Stuyvesant Attends Inaugural New York City Science Research Symposium

Stuyvesant’s Junior Regeneron students attended the first ever New York City Science Research Conference (NYCSRC) at Hunter College High School (HCHS) on November 23. It provided research-oriented students the opportunity to hear from qualified scientists, present their own research, and network with each other. The NYCSRC featured five New York City high schools and featured panel discussions, presentations from keynote speakers and student researchers, and a poster session for students to showcase their projects.

Ideas for the NYCSRC began in April of 2024. Stuyvesant Research Coordinator Dr. Meng-Ping Tu and Hunter College Research Seminar Director Christina Gonazalez met through participation in Math for America, and Gonzalez suggested the concept. “Gonzalez initiated the idea because she wanted our students to be able to present their work without competition pressure and be able to exchange ideas with like-minded students,” Dr. Tu said.

The symposium provided an opportunity for Stuyvesant students to practice presenting their research before the upcoming Terra Fair science competition, a popular New York City STEM research competition. Students could potentially compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) if they place well at Terra. “I had never really exposed my research, so the opportunity to do that and talk through my poster was really big for me. I not only learned how to present my poster but also learned things from other posters that let me know what I still learn to know about my own topic,” Junior Research student Alvaro Hernandez Jenaro said. 

The inaugural conference was highly successful for students and research coordinators alike. “I learned a lot from the two sessions and it was really interesting and inspiring to see other peers of my age. It gave me a new insight on science and my own research project as well,” Junior Research student Amrit Das said.

The event informed the attending schools’ research coordinators about the science research process and provided stories of how students completed their research projects. “I found it so exciting to see how students communicate with each other, especially in the poster session. I got to see students’ posters and the different topics that they study. However, many students go to one lab for experience; this makes me think a little bit deeper as a research coordinator [...] to grow our program and help other students reach out to more researchers,” Dr. Tu said. 

The symposium’s accomplishments are, in part, attributed to HCHS’s profound organization and planning. It began with a keynote address from CUNY Professor of Chemistry Mande Holford about her ongoing research in using venomous animals to produce medicines for humans. This was followed by two student presentation sessions, the poster discussion, a third student presentation session, and ended with another keynote address and a networking opportunity. “The little notebooks they had were just incredible and it was great. It was very fancy,” Hernandez Jenaro said.

NYCSRC attendees received a packet with the names and topics of speakers and poster presenters. The back cover of the packet—which said “We hope to see you again next year (at Stuy)”—also insinuated that Stuyvesant should host next year’s NYCSRC. “It will be a collective effort because I envision that, in the spring, our current juniors will start brainstorming ideas and make a blueprint for SRC, but in the fall we have to involve the current sophomores,” Dr. Tu said.

Junior Regeneron students began identifying improvement areas for their own NYCSRC shortly after the event itself. They felt that although HCHS did a great job envisioning the symposium’s outline, there were a few areas in terms of content that Stuyvesant could change if hosting next November. “Most of the projects were based in medicine. For some people who were doing ecological studies, it would’ve been nice for them to have peers who were studying things similar to them and not be so separated from everyone else studying medicine,” Hernandez Jenaro said. 

Stuyvesant’s unique location and facilities could also be an advantage for hosting. HCHS’s poster session was concentrated in a crowded gym, which impeded the symposium’s ability to feature a greater number of posters from a wider variety of schools and scientific fields. Although this was an innovative solution in a limited amount of time, Stuyvesant could improve this aspect of the symposium for the next one. “We need to use the fact that we are such a big building to our advantage, whether that be through spreading out in fuller galleries or having more rooms open on a floor, because we could fit more people on more floors,” Das said.

Stuyvesant’s participation in the NYCSRC was the culmination of a large amount of support from various departments and individuals. The reorganized program, headed by Dr. Tu and biology teacher Jason Econome, opened the world of scientific research to students. Increased support from students, administration, and alumni widened the scope of research. “I want to give credit to the teachers in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, and technology for volunteering their time to read research papers, answer questions, and provide opportunities for students to get training on advanced lab techniques, in addition to the support of [Assistant Principal of Social Studies Jennifer] Suri, [Assistant Principal of Biology and Computer Science Marianne] Prabhu, and [Assistant Principal of Chemistry Scott] Thomas,” Dr. Tu said in a follow-up email interview.

Stuyvesant has recently gained more traction for its research program, and the science departments are working towards providing more opportunities for students to conduct research. “Now we have increased interest in the research program. The alumni, parents association, leadership, and Ms. Suri are really supportive. Budget is always a problem but we are also trying to build some in-house research opportunities for students,” Dr. Tu said. “[Biology teacher Jerry] Citron, [biology teacher Stephan] McClellan, and [biology teacher Marissa] Maggio are working on students developing independent research projects in the hydroponics labs [...] In the spring our sophomores will be able to do some in-house projects.” Stuyvesant is already on its way to being a place where students experiment and are creative with their scientific inquiries. 

Thus far, the Stuyvesant research program has provided students with many opportunities, including virtual and in-person mentorship from institutions and experience navigating professional environments. “It’s been really great; big thanks to Dr. Tu. I think it’s a really great program—it’s really opened my eyes into what research looks like, that process, [...] and it’s really helped me think more about my future as well,” Das said.

The NYCSRC was a manifestation of both the Stuyvesant Regeneron Research program’s efforts to push science-oriented students into innovation and development and the efforts of the larger New York City high schools’ body to do the same for their students, proving that research is approachable and a gateway into higher education opportunities for those who wish to continue on this path. The symposium accomplished its exact goal: to foster a space for high school students to connect with others regarding their research sans a competitive environment.