The Science Salon Experience offers exclusive, intimate dinners in New York City with top scientific thinkers, delivering cutting-edge insights in STEM. These monthly events provide unparalleled opportunities for elite networking and strategic advice. Each gathering features a thought-provoking presentation and engaging discussions, captured in a post-event Research Briefing for attendees. Join us to stay at the forefront of innovation and connect with a community of influential leaders.
Salon Membership
Join this elite circle with annual Salon memberships offered at the following levels:
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Diamond
Annual Science Salon Membership
Join this elite circle with annual Science Salon memberships offered at the following levels:
Membership Tier
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Diamond
Annual Membership Fee
$12,500
$25,000
$33,750
$40,000
Annual Member Benefits
Choice of up to 3 Salons
Choice of up to 6 Salons
Choice of up to 9 Salons
ALL 12 Salons
Exclusive Networking Opportunities
Access to a private dinner Salon where members can interact with each other, with expert scientist speakers, and Academy leadership.
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Post-event Research Briefing
Summaries of Salon speaker presentations and discussions (prepared by a science writer), including additional resources and reading materials suggested by the speaker.
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1-Year Professional Academy Membership
Belong to a vibrant community committed to propelling scientific discovery forward and inspiring the next generation of innovators. Within this community, you are connected to a vast network of colleagues and resources spanning the globe, enriching you with diverse perspectives.
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Invitations to Public Events
Complimentary invitations to larger public events or lectures hosted by The Academy.
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Meet-the-Speaker Receptions
Invitations to pre-Salon receptions with the speaker for more personal interaction and networking.
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Complimentary Guest Pass
One complimentary Guest Pass per year to invite a friend or colleague to a Salon. Pending availability.
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Upcoming Salons
Explore our upcoming exclusive Salons featuring prominent scientific experts. This summer, we will announce the complete schedule for the 2024-2025 Science Salons, beginning in Fall 2024.
What Our Members Say
Contact Us
To discuss your Science Salon membership and availability at upcoming Salons, contact Dr. Sonya Dougal, SVP Scientific Programs & Awards at sdougal@nyas.org.
The Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience (LLSN) aim to promote groundbreaking neuroscience research in the five boroughs of New York City. The scholarships support the most innovative young researchers at a critical stage of their careers—their postdoctoral research—as they develop the new ideas and directions that will help establish them as independent neuroscientists.
The Scholarships seek to support exceptional young researchers as they pursue innovative investigations in neuroscience and advance their careers toward independent research by:
1. Cultivating excellence and innovation in a diverse neuroscience workforce and supporting postdoctoral Scholars, from all backgrounds, in preparing for a scientific career in the face of increasing competition.
2. Providing enhanced research autonomy to promote impactful scientific research.
3. Helping Scholars to develop wider professional skills such as writing grants and papers, project and budget management, promoting neuroethics, and enhanced community engagement.
4. Building and maintaining an engaged Leon Levy Scholar Alumni community to enhance collaboration and partnerships, encourage mentorship and networking, foster data sharing, and advance team science.
Applicants must be employed by an eligible institution (see below) in New York City.
Which institutions are eligible?
Applicants must be employed by one of the institutions listed below at the time the Scholarship begins, and should have the support of their proposed Research Advisor at the time of application. Institutions not listed here may contact leonlevy@nyas.org to request inclusion on the list of eligible employing institutions.
Adelphi University
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Barnard College
City College of New York
CUNY Brooklyn College
CUNY College of Staten Island
CUNY Graduate Center
CUNY Hunter College
CUNY Lehman College
CUNY School of Medicine
CUNY Queens College
Columbia University
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Cooper Union
Cornell Tech
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Flatiron Institute
Fordham University
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Long Island University
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York Blood Center
New York University
NYU Langone Health
Pace University
The Rockefeller University
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Weill Cornell Medicine
Important Dates
The nomination period for the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience will open on August 30, 2024. All materials must be submitted by October 18, 2024. Scholarships for the 2024 cohort of Scholars will run from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028.
