superstars but also teach the next generation of STEM learners. Unfortunately, this second responsibility can be overlooked by their institutions and PIs, who often fail to...
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Mentoring Reignites Chemist’s Love of Teaching
March 27, 2019
Spreading the love of science and promoting the importance of curiosity are just two of the reasons Dessy Natalia is passionate about teaching high school chemistry. Published March 27, 2019 By Marie Gentile, Robert Birchard, and Mandy Carr Dessy Natalia has lived in a lot of places. Originally from Paradise Island in Bali, Dessy received her undergraduate degree in Indonesia, her masters degree in Belgium, and her chemistry PhD in Germany. After moving to the...
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Promoting International Collaboration and Mentorship
February 28, 2019
Participants in The New York Academy of Sciences' Interstellar Initiative discuss their work in the program, the power of effective mentors, and the need for cross-discipline collaboration. Published February 28, 2019 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard Mentors take part in the Academy tradition of posing next to the bronze bust of Charles Darwin. A radiation oncologist, an immunologist, and a mechanical engineer walk into a room to consult with a brain tumor...
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Overcoming Doubts with Help from Role Models
February 1, 2019
It was a life-changing physics teacher and her own ability to overcome doubt that played a significant role in the nanotechnology adventure of Alexandra Boltasseva. Published February 1, 2019 By Alexandra Boltasseva, PhD Alexandra Boltasseva, PhD I was born in Kanash, a small town on the Southern route of the famous Trans-Siberian Railway in modern day Russia. Being from a small town in the middle of nowhere, one of the first questions I’m often asked...
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Five Ways Mentoring Can Benefit Your Own Career
January 28, 2019
It’s no secret that encouragement from a mentor can be critical to success, particularly for early-career STEM professionals. But what’s in it for the mentor? Published January 28, 2019 By Rosanna Volchok Image courtesy of magele-picture via stock.adobe.com. We posed this question to a few of the scientists participating in the Academy's Member-to-Member Mentoring program, and here's what they had to say: 1) Mentoring Helps You Become a More Effective Leader “My mentoring experience helped me develop...
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How to Succeed during Informational Interviews
January 18, 2019
No matter what your goal, informational interviews can help you achieve it. These tips can help you to shine during your next informational interview Published January 18, 2019 By Alexis Clements Image courtesy of wutzkoh via stock.adobe.com. Are you about to graduate but not sure what exactly you want to do? Are you already working but thinking about pivoting to something new? Looking to build your network? No matter what your goal, informational interviews can...
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Immunology, Atomic Structures, and the Origin of Life
October 1, 2018
Meet the inspiring young 2018 Blavatnik Award laureates being recognized for their work in the areas of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Physical Sciences & Engineering. Published October 1, 2018 By Anni Griswold Life Sciences Laureate: Janelle Ayres, PhD, The Salk Institution for Biological Studies An Unexpected Truce in the War on Pathogens Much of immunology’s past has focused on defense: Generations of grad students have untangled host strategies for detecting and eliminating biologic threats. Legions...
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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome to Empower Women in STEM
October 1, 2018
As a guest lecturer, Dr. Huba Zoghbi, recipient of the 2018 Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine observed “imposter syndrome” more often in women, compared to men. Here's how we can change that. Published October 1, 2018 By Kari Fischer, PhD Dr. Huda Zoghbi, with Hsiao-Tuan Chao, MD, PhD, previously a graduate student in the lab who recently completed a child Neurology residency and was named winner of the NIH DP5 award. Huda Zoghbi, MD, is a...
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The Complicated Ecosystem of the Final Frontier
October 1, 2018
It won't be long before space becomes home to an assortment of commercial, industrial and scientific outposts. Published October 1, 2018 By Charles Cooper Jeff Bezos Space may indeed be the final frontier, but it's also becoming increasingly crowded. Not today. And perhaps not tomorrow. But it won't be long before space becomes home to an assortment of commercial, industrial and scientific outposts. In fact, about 900 satellites already circle in low Earth orbit (LEO), most...
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A Mentor’s Advice: Focus on Your Mentee’s Goals
September 10, 2018
Even as a busy graduate student, Jacqualyn Schulman finds time to mentor. Not only does she often learn from her mentees but in many ways they also inspire her. Published September 10, 2018 By Alexis Clements When Jacqualyn Schulman was in high school, she was interested in science but had no idea of the career possibilities out there in the STEM fields. That’s one of the reasons that today, as a pharmacology graduate student at...
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10 Things To Do at Every Scientific Conference
August 23, 2018
Published August 23, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard If you’re a STEM professional, or an aspiring one, then scientific conferences are going to be an important part of your career, whether you work in academia, industry, or government. But figuring out how to get the most out of these events isn’t always obvious, particularly for those new to the experience. So we polled some of our Members and staff for their...
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The Crucial Need to Empower Aspiring Scientists
July 24, 2018
From growing up in Macedonia to studying applied physics at Columbia University, mentoring was an important part of Edita Bytyqi's educational journey. Now, she's paying it forward. Published July 24, 2018 By Edita Bytyqi Edita Bytyqi Two years ago, I was a high school junior from Macedonia with a rudimentary understanding of water purification research and a passion to pursue a career in STEM. Now, I am an Applied Physics major at Columbia University. It wasn’t an easy...
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The Role of a Strong Mentor in Your Career Journey
June 21, 2018
Not everyone knows what they want to be when they grow up. A mentor can ease your mind as you navigate the confusing path of planning out your future. Published June 21, 2018 By Alexis Clements A networking event at The New York Academy of Sciences. Not everyone knows what they want to be when they grow up—it can be a scary prospect to figure out what you want to do with the rest of...
