NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: NYSCI IS A DYNAMIC LABORATORY FOR LEARNING. COLLABORATIVE TEAMS OF LEARNING SCIENTISTS, EDUCATORS, DESIGNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CARRY OUT AND APPLY RESEARCH TO BUILD NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW DIVERSE LEARNERS INTERPRET AND ENGAGE WITH INFORMAL STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND HOW TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE AND ENGAGING APPROACHES TO CREATIVE STEM LEARNING FOR THOSE LEARNERS. NYSCI'S RESEARCH INFORMS THE DESIGN OF OUR EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EDUCATORS, AND OUR DIGITAL APPS AND GAMES. BEYOND NYSCI, THIS WORK IS BUILDING AN EVIDENCE BASE FOR SUCCESSFUL INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION WITH DIVERSE AUDIENCES AND CONTRIBUTING TO NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS ADVOCATING FOR INVESTMENTS IN QUALITY STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL.WITH SUPPORT 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 CIVIC SCIENCE CURRICULA AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO IMPROVE SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT OF MIDDLE GRADE STUDENTS. 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.

MUSEUM EXPERIENCES:NYSCI IS NEW YORK CITY'S ONLY HANDS-ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, WELCOMING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ANNUALLY. IN FY25, NYSCI CONTINUED TO PROVIDE DYNAMIC, INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH MORE THAN 200 INTERACTIVE EXHIBITIONS, ALONG WITH LARGE-SCALE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, DESIGN LAB ACTIVITIES, MAKER SPACE PROGRAMS, AND ACADEMIC CONVENINGS THAT BRING TOGETHER EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND STEM LEADERS.NYSCI OFFERS PROGRAMS THAT SERVE LEARNERS OF ALL AGES AND LEVELS OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST-FROM TODDLERS AND FAMILIES TO ADULT LEARNERS AND EMERGING STEM PROFESSIONALS. SIGNATURE INITIATIVES INCLUDE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY; YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE PATHWAYS THAT PROVIDE PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND MENTORSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AS EXPLAINERS, WHO FACILITATE INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES ON THE MUSEUM FLOOR; THE FAMILY ACCESS INITIATIVE, WHICH EXPANDS ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR NEURODIVERSE LEARNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND THE ANNUAL STEM EXPO, WHICH CONNECTS YOUTH TO EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.