Applications OPEN: August 30, 2024
Applications CLOSE: October 18, 2024
Leon Levy Scholarships period begins: September 1, 2025
Scientific Advisory Board
Carlos Brody, PhD Princeton University
Amita Sehgal, PhD University of Pennsylvania
Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Instructions
Program Guidelines
Eligibility
By the time of appointment on September 1, 2025, the applicant must:
Hold a doctoral degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.)
Hold a full-time postdoctoral position at an eligible institution (see FAQs), or an institution that has obtained eligibility prior to the closing of the application period, in one of New York City’s five boroughs
Possess no more than three (3) years* of cumulative postdoctoral experience
Conduct research in Neuroscience or one of its sub-disciplines while they hold the Leon Levy Scholarships
Be able to meet at least one of the following designated criteria at the time of appointment: be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident (holder of a Permanent Resident Card); holder of J-1 Research Scholar status or an H-1B Temporary Employee Status visa valid for the full tenure of the Scholarship; an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program; Indigenous individual exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794; Individual granted Temporary Protected Status; Asylee; or Refugee. Conditional Visas will be considered.
*Exceptions to this time limit will be considered upon a detailed written submission from the applicant received by the New York Academy of Sciences by September 13, 2024. For more information, please contact us at leonlevy@nyas.org prior to starting your application. We strongly encourage candidates requiring this exception to contact us as early as possible during the application period.
There is no upper limit on the number of applicants per institution or per laboratory. Previous recipients of a Leon Levy Fellowship are not eligible to apply.
Applications by Underrepresented Populations in STEM
In spite of tremendous advancements in scientific research, information, and education, opportunities are still not equally available to all. Women, persons with disabilities, and individuals identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) and other groups continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields1,2. As such, the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience Program strongly encourages applications from individuals within these demographic categories.
1Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12984 2Pew Research Center, January 2018. “Women and Men in STEM Often at Odds Over Workplace Equity”
Application Instructions
Application Form
Required information includes the applicant’s name, title, terminal degree, email address, phone number, and sub-disciplinary category within the field of neuroscience, as well as the name, title, and contact information of the applicant’s proposed Research Advisor (i.e. Principal Investigator (P.I.), the leader of the laboratory in which the applicant is/will be employed and perform the proposed research), the name and contact information for three potential mentors, and the start date of the applicant’s first postdoctoral position.
Disciplinary Categories
1. Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience
2. Systems Neuroscience
3. Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience
4. Computational Neuroscience
5. Translational & Clinical Neuroscience
6. Other (applicant will be asked to provide brief description)
Curriculum Vitae
Applicants are required to submit a CV that includes:
Applicant name, current institution(s), and position title
Education and training, including doctoral and prior postdoctoral training, with names of previous research advisor(s)/mentor(s)
Employment history
Honors and awards
Peer-reviewed publications from their entire research career
Patents and patent applications, if applicable
Research grants where the applicant is named as PI or Co-I (NSF fellowship or NIH NRSA, training supplements, foundation grants, etc.)
Scientific leadership (e.g. any significant roles in the greater academic community, including major editorial responsibilities, service on external committees, conference organization, technology licensing or company start-up, public outreach activities, and institutional administrative responsibilities such as departmental or student committee)
Invited talks and lectures, if applicable
Research Proposal
The Research Proposal (maximum 1400 words, excluding references) should be accessible to another scientist working in any sub-field of neuroscience and include:
Background & Significance Provide the rationale for the proposed research and explain any terms or information that may not be obvious to a neuroscientist outside of the applicant’s sub-field.
Aims Describe the main goals of the proposed research project and a tentative timetable by which the applicant expects to meet those goals. The Aims should be ambitious but achievable. We are particularly interested in innovative proposals that have the potential to break new ground.
Research Plan Applicants must present a clearly articulated plan of study or research. This should clearly link to the identified Aims and be achievable within three years. If any specialized equipment, reagents, etc. are required for the Research Plan, indicate if the applicant has access and if not, how and when that will be obtained.