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How to Communicate Impactful Science Effectively
June 19, 2018
Dominique Brossard, PhD, discusses why it’s more important than ever for scientists to engage in effective communications with the public about their work. Published June 19, 2018 By Andre Legaspi Dominique Brossard, PhD Teams of scientists sequenced the human genome, launched people into outer space, and split the atom, but the scientific community remains flummoxed by science denialism. This phenomenon, characterized by the rejection of scientific consensus, has most recently manifested in GMO fears, the...
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Undying Love of Science Leads to a Bright Future
May 25, 2018
It was her own battle with dengue fever that inspired Florence Pauline Gardose Basubas to pursue a career in science so she might study effective, affordable, and sustainable medical treatments. Published May 25, 2018 By Florence Pauline Gardose Basubas Florence Pauline Gardose Basubas When I was six, I wanted to become an astronaut. I was serious. But, no one believed me. In a developing country like the Philippines, being a scientist is not a practical...
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A Look At Human Enhancement Technologies
May 15, 2018
Recent advances in human enhancement technologies offer new opportunities to redesign ourselves. Published May 15, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard Recent advances in human enhancement technologies offer new and unique opportunities to redesign ourselves. Such efforts have a long history, as people have been attempting to overcome their biological limitations or remove supposed flaws for millennia. George Church, PhD, Wyss Institute at Harvard University As George Church, PhD, from the Wyss...
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How to Help Students Embrace and Enjoy Math
April 6, 2018
It was in part her own upbringing that inspired Chetna Sabharwal's passion for empowering aspiring STEM professionals to embrace and enjoy math, particularly young women. Published April 06, 2018 By Chetna Sabharwal Chetna Sabharwal My desire to make mathematics fascinating for my students started way back in 2000, when I first experienced the lack of motivation as well as the fear and myths about math amongst the students, especially the girls. The primary observation I...
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The True Value of Teamwork and Collaboration
March 5, 2018
It was through his participation in the Junior Academy that Patrick Pallagi "discovered the true value of teamwork and collaboration." This trait remains strong with him today. Published March 05, 2018 By Patrick Pallagi Patrick Pallagi Imagine the inventor of the first-ever time machine reaches out to you and gives you a challenge. She says, "I will send you and two of your best friends two hundred years back into the past, but you have...
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How to Foster Impactful Science Support Systems
February 14, 2018
Science and technology benefit from fostering collaboration and the mental health of our workforce and that requires all of us actively investing in more of these support systems. Published February 14, 2018 By Jackie Giovanniello Jackie Giovanniello Science is designed to be a rigorous discipline; it’s part of what ensures we are doing meaningful work that moves the field forward. Unfortunately, the stakes and the stress can also make it isolating, defeating, and exclusive for...
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The Academy’s Lyceum Society: A “Think Tank”
February 12, 2018
A Lyceum Society member follows his research across decades and finds a second wind among friends and colleagues. Published February 12, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard When you’re a 200 year-old organization there are limitless stories to tell about the distant past. But we also love to share tales from our much more recent past, particularly when told by some of our members who have been with the Academy for decades. Today, we...
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The 2018 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK
January 16, 2018
Meet the rising scientific stars taking center stage this year as part of the 2018 cohort for the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom. Published January 16, 2018 By Kamala Murthy Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate Henry Snaith, PhDProfessor of Physics, University of Oxford Prof. Snaith has striven to develop new photovoltaic technologies based on simply processed materials, which have promised to deliver solar energy at a fraction of the cost of...
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Talent Showcase: 2018 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel
January 16, 2018
Meet the rising scientific stars taking center stage this year as part of the 2018 cohort for the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. Published May 1, 2018 By Kamala Murthy Life Sciences Laureate Oded Rechavi, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Neurobiology, Tel Aviv University Dr. Rechavi’s research upends the traditional laws of inheritance. The notion that traits acquired over the course of a lifetime could influence heredity was heresy until recently, when Dr....
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5 Reasons Scientific Prizes Are Good for the World
December 11, 2017
If athletes and celebrities can be recognized for their achievements, why can't scientists? Published December 11, 2017 By Brooke Grindlinger, PhD Every October, the world learns who will be the newest members of a very elite circle known as Nobel Laureates. Whether or not you agree with the selection committee’s choices, the Nobel Prize is considered a career pinnacle of success and the annual announcement continues to captivate the media and general public in addition...
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Innovative Contributions for the Betterment of STEM
October 17, 2017
Academy Member NseAbasi NsikakAbasi Etim, PhD is promoting science beyond boundaries. Read on to learn about her work in our virtual mentoring programs. Published October 27, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Richard Birchard Each mentor in our network has their own personal reasons for giving back. For Academy Member NseAbasi NsikakAbasi Etim, PhD, serving as a mentor in our virtual programs fulfils her dream of contributing to the success of science around the world. A...
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Devising New Therapies Across Borders
October 1, 2017
When Japanese physicist Kumiko Hayashi of Tohoku University and neuroscientist Ephraim Trakhtenberg of the University of Connecticut met at the New York Academy of Sciences this year, the synergies between their work weren't immediately obvious. Published October 1, 2017 By Hallie Kapner The two scientists were paired together as part of the Interstellar Initiative, a joint project of the Academy and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), which grouped 50 early-career scientists from...
