For three hours on September 17, Haven Plaza was filled with over one thousand local schoolchildren who came to learn, experience, and enjoy science. It was CUIMC's third annual Curious Minds Science Zone, and if smiles and cheers were any indication, it was a resounding success.
Upon arrival, each child received a white coat and a plastic stethoscope. "We want the children, every one of them, to begin seeing themselves as scientists and physicians," said Clara Leon, director of the VP&S Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (OSDIB), which hosted the event.
All photos by Rudy Diaz for CUIMC.
Then the children were invited to visit 25 tables and booths dedicated to nutrition, stem cells, brain science, DNA, regenerative medicine, and heroes of medicine, among other topics. Guiding the activities were over 50 Curiosity Coaches, who were faculty, PhD students, medical students, and staff who volunteered their time (and energy) to make the activities fun and engaging.
Maria Blumenkrantz, a Curiosity Coach and a PhD student in the field of regenerative medicine, had this to say about the day: "It's one thing to learn about science from a textbook. It's a whole other thing to see zebrafish embryos moving around under a microscope. That's when I learned to love science, and that's what I hope the children will take from today."
Curious Minds Science Zone was made possible through volunteers and assistance from the Office of Academic and Community Partnerships; College of Dental Medicine; Center for Dental & Craniofacial Research; Division of Child Neurology; Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine/Physical Therapy; CUIMC Office of Public Safety; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative; Department of Occupational Therapy; Department of Genetics & Development; Department of Anesthesiology; Columbia University Formula Racing; Institute of Comparative Medicine; Columbia University School of Nursing; Archives & Special Collections at the CUIMC Knowledge Center; Department of Pediatrics/CAH; Department of Medical Humanities & Ethics; Department of Environmental Health Sciences; Institute of Human Nutrition; CUIMC Office of Facilities; and colleagues from the Department of Psychiatry/New York State Psychiatric Institute.