Preliminary Results (not required) Describe any preliminary work and results regarding the proposed project, if available, at the time of this application submission. Clarify if these are already published or if they are unpublished findings, and if the preliminary work was done by the applicant or by someone else.
Future Directions and Impact Include a description of how the applicant sees the proposed research project progressing in the future. Applicants need not plan to continue the particular project after the duration of the Scholarship, but they should articulate what the next steps of the project would be. Describe the impact of the work outlined in the Research Plan, on the applicant’s field, on patient health, and/or wider society.
Professional Service and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
Applicants are required to submit an open-ended statement (maximum of 500 words) describing their outreach activities and/or professional service. Where possible, the applicants should focus on activities and services related to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the scientific community. Topics to discuss include, but are not limited to, the following:
Teaching and Mentoring: Commitment to teaching and mentoring students, especially those of broadly diverse demographics and/or social backgrounds;
Collaboration and Leadership: Involvement or leadership in committees, task force groups, professional societies, and organizations;
Service, Engagement, and/or Outreach: A record of community engagement or outreach activities (e.g. volunteer activities, communicating science to the public, etc.);
Research: Current and/or planned research relevant to underserved populations or inequalities, or issues relevant to DEI, such as race, gender, sexuality, health disparities, human rights, educational access, ability, etc.
Career Development Plan
Description (maximum of 500 words) of the applicant’s short and long-term professional goals, identification of specific pathways or experiences necessary to achieve those goals, and an explanation of how the Leon Levy Scholarship Program will enhance the applicant’s ability to achieve the goals.
Letters of Support
Applicants are required to nominate three (3) individuals to submit a confidential Letter of Support. Letters of support will be electronically requested and submitted via the web portal to ensure confidentiality.
The letters of support should come from:
Proposed Research Advisor (1 letter). This letter should detail the applicant’s strong record of significant scientific contributions and their promise of sustained or accelerated progress in the future. The letter should also stipulate that the applicant has the necessary institutional support and approval to conduct the proposed research if granted the Scholarship. The Research Advisor must stipulate that they agree to support the applicant and research project for the full duration of the Scholarship.
Other recommenders, including previous advisors, collaborators, etc. (2 letters). This is a standard letter of recommendation speaking to the candidate’s qualifications and previous accomplishments. We recommend that applicants petition Letters of Support from individuals who are experts in the applicant’s discipline, field, or sub-field and who are intimately familiar with the applicant’s most significant and important research contributions during their scientific career.
Letter writers will also be required to answer a brief, multiple-choice questionnaire upon uploading their Letter of Support, to ensure both qualitative and quantitative assessment of each applicant.
Scholarship Details
Stipend & Benefits
The Leon Levy Scholarship is a three (3)-year award. Scholars will receive:
Annual stipend equals 125% of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral rate, according to the postdoctoral year
Fringe benefits at the host institution’s rate for postdoctoral Scholars
US$2,000 computer allowance as a one-time award
Annual supplement of up to US$10,000 to support care costs (e.g. dependent care)
Indirect support to the host institution will be allowed at the standard published rate if less than 20% and capped at 20%.
3-year Membership to the New York Academy of Sciences
Participation in a structured Mentorship Program for Leon Levy Scholars
Access to leadership and skills-building workshops through the New York Academy of Sciences
Access to the community of past and present Leon Levy Scholars and Fellows
Grant writing support
Duration
Each Scholar is expected to begin the 36-month Scholarship in September of the year in which the award is received (some remote orientation may begin before September/before arrival). Scholarships may be deferred or delayed only as an exception and will require prior approval of the Academy, the Leon Levy Foundation, and the applicant’s host institution.
Should a Scholar depart the institution in which they were awarded the LLSN, if the new institution is eligible, the Scholarship may be transferred, otherwise, it will conclude.