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Flexibility Is Key to the Successful Future of Higher Ed
October 1, 2017
The technological advances of the past few decades have triggered a conversation about the future of higher education. Published October 1, 2017 By Nancy L. Zimpher The technological advances of the past few decades have ushered in an era of distance-learning capability that has triggered a conversation about what, exactly, the future of higher education will look like. Speculation ranges across the extremes: On the one hand, that the ability to earn entire credentials online,...
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#WhereScienceLives: Biologist Aida Verdes
September 25, 2017
Meet a member whose research and field work sheds light on longstanding evolutionary questions. Published September 25, 2017 By Attila Szász Aida Verdes on the boat heading out to dive off the coast of Abu Dhabi, during an expedition to collect polychaete worms and mollusks. Academy members conduct their work in a vast range of settings. As a biologist researching marine invertebrate evolution, Aida Verdes is no stranger to doing research in unusual and unexpected...
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WhereScienceLives: Geologist Leslie Molerio-Leon
September 24, 2017
From rainforests to volcanoes, meet an Academy member whose work in geology has taken him to 42 countries spread across five continents. Published September 24, 2017 By Attila Szász Trophic assessment and maintenance of Chongon Reservoir. Chongon reservoir and dam in Guayaquil, Ecuador, needed a detailed study of the causes of eutrophication and engineering solutions to improve water quality and navigation. Photo was taken during the cleaning of the aquatic vegetation. Geologist, hydrogeologist and Academy...
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#WhereScienceLives: Educator Jason Osborne
September 22, 2017
Have you ever participated in a live interview while hanging from a cliff face? Jason Osborne has. Learn more about why and how. Published September 22, 2017 By Attila Szász Jason during a Google Science Fair live interview while hanging from a 110-foot cliff along the Chesapeake Bay. Google broadcasted the live interview through Jason's smart phone to students around the world. Getting scientists and students to work together on meaningful scientific research that's also...
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The Important Role of Mentors and Networking
August 31, 2017
Learn how member-to-member mentoring is helping young scientists tap into the power of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy). Published August 31, 2017 By Rosanna Volchok Multi-disciplinary, cross-sectoral, and global, the Academy’s membership is among the most diverse, dynamic scientific communities in the world. Over 40% of our membership falls into the “early career” category, meaning they are graduate students, postdocs, or newly minted professionals. Imagine if we could find a way for...
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Empowerment Enables More Women to Succeed in STEM
July 26, 2017
Meet Academy member and mentor Jacqualyn Jade Schulman who believes that, through science, anything is possible. Published July 26, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard Jacqualyn with her Mentee Jacqualyn Jade Schulman is a scientist of many talents. As a Graduate Assistant working in Dr. Richard Wojcikiewicz’s lab within the Pharmacology department at SUNY Upstate Medical University, she conducts research that might one day lead to vital therapies for cancer. As a mentor, she...
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Engaging and Supporting “Budding Science Enthusiasts”
June 9, 2017
"This initiative encourages kids from diverse backgrounds to become involved in science and promotes diversity in STEM fields in an effort to impact positive change in the world." Published June 9, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard Alexandra Bausch Alexandra "Ali" Bausch grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry from Villanova University. As an undergraduate student, she conducted laboratory research in analytical chemistry, performed...
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Promoting Equitable Access to STEM Education
June 9, 2017
"By connecting young people with successful STEM professionals, the Global STEM Alliance provides a network of support for students who might otherwise feel isolated or disconnected from their discipline." Published June 9, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard Giovanna Collu, PhD Giovanna Collu, PhD, is a researcher, communicator, and mentor with a drive to encourage the next generation of scientists to overcome challenges they face in STEM fields. For the last 12 years, Collu...
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How to Get Motivated Kids Invested in Science
June 9, 2017
"I think the key thing here is that these kids are in a class by themselves. World class. Not just smart, but motivated, eager, and most important invested." Published June 9, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard Ron Fritz, PhD Ron Fritz, PhD, works for PepsiCo and also serves as a mentor for the Junior Academy at The New York Academy of Sciences. He talks about his experience mentoring and the encouraging growth he...
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Science State: From New York City to Syracuse
June 9, 2017
The New York Academy of Sciences' (the Academy's) Scientist-in-Residence Program now extends beyond the bounds of New York City. Published June 09, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard Image courtesy of leungchopan via stock.adobe.com. Over the past nine months, Erin Barta has been diligently working to implement the Academy’s Scientist-in-Residence Program (SiR) in Syracuse, New York. While this is a first for Barta after graduating in 2014 from Clark University’s Master’s Program in International Development and...
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Celebrating 10 Years of the Blavatnik Awards
May 1, 2017
Blavatnik Awardees advance the breakthroughs in science and technology that will define how our world will look tomorrow. Chris Chang presents at the Blavatnik Science Symposium Published May 1, 2017 By Victoria Cleave, PhD The scientific equivalent of magic can happen when you put outstanding researchers together in a room. At the 2016 Blavatnik Science Symposium, a neuroscientist met a physicist, and they realized that the tool the neuroscientist needed to further his work was...
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The Inspiring Story of an Innovative Epidemiologist
March 1, 2017
Despite being actively discoursed from pursuing a PhD, Myrna M. Weissman went against her era’s conventions and forged a successful career at Yale University. Published March 1, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard Harkness Tower from Old Campus, Yale University, New Haven, CT. Image courtesy of Carol M. Highsmith Archive/Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons. “I tell them research can be very exciting and they should do it if they have a passion for...
