New York Hall Of Science

THE NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE (NYSCI) IS NEW YORK CITY'S PREMIER INTERACTIVE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

MUSEUM EXPERIENCES:NYSCI IS THE LARGEST HANDS-ON SCIENCE MUSEUM IN NEW YORK, WELCOMING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS A YEAR, AND REACHING A MILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS. IT OFFERS ONE-OF-A-KIND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, AS WELL AS LARGE-SCALE EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITY-ANCHORED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND CAMPS, MAKER SPACE WORKSHOPS, AND ACADEMIC CONFERENCES.NYSCI HAS PROGRAMS FOR EVERY AGE AND LEVEL OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST, FROM TODDLERS TO ADULTS, CASUAL VISITORS TO FUTURE STEM PROFESSIONALS. THESE INCLUDE NYSCI AFTER DARK, WHICH BRINGS 20- AND 30-SOMETHINGS TO SPECIAL AFTER-HOURS PROGRAMS ON SUBJECTS LIKE BEEKEEPING, ASTRONOMY, AND THE DESIGN OF HOLLYWOOD SPECIAL EFFECTS; DESIGNERS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAMS, WHICH PAIRS WORKING SCIENTISTS WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS TO DISCOVER NEW WAYS OF ACCESSING THE SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS BEHIND THE EXHIBITS; AN AUTISM ACCESS INITIATIVE, WHICH PROVIDES PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO FAMILIES OF NEURODIVERSE LEARNERS; AND A STEM EXPO, WHICH GIVES YOUTH A PLATFORM TO LEARN ABOUT EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN STEM.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: NYSCI IS A DYNAMIC LABORATORY FOR LEARNING. FOUR DOCTORATE-LEVEL LEARNING SCIENTISTS AND 50 SCIENCE EDUCATORS, EXHIBIT DEVELOPERS, AND PROGRAM EXPERTS CARRY OUT AND APPLY RESEARCH TO BUILD AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE AND ENGAGING APPROACHES TO CREATIVE STEM LEARNING FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES. NYSCI'S RESEARCH INFORMS THE DESIGN OF ALL OF THE EXHIBITS, THE PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EDUCATORS, AND ITS GROUNDBREAKING DIGITAL APPS AND GAMES. BEYOND NYSCI, THIS WORK IS BUILDING AN EVIDENCE BASE FOR SUCCESSFUL INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION WITH DIVERSE AUDIENCES.THROUGH RESEARCH GRANTS FROM THE U.S. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, AND PRIVATE SUPPORTERS, NYSCI RESEARCHERS ARE INVESTIGATING TOPICS RANGING FROM HOW TO DESIGN EXHIBITS THAT ARE INVITING AND ENGAGING FOR FAMILY GROUPS FROM DIVERSE CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC BACKGROUNDS, TO TESTING THE EFFICACY OF A DIGITAL GAME THAT INTEGRATES COMPUTATIONAL THINKING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULA. THIS RESEARCH HELPS NYSCI CREATE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS; OFFER EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNERS TO DISCOVER THE IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE ON THE WORLD AROUND THEM; DESIGN PLAYFUL, INVITING PATHWAYS INTO UNDERSTANDING COMPLEX SYSTEMS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT, CITIES, AND DIGITAL NETWORKS; AND INSPIRE A DIVERSE GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

EDUCATION:NYSCI IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPERS OF DIVERSE STEM TALENT IN THE UNITED STATES. A TRAJECTORY OF LEARNING PATHWAYS INCLUDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FROM PRE-K TO COLLEGE TO GAIN STEM COMPETENCIES, LEARN 21ST CENTURY SKILLS, AND DISCOVER PATHWAYS TO ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS. THIS YEAR, NYSCI IMPLEMENTED 367 ONSITE, OFFSITE AND VIRTUAL STEM PROGRAMS TO 813 TEACHERS, 7,000 K-12TH GRADE STUDENTS AND OVER 17,000 FAMILIES (PARENTS & CHILDREN). THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND CAMPS, DOZENS OF ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A VARIETY OF SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS (ASTRONOMY, DNA BARCODING, ENGINEERING) AND USED DESIGN-THINKING APPROACHES TO CREATE THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS. AND NEARLY 1,000 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECTED THEM TO STEM PROFESSIONALS AND HELPED THEM ACQUIRE IMPORTANT SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND CAREERS.NYSCI ALSO RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 24, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PROGRAMMING SUCH AS FAMILY WORKSHOPS, SPECIAL EVENTS, COMMUNITY DAYS, AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS. NYSCI ALSO COLLABORATES WITH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH THE PRE-K CENTER THAT OPENED ON CAMPUS IN SEPTEMBER 2022, PROVIDING SCIENCE COACHING TO TEACHERS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE MORE THAN 300 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL. NYSCI ALSO CO-FOUNDED AND CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ELMHURST CORONA RECOVERY COLLABORATIVE, A COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF LOCAL NON-PROFITS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. NYSCI HAS HOSTED FOOD DRIVES, MEDICAL CLINICS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS THAT HAVE REACHED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS THROUGH THESE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS.

THROUGH NYSCI'S SIGNATURE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, THE SCIENCE CAREER LADDER, 98 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WORKED AS EXPLAINERS. EXPLAINERS WORK AT NYSCI ON AVERAGE FOR 2 1/4 YEARS AS MUSEUM FACILITATORS, FOSTERING FUN AND INCLUSIVE STEM LEARNING BY RECOGNIZING AND GUIDING VISITORS' INTERESTS, NURTURING THEIR CURIOSITY AND ENCOURAGING AGENCY IN APPROACHING STEM-BASED ACTIVITIES, CHALLENGES AND QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM. THEY ALSO HOLD RESIDENCIES AND FELLOWSHIPS WITH DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS, RESEARCHERS AND ARTISTS TO CO-CREATE EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, ONLINE CONTENT AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR NYSCI'S AUDIENCE. IN THE PROCESS, EXPLAINERS ACQUIRE COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE; STEM LITERACY, KNOWLEDGE, AND HABITS OF MIND; AND EXPERIENCE WITH INQUIRY-BASED TEACHING AND LEARNING. THEY ENGAGE IN THE KIND OF DEEPER THINKING AND DISCOVERY THAT IS THE BEDROCK FOR DEVELOPING THE SKILLS, AGENCY AND CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND IN THE 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE. OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES, 95 PERCENT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE GONE ON TO COLLEGE, WITH 70 PERCENT DECLARING MAJORS IN STEM. IN THIS YEAR'S COHORT, 93% RESIDED IN QUEENS, AND 86% WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR AS DEFINED BY NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS (NYC DCLA).