Scholar Responsibilities
1. Attend New Scholar Orientation
2. Participate in the annual Leon Levy Symposium
3. Attend quarterly virtual Group Seminars; Scholars are required to present a research update at a Group Seminar at least once during their tenure
4. Participate in Mentorship and Career Development activities (detailed below)
5. Engage in Scholarship-related media activities and inquiries (e.g., video interviews, magazine profile interviews, etc.) as requested
6. Provide an Annual Report describing research and career progress for each year of their tenure; the Final Report must summarize the research project and state final conclusions. Report templates will be provided.
Mentorship Program
All Scholars will be required to participate in a structured Mentorship Program for the duration of their Scholarship. Scholars will receive their primary scientific mentorship from their Research Advisor. In addition, Scholars will benefit from advice and mentorship from a senior scientist, referred to as a Mentor, not directly involved in the Scholars’ research. Scholars will have access to both their scientific Research Advisor and a Mentor as part of the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience Program.
An essential feature of the Scholarship program will be this opportunity to learn from and be mentored by distinguished leaders across scientific fields. In this capacity, Mentors will provide guidance on the Scholars’ postdoctoral research and in their pursuit of an independent PI role or other scientific career paths. Each Mentor will have a successful track record of mentorship and will be paired with a scholar based on mutual scientific interests.
Once Scholars are chosen, they will work with the program team to find an appropriate senior Mentor from the Academy’s membership. Once matched, the mentoring pairs are expected to meet a minimum of once every other month (in person or virtual) and will have access to prompts and activities to help guide conversations if appropriate. Mentoring pairs will complete an expectations worksheet to help define how the pair will work together. All pairs will be expected to abide by the Academy’s Code of Conduct.
Quarterly Group Seminars
Each quarter, the Academy will host a meeting of all current Scholars to discuss ideas, share research updates and success stories, identify potential collaborations and help solve problems. These seminars will include Scholar presentations, interactive discussions, and informal networking. The Academy will work closely with the Scholars – through conversations, surveys, and other methods – to design programming that meets the short-term and long-term scientific and career needs of the Scholars.
Leadership and Skills Building Opportunities
All Scholars will receive a professional membership to the Academy, providing them with free and reduced-cost access to career development events, courses, and workshops. There is no requirement for Scholars to participate. Leadership and Skills building opportunities include topics such as science communication, grant writing, Inclusive Leadership, teaching and pedagogy, and ethics. Scholars will also receive a newsletter and regular updates about these opportunities.
Leon Levy Community
The Academy maintains a robust virtual community for scientists via LinkedIn. Scholars will have the opportunity to join our LinkedIn community and have a dedicated platform to network with other Scholars.
Membership to the New York Academy of Sciences
All Scholars will receive a (3) three-year membership to the Academy. Membership provides Scholars with access to our Global Member Directory, a deep archive of digital content, and access to free or significantly discounted registrations for over 100 symposia, webinars, and conferences annually.
Grant Writing Support, as needed
Scholars will have access to a grant writing professional who can consult with them on a grant and provide them with guidance.
FAQs
As of 2022, the Leon Levy Fellowship is independently administered by the New York Academy of Sciences as the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience (LLSN). These scholarships aim to promote groundbreaking neuroscience research in the five boroughs of New York City.
What are the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience?
The Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience (LLSN) aim to promote groundbreaking neuroscience research in the five boroughs of New York City by supporting the most innovative young researchers at a critical stage of their careers—their postdoctoral research—as they develop new ideas and directions that will help establish them as independent neuroscientists. The Scholarship is a three (3)-year award. Scholars will receive an annual stipend equal to 125% of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral rate, according to postdoctoral year, a USD 2,000 one-time computer allowance, and an annual care supplement.
Who is eligible to apply?
By the time of appointment on September 1, 2025, the applicant must:
Hold a doctoral degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.)
Hold a full-time postdoctoral position at an eligible institution, or an institution that has obtained eligibility prior to the closing of the application period, in one of New York City’s five boroughs
Possess no more than three (3) years* of cumulative postdoctoral experience
Conduct research in Neuroscience or one of its sub-disciplines while they hold the Leon Levy Scholarships
Be able to meet at least one of the following designated criteria at the time of appointment: be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident (holder of a Permanent Resident Card); holder of J-1 Research Scholar status or an H-1B Temporary Employee Status visa valid for the full tenure of the Scholarship; an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program; Indigenous individual exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794; Individual granted Temporary Protected Status; Asylee; or Refugee. Conditional Visas will be considered.