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The Science Behind Heart Attacks and Cholesterol
January 1, 2017
Meet the first African-American woman to receive a PhD in Chemistry in the US. Published January 1, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard The first African-American woman to receive a PhD in Chemistry in the US, Marie Maynard Daly, PhD, had a distinguished career in biochemistry and was an Academy Member, as well as a Member of the Academy's Board of Governors in the 1970s. Daly was born in 1921, in the Corona neighborhood...
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How One Woman Had a Lasting Impact on the Academy
January 1, 2017
Eunice Thomas Miner played a significant role in growing the Academy's membership in the 20th century. Published January 1, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard When Eunice Thomas Miner became involved with the New York Academy of Sciences in 1932, the Academy was in a state of great flux. Its records showed just $6,000 in assets and double that amount in unpaid bills. And its Membership numbers were dire. “We had the grand total...
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The Woman Who Advanced 1950s Cancer Research
January 1, 2017
How a cancer researcher in the 1950s persevered when others were skeptical about her hypothesis — and ultimately changed the scientistic mindset. Published January 1, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard It was the early 1950s and two female scientists at Sloan Kettering were peering into a new electron microscope when they saw something unusual. Both of them, Charlotte Friend and her co-worker Cecily Selby, had already earned their PhDs in bacteriology and were...
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How to Inspire the Next Gen of STEM Changemakers
December 14, 2016
Kirthi Shanmugam, a participant in The New York Academy of Sciences' VISTA Program, talks about her earliest memories of science, her most impactful mentors, and her career goals. Published December 14, 2016 By Diana Friedman Kirthi Shanmugam Kirthi Shanmugam has had a love for science her entire life. From watching plants grow in her parents’ garden in southeast Pennsylvania as a child to eventually pursuing a STEM major in college, Shanmugam always knew she would...
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#IAmNYAS: Immunologist Mirza S. Baig
September 2, 2016
Learn how Academy member and immunologist Mirza S. Baig applies his love of science, with patience and persistence, to research inflammation. Published September 2, 2016 By Diana Friedman Mirza Baig, PhD Academy Member and immunologist Mirza Baig, PhD, has one true passion: science. After receiving his PhD from the Central Drug Research Institute in India, he began his career doing bench work as a postdoc at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Today he's back in India, working and...
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Life in the Junior Academy in the 1970s
September 1, 2016
A member of The New York Academy of Sciences’ Junior Academy reminisces about her involvement in the program, including as president, during the 1970s. Published September 1, 2016 By W.M. Akers Junior Academy president Paul Sullivan passes the torch to Joy Hecht. An environmental economist, Joy Hecht, PhD, has studied the economic impact of environmental damage everywhere from Lebanon to Malawi. But in 1974, she spent most of her free time somewhere less exciting: the...
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Failure is Essential in the Quest for Success
September 1, 2016
From his career as an accomplished medical researcher to his post-retirement foray into documentary production, Richard Rifkind has learned that “Failure is an essential step in the pathway to success.” Published September 1, 2016 By W.M. Akers Richard Rifkind By age thirteen, Richard Rifkind was beginning to worry about his future. Following the party celebrating his Bar Mitzvah, he convinced his family physician to take him along on his evening round of house calls. Before...
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Scientists: The Best Job in the World
June 1, 2016
Women scientists on determination, success, and the secret they wish everyone knew. Published June 1, 2016 By Hallie Kapner Image courtesy of LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS via stock.adobe.com. There is no better time to be a woman in the sciences. Generations of advocacy and effort have helped usher more women into diverse scientific fields than ever before, and despite the challenges that remain, today’s women scientists are the largest and most influential cohort in history, their voices...
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The New Age of Interdisciplinary Science
June 1, 2016
Large global challenges, such as climate change, require a comprehensive approach, part of which should be interdisciplinary research. Published June 1, 2016 By Roderick J. Lawrence Interdisciplinarity is a word à la mode, as shown by the contributions in Nature’s special issue on the topic (September 2015). However, the collection of articles and the statistics they present confirm that interdisciplinary science is still not mainstream: it is still rarely supported by funders of scientific research...
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Studying Behavioral and Emotional Development
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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Zoonotic Diseases and the Animal-Human Interface
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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Improving Nutritional Quality and Food Safety
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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Studying and Implementing Dimensionality Reduction
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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Inspired by the Nonstop Thirst for More Knowledge
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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New Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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Security, Justice, and Sustenance for Those in Need
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world. Academy members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting...
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MicroRNA Biomarkers for Treating Schizophrenia
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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Applying Entrepreneurship and Marketing Science
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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How Neural Circuits Process Information
May 1, 2016
The Academy community represents one of the most dynamic and diverse groups of STEM professionals and science enthusiasts and supporters around the world, with more than 16,000 Members across 100 countries. Published May 1, 2016 By Diana Friedman Academy Members are building STEM careers, overcoming the challenges associated with cutting-edge research, putting science into practice, influencing policy, and supporting future generations of science leaders. We invite you to get to know your fellow Academy Members...
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Providing the Best Role Models for STEM Students
April 13, 2016
A new grant will help expand the Academy's Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program, enabling members to have a greater impact on the next generation of scientists. Published April 13, 2016 By Diana Friedman As Ellis Rubinstein, President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences, said in his keynote earlier this week at the World Strategic Forum, "If all of us work together, we can better prepare today's students to become tomorrow's STEM innovators." In...
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Improving Survival Rates of Neuroblastoma
February 27, 2016
How John Maris, MD, got to the heart of the (genetic) matter through his research. Published February 27, 2016 By Diana Friedman Persistence paid off for John Maris, MD. Fifteen years after he began searching for genetic abnormalities linked to neuroblastoma during his post-doctoral fellowship, his research team discovered that mutations of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene are associated with many neuroblastomas. Today, Maris's work at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) continues to...
