18th NOAA-CESSRST Day: Inspiring the Next STEM Generation

Posted on May 29, 2019

New York, NY, April 30th, 2019– More than 300 middle school, high school and college students from across New York City participated in the 18^th Annual NOAA CREST Day at The City College of New York / CUNY campus. Each year the open house event informs students from the New York metropolitan area about NOAA- related, educational, research, and professional opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).Center Director, Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi explains why these information sessions and the engaging science activities are so relevant:

“The fact that this was the second largest attendance in the 18 year history of CREST Day indicates that many students from high schools, community colleges, and junior colleges are getting more interested in knowing about STEM.”

Experiencing Science

At the Steinman Hall building, visiting students spoke with undergraduate and graduate research scientists during the poster exhibit, and explored hands-on science activities.

Awards

Participants segued to the lecture hall where they enjoyed Science Jeopardy, listened to a panel of NOAA-EPP scholars, and witnessed the Best Student Award presentations, as well as applauding the 2019 recipients of The Lautenbacher Public Service Graduate Scholarship: this $45,000 scholarship is named after retired Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, and supports STEM graduate students at Minority Serving Institutions.

Working for NOAA

One of the keynote speakers was Benjamin Friedman, the Deputy Under-Secretary of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“We want you to come work at NOAA,” said Mr. Friedman to the many students assembled.

“…students absolutely enjoyed the time spent at the event and walked away with a greater appreciation for the earth system and the abundance of opportunities available to them to positively impact it,” said Dr. Neal Phillip, who brought about 50 students from The Bronx Community College. He continues: “The faculty who attended were also highly enriched by their participation and expressed as such.”

Prior to the flurry of CREST Day student activities, the day had begun with a breakfast hosted by City College president, Vincent Boudreau: attendees included a team of key NOAA personnel, NOAA-Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies' leadership, administrators and researchers, and members of President Boudreau’s cabinet.

In addition, Jackie Kendall, Chief Knowledge Officer at Science Systems and Applications (SSAI), Inc. attended the bulk of CREST Day events. At present, SSAI has recruited three NOAA-CREST scholars into its workforce, and a partnership between NOAA-Center in NY and the SSAI is being forged.

Learn More

NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies aims to build a diverse workforce by recruiting, training, educating and graduating a competent cadre of students, early career scientists, and engineers to become competent professionals in NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) related STEM sciences. For more information, visit http://www.noaacrest.org

For more on this story email the Center's Communications Manager at bgarcia1@ccny.cuny.edu or noaacrest@ccny.cuny.edu or visit our website: https://www.noaacrest.org