*Exceptions to this time limit will be considered upon a detailed written submission from the applicant received by the New York Academy of Sciences by Friday, September 13, 2024. For more information, please contact us at leonlevy@nyas.org prior to starting your application. We strongly encourage candidates requiring this exception to contact us as early as possible during the application period.
There is no upper limit on the number of applicants per institution or per laboratory. Previous recipients of a Leon Levy Fellowship are not eligible to apply.
What are the important dates?
All materials must be submitted by October 18, 2024. Scholarships for the 2025 cohort of Scholars will run from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028.
August 30, 2024: Applications open for Leon Levy Scholarships
October 18, 2024: Applications close for Leon Levy Scholarships
March 2025: All applicants notified to the outcome of their application
April 2025: Leon Levy Scholars publicly announced
September 1, 2025: Leon Levy Scholarships period begins (all Scholars expected to be in residence in NYC by this date)
July 2025: Scholars’ Annual Report due.
Which institutions are eligible?
Applicants must be employed by one of the institutions listed below at the time the Scholarship begins, and should have the support of their proposed Research Advisor at the time of application. Institutions not listed here may contact leonlevy@nyas.org to request inclusion on the list of eligible employing institutions.
Adelphi University
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Barnard College
City College of New York
CUNY Brooklyn College
CUNY College of Staten Island
CUNY Graduate Center
CUNY Hunter College
CUNY Lehman College
CUNY School of Medicine
CUNY Queens College
Columbia University
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Cooper Union
Cornell Tech
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Flatiron Institute
Fordham University
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Long Island University
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York Blood Center
New York University
NYU Langone Health
Pace University
The Rockefeller University
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Weill Cornell Medicine
What are the terms of appointment, scholarship benefits, and duration?
Terms of Appointment
Selected Scholars must dedicate 100% of research time to scientific research projects unless they have a clinical obligation, in which case, they may spend up to 20% of the time on clinical obligations.
Stipend & Benefits
Annual stipend equals 125% of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral rate, according to the postdoctoral year
Fringe benefits at the host institution’s rate for postdoctoral Scholars
US$2,000 computer allowance as a one-time award
Annual supplement of up to US$10,000 to support care costs (e.g. dependent care)
Indirect support to the host institution will be allowed at the standard published rate if less than 20% and capped at 20%.
3-year Membership to the New York Academy of Sciences
Participation in a structured Mentorship Program for Leon Levy Scholars
Access to leadership and skills-building workshops through the New York Academy of Sciences
Access to the community of past and present Leon Levy Scholars and Fellows
Grant writing support
Duration
Each Scholar is expected to begin the 36-month Scholarship in September of the year in which the award is received (some remote orientation may begin before September/before arrival). Scholarships may be deferred or delayed only as an exception and will require prior approval of the Academy, the Leon Levy Foundation, and the applicant’s host institution.
Should a Scholar depart the institution in which they were awarded the LLSN, if the new institution is eligible, the Scholarship may be transferred, otherwise, it will conclude.
What are the Scholar’s Responsibilities?
Scholar Responsibilities:
1. Attend New Scholar Orientation.
2. Participate in the annual Leon Levy Symposium.
3. Attend quarterly virtual Group Seminars; Scholars are required to present a research update at a Group Seminar at least once during their tenure.
4. Participate in Mentorship and Career Development activities (detailed below).
5. Engage in Scholarship-related media activities and inquiries (e.g., video interviews, magazine profile interviews, etc.) as requested.
6. Provide an Annual Report describing research and career progress for each year of their tenure; the Final Report must summarize the research project and state final conclusions. Report templates will be provided.
What is the Mentorship Program?