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Important Role of Communication in Advancing Science
August 1, 2015
The actor, writer, and science advocate educates scientists in the elusive art of communication. Published August 1, 2015 By Kellie M. Walsh All he’d said was “Oh,” but I could hear in the shape of the vowel that the smile on his face was evaporating. I’d given Alan Alda a terrible answer, exactly the type of answer he has worked so hard to train out of others. For more than 20 years, Alda, like The...
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Five Tips to be a More Effective Mentor
May 1, 2015
Marina Picciotto, PhD, shares five ways to help young scientists more effectively use their mentoring experience to reach their career goals. Published May 1, 2015 By Marina Picciotto, PhD Students from Dr. Picciotto's lab. Academy member Marina Picciotto, PhD, is the Charles B. G. Murphy Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, where she studies the effect of nicotine on the brain. Her leadership is evidenced not only by her research but also by...
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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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A Geneticist’s Perspective on Where Life Begins
December 1, 2014
Geneticist and developmental biologist Antonio Giraldez investigates where human life begins. Published December 1, 2014 By Daniel Krieger Antonio Giraldez, a geneticist and developmental biologist specializing in embryos, sees the trajectory of his career in a rather unusual light. For Giraldez, there’s a clear parallel between his own development as a scientist and the fundamental transition an embryo undergoes that marks the beginning of life. When an embryo initially forms, instructions from the mother’s body...
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Imparting the Value of Wonder on Aspiring Scientists
August 1, 2014
Teaching an afterschool forensics course was about more than imparting knowledge of DNA; we aimed to teach students the value of asking questions and seeking answers. Published August 1, 2014 By Giovanna Collu and Jonathan Isaac Schneiderman Image courtesy of Verin via stock.adobe.com. Training for our afterschool “forensic science” course flew by: fingerprints, shoeprints, crime scene sketches, hair and fabric samples, and an encouraging “You’ll do great!” Not specializing in forensics, we scribbled down notes...
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Challenging Young Innovators to Think Big and Bold
August 1, 2014
Middle school students tackle “Nature’s Fury” through teamwork, persistence, and robots at an Academy event. Published August 1, 2014 By Caitlin Johnson Image courtesy of LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS via stock.adobe.com. For a moment, 12-year-old Gabriella Ryan was distracted by the sweeping view of the Hudson River from The New York Academy of Science’s (the Academy's) fortieth-floor conference space at 7 World Trade Center. “This is the first time my team has competed in the city this...
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Supporting the NeXXt Generation of STEM
August 1, 2013
Professional role models help undergraduate women turn STEM aspirations into realities. Published August 1, 2013 By Diana Friedman Image courtesy of A-DIGIT via istockphoto.com. “I grew up in a rural area [of the U.S.] with the ‘Fisher Price people’ jobs around me—most people built things or worked on a farm and if you went to college you could be a teacher, nurse, dentist, or doctor,” says Kristy Lamb, PhD, a Fellow in the NeXXt Scholars...
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Support is Key to Inspire Tomorrow’s Visionaries
December 1, 2012
Ashok Vemuri and the Infosys USA Foundation place a premium on promoting STEM. Thus far these efforts have been immensely successful and have surpassed their goals. But how do we maintain this level of success? Published December 1, 2012 By Noah Rosenberg Ashok Vemuri Ashok Vemuri’s professional achievements are no small feat. But he insists that neither were his mentors’ roles in helping him arrive at where he is today: the Head of Americas and...
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The Intersection of Sports and STEM
August 1, 2012
Piquing kids’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math may be as easy as picking up a ball. Published August 1, 2012 By Adedeji B. Badiru Image courtesy of nateejindakum via stock.adobe.com. Much has been said about the need to find new strategies to spark the interest of kids in STEM education. This is essential for preserving the nation’s technological superiority and ensuring economic advancement. The key is to find the right “hook and bait”...
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The Science of Start-Ups: From Idea to IPO
June 1, 2012
A revamped “From Idea to IPO” course program provides a crash course in entrepreneurship for the scientifically savvy. Published June 1, 2012 By Christina Duffy Image courtesy of ILEXX - istockphoto.com. When Ching Yao Yang, a PhD candidate working in materials chemistry at New York University, received an email from his lab advisor detailing problems with lab management, he had a great idea for a new company: “I wanted to create an environment for people...
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To Build an Economic Engine: Overhaul Education
May 1, 2011
From rural one-room schoolhouse to Chancellor of the State University of New York, Nancy Zimpher has a diverse perspective on education. Published May 1, 2011 By Marilynn Larkin When Nancy Zimpher entered the one-room schoolhouse in the foothills of the Ozarks, she knew she was in trouble. “I was the sole teacher for four grades meshed into one classroom. The disconnect between how I had been prepared—as an English teacher—and what I was expected to...
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Guidance for Novice Educators and How to Thrive
February 25, 2011
From surviving the "awkward phase" to methods for effectively engaging students, these education professionals offer advice for rising teachers. Published February 25, 2011 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Drazen via stock.adobe.com. On February 24, 2011, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) hosted young scientists and mathematicians for a panel discussion titled Thinking about Teaching: Myths and Realities of Becoming an Educator. The panel included: Hilleary Osheroff, Program Manager for the Science Research...
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Supporting Graduate Science Education at the Academy
December 1, 2010
Academy conferences not only provide graduate students and post-doctoral associates an opportunity to network and share their research, they can also provide an alternative perspective on the duties of scientists. Published December 1, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Syda Productions via stock.adobe.com. For nearly five years, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) has been nurturing the next generation of scientists with a special program that provides professional development opportunities for...
