The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) was founded at the 1964–65 World’s Fair and has evolved into New York’s center for interactive science, serving a half million students, teachers, and families each year.
NYSCI serves schools, families and underserved communities in the New York City area, offering informal, hands-on learning through various products and services that use the “design-make-play” method of bringing delight and play to educating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The museum is situated in a highly diverse neighborhood and employs youth from the community as part of our science career ladder program—contributing to diversity in careers in science and technology on a national scale.
Specifically, the foundation grant supports the core programs of the Science Career Ladder (SCL) and its expansion under the newly established Alan J. Friedman Center for the Development of Young Scientists.
The Friedman Center encompasses the SCL, NYSCI’s nationally recognized youth education and employment program, which provides underserved and underrepresented high school and college students in New York City opportunities for academic enrichment, college readiness and access, and career development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Since it’s inception, the SCL program has served more than 3,500 students (known as “Explainers) who engage and facilitate learning for the museum’s visitors in our STEM exhibits, programs and events. More than 95% of Explainers go on to college and 68% declare majors in STEM fields. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the SCL, and an incredible opportunity for NYSCI to build on the program’s history and track record of success. In FY17, NYSCI served over 1,400 high school and college students as Explainers and Residents and additional students citywide.