All Scholars will be required to participate in a structured Mentorship Program in Neuroscience Research for the duration of their Scholarship. Scholars will receive their primary scientific mentorship from their Research Advisor. In addition, however, Scholars can greatly benefit from advice and mentorship from a senior scientist who is not directly involved in the Scholars’ research; here we refer to this person as the Mentor. In the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience program, Scholars will have access to both their scientific Research Advisor and a Mentor.
An essential feature of the Scholarship program will be this opportunity to learn from and be mentored by distinguished leaders across scientific fields. In this capacity, Mentors will provide guidance on the Scholars’ postdoctoral research and in their pursuit of an independent PI role or other scientific career paths. Each Mentor will have a successful track record of mentorship and will be paired with a scholar based on mutual scientific interests.
Once Scholars are chosen, they will work with the program team to find an appropriate senior Mentor from the Academy’s membership. Once matched, the mentoring pairs are expected to meet a minimum of once every other month (in person or virtual) and will have access to prompts and activities to help guide conversations if appropriate. Mentoring pairs will complete an expectations worksheet to help define how the pair will work together. All pairs will be expected to abide by the Academy’s Code of Conduct.
How does this program support Career Development?
Virtual Group Seminars
Each quarter, the Academy will host a meeting of all current Scholars to discuss ideas, share research updates and success stories, identify potential collaborations and help solve problems. These seminars will include Scholar presentations, interactive discussions, and informal networking. The Academy will work closely with the Scholars – through conversations, surveys, and other methods – to design programming that meets the short-term and long-term scientific and career needs of the Scholars.
Leadership and Skills Building Opportunities
All Scholars will receive a professional membership to the Academy, providing them with free and reduced-cost access to career development events, courses, and workshops. There is no requirement for Scholars to participate. Leadership and Skills building opportunities include topics such as science communication, grant writing, Inclusive Leadership, teaching and pedagogy, and ethics. Scholars will also receive a newsletter and regular updates about these opportunities.
Leon Levy Community
The Academy maintains a robust virtual community for scientists via Slack. Scholars will have the opportunity to join our Slack community and have dedicated channels to network with other Scholars.
Membership to the New York Academy of Sciences
All Scholars will receive a (3) three-year membership to the Academy. Membership provides Scholars with access to our Global Member Directory, a deep archive of digital content, and access to free or significantly discounted registrations for over 100 symposia, webinars, and conferences annually.
Grant Writing Support, as needed
Scholars will have access to a grant writing professional who can consult with them on a grant and provide them with guidance.
This Code of Conduct (this “Code”) applies to your participation in our Launchpad programs.
Digital citizenship is a critical component of the Programs. Our Services are continuously monitored to promote internet safety and security.
By participating in a Program as a mentor or student, you agree to the following code of conduct:
Core Values. Mentors and students will aspire to the Launchpad’score values of hard-work, integrity, respect and responsibility.
Copyright. Mentors and students will not take credit for other people’s creative work.
Cyberbullying. Online cruelty or harassment will not be tolerated. Cyberbullying and cyberharassment will result in the termination of the offender’s participation in the Programs and may be a violation of law.
Confidentiality. Mentors and students will not share details about their communications with third parties without the other’s prior express consent and, if the student is a minor, without the prior express consent of the student’s parent or legal guardian.
Communication. Mentors and students will not use offensive language or transmit offensive images to other students or mentors.
Mentor-studentMeetings. In-person mentor/student meetings are prohibited, unless they occur at Academy/GSA sponsored group events.
Mentor-Student Personal Relationships. Mentors and students are strictly prohibited from establishing and engaging any form of personal relationships other than a relationship that is appropriate and strictly within the mentor-student context, either at or outside Academy/GSA sponsored group events.
Reporting Your Concerns
We strongly encourage mentors and students to report violations of this Code via the concern form. Download documents below:
Think twice before posting. Posts on social media can take on a life of their own. Consider what could happen if a post becomes widely known and how that may reflect on you. Search engines can identify posts years after they are created, and comments can be forwarded or copied. If you wouldn’t say it at an event or to a member of the media, consider whether you should post it online. Even in closed groups, other Program participants may use or reuse your information or posts in ways you can’t anticipate, so please keep this in mind before posting.