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Advancing Science Education in New York City
December 1, 2010
With support from donors as well as public entities, The New York Academy of Sciences is launching a new initiative to improve science education in the city, and beyond. Published December 1, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Drazen via stock.adobe.com. With the support of several generous and committed members and in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) in November launched an...
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Teaching the Cutting Edge: Martin Chalfie
September 27, 2010
The Nobel Prize-winning Columbia University professor offers guidance on how to be a more effective science teacher. Published September 27, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Caenorhabditis elegans, adult hermaphrodite. Image courtesy of Bob Goldstein/UNC at Chapel Hill via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. No changes made. On September 22, 2010, Martin Chalfie kicked off the Academy's Teaching the Cutting Edge series, designed to connect top scientific researchers to science teachers. Chalfie outlined how his research on nerve...
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Spreading Science Knowledge Far and Wide
May 1, 2010
Seven Science 2.0 pioneers offer their perspectives on science, information sharing, collaboration, and the role of technology going forward. Published May 1, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Studio Romantic via stock.adobe.com. Surely you’ve noticed: The scientific community is undergoing a research-and-data-sharing sea change. Perhaps slower to take to Web-based dissemination than some professions, science—the endeavor for which the World Wide Web was developed—has gradually been adopting new online methods for distributing knowledge....
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How Math is Like a Ladder to the Moon
May 1, 2010
For unsolved time-dependent processes like the motion of fluids, I want to try to find a few important parameters and then successively add information to build up a better and better picture—and all of this using the methods of algebraic topology." Published May 1, 2010 By Dennis Sullivan, as told to Abigail Jeffries Image courtesy of Scott P. Moore. My interest in mathematics began when I was nine or ten years old. I liked to...
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A New Science Partnership with the Univ of Nigeria
April 23, 2010
The partnership is an effort to boost learning and provide world-class resources to students in Nigeria. Published April 23, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Aerial view of Marina commercial business district Lagos Island Nigeria. Image courtesy ofTerver via stock.adobe.com. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, signed an agreement in February to enroll 300 faculty and 500 postgraduate students as members of the Academy’s Science Alliance program in an effort to boost learning and provide world-class resources....
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New Insights into Science Teaching as a Profession
April 9, 2010
Data suggests that science comprehension among American high school students is middle of the pack compared to peer countries. Here are some tips for teachers to improve comprehension. Published April 9, 2010 By Erica Nofi Image courtesy of Khunatorn via stock.adobe.com. The second event presented by the New York Science Education Initiative brought together more than 150 secondary science teachers, research scientists, and other educators to discuss the future of science teaching as a profession...
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Developing Drugs for the Benefit of Society
March 1, 2010
Having nurtured her own strong scientific curiosity as a child growing up in New Orleans, Toni Hoover wants to help the next generation find what motivates them. Published March 1, 2010 By Adam Ludwig Toni Hoover. Long before Toni Hoover became a senior vice president at Pfizer, she honed an interest in psychology by keeping an eye on the street life in her hometown of New Orleans. The odd behavior of some of the local...
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The Life of a Nobel Laureate Neuroscientist
October 16, 2009
New film explores Eric Kandel's life, from escaping Nazi-occupied Vienna to becoming a Nobel Laureate. Published October 16, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke Imagine Science Films will screen the feature film In Search of Memory this evening in Tribeca. The film, directed by German documentary filmmaker Petra Seeger, blends autobiography and history to recount the life of Academy President's Council member Eric Kandel, widely considered one of the most important neuroscientists of the 20th century. Based on...
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A Doctor’s Journey: From Studio 54 to the Academy
September 1, 2009
Academy Life Governor Karen Burke is known for finding what’s exciting in NYC, crossing paths with everyone from Andy Warhol to Ralph Steinman. Published September 1, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke Karen Burke When Karen Burke reflects on her path to a career as a research scientist and medical doctor, she credits her mentors and supporters—inorganic chemist Michell Sienko at Cornell University who inspired her to pursue science; Harold Scheraga, then chairman of the Cornell...
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Green Chemistry? He Invented the Term
May 1, 2009
"I hope that my work will highlight the power and potential molecular scientists have to help the world even more dramatically than we thought." Published May 1, 2009 By Paul Anastas, as told to Abigail Jeffries Image courtesy of Jim Harrison/Heinz Awards. I grew up in the small town of Quincy, Mass., where I lived on a hill overlooking one of the most beautiful coastal wetlands imaginable. When I was ten years old, the bulldozers...
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Legendary Labs: Secrets for Scientific Excellence
December 30, 2008
From management styles to creating the right culture, learn the secrets of academic researchers who produce impactful science and diligent scientists. Published December 30, 2008 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Microgen via stock.adobe.com. Phil Sharp, who won the 1993 Nobel Prize in Medicine and trained a scientist who won the same award 13 years later, says he learned from his first mentors how to nurture budding talent. While Sharp was still a grad...
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Expanding the Immunology Frontier in Medicine
September 1, 2008
Academy member Ralph Steinman tells the story of his life journey being raised in a nonscientific household to going to medical school and studying the immune system. Published September 1, 2008 By Ralph Steinman Ralph Steinman I wasn’t raised in a scientific family and I didn’t have a focus on science early on. In high school I took a vocational test and it concluded that I could be anything. I was interested in everything and...
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Industry Strategies for Enabling Innovation
May 1, 2008
Tech experts and entrepreneurs provide their insight on what drives innovation in the digital era, and what you can do to thrive. Published May 1, 2008 By Leslie Taylor and Adreinne Burke Image courtesy of Summit Art Creations - via stock.adobe.com. Every second year since 2004, Finland's President has presented the $1.5 million Millennium Technology Prize to an individual whose innovation “improves the quality of human life and promotes sustainability in many ways.” World Wide...
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A Shared Life of Advancing Science
September 1, 2007
From their honeymoon through retirement, Herbert J. Kayden and Gabrielle H. Reem reflect on their commitment to advancing science in New York and across the globe. Published September 1, 2007 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Don Hamerman via Update magazine. Herbert Kayden is known for his research on the genetic disorders of lipid metabolism. In the 1960s he published the first definitive studies on the metabolic pathways of vitamin E and its role...
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The Evolution of an Environmental Scientist
September 1, 2007
Rosina M. Bierbaum was always mindful of pollution and other environmental matters growing up in Pennsylvania, so perhaps it’s no surprise that she made a career of it. Published September 1, 2007 By Rosina M. Bierbaum, as told to Abigail Jeffries Rosina M. Bierbaum, PhD I grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a steel town, as the middle of five children. We lived only two blocks from the main steel plant, so I was exposed to...
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Academy Inspires Future with Young Einsteins Program
July 28, 2006
This summer, the program tackled the energy crisis, terrorism, and how pigeon waste can be used as a biological weapon. Published July 28, 2006 By Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of Sensay via stock.adobe.com. Can pigeon waste be used to spread a dangerous fungus affecting millions of people? How can carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas linked to global warming, be used to extract a natural gas, methane, to help curb our energy crisis? How can we...
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High Temps Call for High-Tech Edutainment
July 24, 2006
From clunky kinetoscopes to cutting-edge video games, communication is cool at the Sony Wonder Technology lab. Published July 24, 2006 By Adelle Caravanos Image courtesy of miglagoa via stock.adobe.com. Sidewalks that sizzle, subway seats that stick to your skin, and smells that are, well, unsavory at best. Summertime in New York City can be a drag. But on a sweltering day, students of all ages can ease their overheating heads — and feed their minds...
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A Laboratory for Science Education in NYC
July 1, 2006
With an alumni association reads like a dream science team from Fantasy University, Stuyvesant High School proves itself as one of the best in the nation. Published July 1, 2006 By David Cohn Image courtesy of Emi Suzuki The principal’s office at Stuyvesant High School is lined with trophies of many shapes, but only one size: big. A few of the prizes are for sports, such as swimming, but most are for cerebral pursuits such...
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The Missing Person in Science Inquiry Starts with “I”
May 8, 2006
While art and science are at times seen as diametric opposites, there are also ways in which art can inform the scientific process. Published May 8, 2006 By Cecily Cannan Selby Image courtesy of Jo Panuwat D via stock.adobe.com. Science seldom proceeds in the straightforward logical manner imagined by outsiders. Instead, its steps forward (and sometimes backward) are often very human events in which personalities and cultural traditions play major roles.- James Watson (1968) A...
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An Interview with NYU’s Peter D. Lax
June 1, 2005
The Abel Prize-winning mathematician talks about his life and career, from emigrating to the United States from Hungary to what he calls the “paradox of education.” Published June 1, 2005 By Dorian Devins Image courtesy of alesmunt via stock.adobe.com. Peter D. Lax is professor in the Mathematics Department at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University. At age 15 he traveled to the United States from Hungary with his family. His career at...
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The Solution to Address Education Equity
March 1, 2005
Adequate financial support for students early in their learning journey, particularly the preschool level, can help us create a more equitable education system. Published March 1, 2005 By Mary Crowley Image courtesy of Krakenimages.com via stock.adobe.com. This is the era in which no child is supposed to be left behind. As Jeanne Brooks-Bunn illustrated in her Nov. 15, 2004 talk at The New York Academy of Sciences (the academy), however, the trail of kids bringing...
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Teaching the Elegance of the Universe
March 1, 2005
A playwright and mathematician turned tutor came to realize that a relatively simple pedagogical approach was most effective when engaging his students. Published March 1, 2005 By William Tucker Image courtesy of Vitalii via stock.adobe.com. It was billed as “two imaginative minds in conversation.” Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, is probably the world’s best explainer of string theory – the latest theory of the “physics of everything.”...
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Celebrating New York as a World Science Center
October 13, 2004
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proclaimed October 13 as “Science & the City Day” in an effort to both celebrate and advance science for the public good. Published October 2, 2004 By Jennifer Tang and Fred Moreno To celebrate New York City as one of the world’s great centers for science, The New York Academy of Sciences is inaugurating an annual parade of events designed to enhance New York’s economic competitiveness and to contribute to...
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Flying High and Cutting through the Glass Ceiling
August 1, 2004
From sitting on the lap of Einstein as a child to making significant advances in aerospace and materials engineering as an adult, Pamela Kay Strong has done it all. Published August 1, 2004 By Dan Van Atta Image courtesy of zhao dongfang via stock.adobe.com. “Many, many times I’ve been the only woman in the room,” commented Pamela Kay Strong, a member of The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) from Huntington Beach, Calif. Her...
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An Interview with Scientist Dr. Cindy Jo Arrigo
March 1, 2004
Dr. Cindy Jo Arrigo discusses her decision to become a research scientist, why she got involved with the National Postdoctoral Association, challenges facing female scientists, solutions to this challenge and more. Published March 1, 2004 By Eric Staeva-Vieira Image courtesy of angellodeco via stock.adobe.com. What/who influenced your decision to become a research scientist? I’ve been looking under rocks since I was a little kid. Discovering new things, following leads, and learning about how things work...