Be respectful. Understand that content contributed to social media sites may encourage comments or discussion of opposing ideas. Responses should be considered carefully before posting. Strive for accuracy. Always try to get the facts straight before posting on social media.
Identify your views as your own. While you may be affiliated with a Launchpad Program, such as the Junior Academy, or other organizations in some way, you should refrain from speaking on social media on behalf of any person or organization except yourself or making statements that could be perceived as speaking on behalf of others.
Protect your identity. We strongly recommend that you avoid publishing the kind of personal information, such as your home address, telephone numbers, email address, or credit card or social security numbers, that could be used by identity thieves or to harass or defraud you. You may not post any personal information on the Launchpad website about anyone who is under 13 years old, and if you are under 13 years old you may not use the LaunchPad website.
This Code of Conduct is a part of, and incorporated by reference in, our Terms of Use. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Code have the meanings assigned to them in our Terms of Use.
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Convergence: A Journal for Young Researchers by Indigo Research and The New York Academy of Sciences is dedicated to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed academic work from young people (pre-university), exploring a wide range of subjects with a focus on work that explores the convergence of disciplines related to current and future existential risks including climate change, human rights and structural inequities.
The journal will cover the following types of submissions:
Original research from traditional and non-traditional academic methods
Commentary, Opinion and policy review
Reviews of research, popular culture and/or other relevant media
Original visual artwork including cartoons, memes,
Literary writing, poetry, personal essays and other styles that draw from literary traditions including fiction and narrative non-fiction
Convergence will open the call for submissions and reviewers in Spring 2024. We are seeking qualified Academic Reviewers from a wide range of backgrounds to review manuscripts submitted to the journal. Reviewers should be academically active in the fields of Engineering, Medicine, Computer Science, Law, Politics and Policy, Advocacy, Humanities, Philosophy, Ethics and/or the Sciences. Reviewers should be comfortable reviewing work from younger writers (pre-college) and from writers who submit in a specific academic area and/or from a convergent research perspective.
Contact
To be considered as an Academic Reviewer, please contact us at education@nyas.org.
Our Unique Approach to Working with Teachers, Students and Families
The scientists in the Academy’s network view their job as blend of research and community outreach. Our scientists have a desire to directly engage the public to demystify science and foster science literacy, especially among young people and families. Therefore, our three signature programs — Afterschool STEM Mentoring, Scientist-in-Residence, and Family Science Nights — provide professional scientists with opportunities to do outreach that aligns with their interests as well as their professional time constraints.
Ways to Work with Us
There are several ways external organizations can become involved with our community outreach initiatives.
You can sponsor our “Chat with a Scientist” virtual event series, and even collaborate with us to plan the events using subject matter experts in your network who would like to give back to elementary and middle school age students.
We can create an Employee Engagement initiative whereby your employees with STEM expertise can be recruited as mentors in either our Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program or our Scientist-in-Residence program.
You can support our Family Science Nights as a sponsor or a host venue to hold an FSN at your school, library, or other community center location.
We can collaborate to develop a new event series aimed at younger students to spark their curiosity in STEM, or expose them to STEM careers through the eyes of working scientists.
Impact Report
Download the New York Academy of Sciences STEM Education 10-Year Impact Report, 2024.
GENERATION STEM: Empowering Scientists of the Future
Adolescent and young women are often undernourished and overlooked and few, if any, efforts are made to educate this population about best food habits. This presents current and future risks: undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies impair their growth at the critical phase of puberty and menarche, increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and carries an elevated risk of non-communicable diseases in future life.
However, this period is also viewed as a window of opportunity for nutrition action as it is when growing girls begin to assume adult roles and establish dietary patterns that often carry through adulthood and to their future families. While there has been progress in recognizing the nutrition plight of adolescent girls and young women in recent years, knowledge of their dietary patterns, nutrient deficiencies, or food choice motivations remains fragmentary, hampering the elaboration of effective strategies to improve their nutrition.