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Science Education: The Why Behind the What
September 1, 2003
What is inquiry-based learning and why are some college instructors turning to it for teaching complicated scientific topics? Published September 1, 2003 By Margaret Crane Image courtesy of stokkete via stock.adobe.com. The United States may be the world’s only superpower, but on the science and mathematics literacy front the U.S. remains very much a nation at risk, according to recent reports issued by the Office of Science Education of the National Institutes of Health (NIH),...
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Women Rising: The Science of Leadership
April 1, 2003
Women with science backgrounds are beginning to take more leadership positions in academia than ever before. These pioneers offer their tips for success. Published April 1, 2003 By Rosemarie Foster A view from Columbus, Ohio, home to The Ohio State University. Image courtesy of espiegle via stock.adobe.com. Princeton. Rensselaer. Ohio State. What do they have in common? In addition to being among the nation’s most respected universities, they are all led by women with a...
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Success, Tenacity, and the Aid of Global Colleagues
January 1, 2003
Noble Prize winner and long-time Academy member Raymond Davis, Jr., PhD shares his advice to find success as a scientist. Published January 1, 2003 By Dan Van Atta Raymond Davis, Jr. receives the Medal of Science from President Bush, with Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John "Jack" Marburger looking on. Image courtesy of the National Science Foundation. Curiosity, a keen focus, teamwork, and the tenacity to never stop searching for solutions: These are...
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A Pioneer on Behalf of Women in Science
November 1, 2001
Inspired by her father, Sara Lee Schupf has supported various efforts that aim to encourage and support more women pursuing STEM careers. Published November 1, 2001 By Fred Moreno, Dan Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of sutlafk via stock.adobe.com. Sara Lee Schupf, the woman for whom Sara Lee Bakery is named, credits her father, Charles Lubin, for her personal interest in advancing science. “My father was dedicated to supporting science and...
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The Science of the Swimming of the Rat
March 1, 2000
Since 1979 the Academy has offered impactful science training programs for students like Neeraj Singh who had the opportunity to study the swimming abilities of rats. Published March 1, 2000 By Fred Moreno, Anne de León, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of George Dolgikh via stock.adobe.com. No, “Rats in Space” is not the name of a new science fiction movie, although it may be a title with real potential for a budding Stephen Spielberg somewhere....
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A Vital Part of a Teacher’s Professional Development
March 1, 2000
The Academy’s Authentic Science Research program, supported by NSF and SUNY-Albany, empowers teachers with the tools to be confident scientists and impactful mentors. Published March 1, 2000 By Fred Moreno, Anne de León, and Jennifer Tang To the students enrolled in Viveca Peek’s rigorous science research course at Humanities H.S. in Manhattan, showing up for a “zero period” class at 7:30 a.m. can be quite a challenge—as all who have ever endured the New York...
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November 06, 2025 ·
Key Factors and Predictive Models of Digital Collaborative Education Based on Machine Learning
Contributors: Desheng Yan| Xiuli Yuan| Guangming Li|
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October 30, 2025 ·
Enhancing Understanding and Interpretation of Ultrasound Images: A Tool for Fetal Congenital Heart Diseases
Contributors: Chenchen Wei| Zhong Yang| Xinxin Yan| Muqing Lin| Li Xiao| Fang Wang| Min Wang| Qingxia Huang| Yue Wu| Ailin Zou| Zixuan Chen| Zhongshan Gou|
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October 16, 2025 ·
Unveiling the Neural Signature of Group Cohesion in Music Co‐Audition
Contributors: Yue Ding| Bo Sun| Yingying Tang| Dan Zhang|
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October 13, 2025 ·
Knowledge Presentation Correlates With Mathematical Anxiety: Neural Evidence From Electroencephalography
Contributors: Tian Li| Xinlin Zhou|
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September 20, 2025 ·
More Than Just Anxiety: Math Attitudes as Key Driver of University Choice
Contributors: Maristella Lunardon| Christina Artemenko| Serena Rossi| Hans‐Christoph Nuerk| Krzysztof Cipora|
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September 20, 2025 ·
Exploring Factors Affecting Verbal Fluency in Healthy Aging
Contributors: Pascale Tremblay| Lydia Gagnon| Edith Durand| Joël Macoir|
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September 17, 2025 ·
Climate Anxiety in Perspective: A Look at Dominant Stressors in Youth Mental Health and Sleep
Contributors: Charles A. Ogunbode| Lois Player| Su Lu| Miriam Sang‐Ah Park| Rouven Doran|
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September 10, 2025 ·
Ready‐to‐Use School Meals in Northern Ghana Are a Viable Alternative to Traditional School Meals
Contributors: Issah Shani| Felix Agyemang| Donna Wegner| Angelina O. Danquah| Mark J. Manary| Kevin B. Stephenson| Firibu K. Saalia| Matilda Steiner‐Asiedu|
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September 07, 2025 ·
Exploring support systems for young people with climate anxiety: Suggestions from Brazil
Contributors: Mirna Albuquerque Frota| Maraysa Costa Vieira Cardoso| Marília Nunes Fernandes| Marina Schor| Susan Clayton| Pamela J. Surkan|
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August 25, 2025 ·
Students’ associations with the STEM acronym and their impact on value beliefs and STEM choices
Contributors: Heidrun Stoeger| Anton L. Beer| Albert Ziegler|
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