Funded by La Fonation Botnar, the Academy and partners carried out an Action-Research program over three years (2020-2022) in Colombia and Vietnam to document the diets of adolescent and young women (14-22 years old); identify nutrient deficits in their diets; elaborate recommendations to improve their nutritional status using locally available and affordable foods; and engage with them in incorporating those recommendations in their diets through a Social Innovation Challenge. Awards and resources were transferred to the most promising solutions to enable their implementation.
Pre/post measurements of the interventions’ impact showed significant improvement in the diets of participants. Using local foods as a point of departure proved successful in creating interest and in concretely anchoring choices that significantly and positively affected their food intake. Social media proved to be a playful and powerful means of mobilization when designed and controlled by participants. Building on concerns of importance to this population—self-image, self-esteem, peer status—was also a strong lever for behavioral change. This initiative may serve as a model for future interventions targeting this population group. In addition, it created an extensive scientific output to advance our knowledge of the problem and how it may be addressed.
Implementing Partners
World Vision/Colombia
International Center for Education and Development (CINDE). Colombia
School of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Antioquia, Medellin Colombia
Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam
National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam
The World Food Programme, Rome
Funding Support
La Fondation Botnar
Activities
Activities undertaken by this Action-Research program in nutrition are summarized below:
24hr recalls to document the diets of adolescent and young women in one secondary city per country (Medellin in Colombia, Thai Nguyen in Vietnam);
Scientific publications from the Adolescent and Young Women Nutrition Action-Research
The entire Action-Research process is described at length in nine peer-reviewed publications published in a Special Issue of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
List of papers (hyperlinks to come once published in Open Access on Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences)
Mobilizing adolescents and young women to promote healthy diets in urban settings of Colombia and Vietnam: lessons from two action-research programs. Bergeron G, Nguyen P, Restrepo-Mesa S, Correa-Guzman N, Nga L. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Food and nutrient intake of adolescent women in the city of Medellin, Colombia Restrepo-Mesa S, Correa Guzmán N, et al. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Dietary intake and occupational status among female youths of Thai Nguyen, Vietnam Mai Tran L, Nguyen P. et al. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Exploring the potential of meeting adolescent girls’ nutrient needs in urban Colombia using food-based recommendations. Knight F, Kuri S., et al The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Locally relevant food-based recommendations could increase iron and calcium intake for adolescent girls in Vietnam. Gie S., Nguyen P. et al. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Validation of the NOVA screener for the consumption of ultra-processed foods in young women of Medellin, Colombia. Correa-Madrid MC, Correa-Guzmán N, et al. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Beliefs and practices of healthy eating in a group of young women in Medellin, Colombia. Balancing between the desired and the possible. Arboleda-Montoya LM, Rodríguez-Villamil N. et al. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Effect of an Action-Research nutrition intervention on the Global Diet Quality Score of Colombian adolescent. Correa-Guzman N, Restrepo-Mesa S. et al. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
The Global Diet Quality Score is Associated with Higher Nutrient Adequacy and Depression, but not with Anthropometric Outcomes among Urban Vietnamese Adolescents and Youths. Nguyen P, Mai LM, et al. The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. New York, 2023
Contact Us
To learn more about our Action-Research on Adolescent and Young Women Nutrition program, contact us at nutrition@nyas.org.
An estimated 3.5 billion people around the globe are at risk of calcium deficiency due to inadequate dietary intake. While primarily associated with bone health, calcium has also been shown to reduce the risk of preeclampsia and associated complications, which are leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Populations in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), especially in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, are at greatest risk of low calcium intakes, and have the higher rates of mortality from maternal hypertensive disorders, according to the Global Burden of Disease.
Global rates of mortality due to maternal hypertensive disorders in 2019 (deaths/100,000), according to the Global Burden of Disease
In partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Academy assembled a Scientific Advisory Committee composed of five calcium experts, followed by a larger group of 22 specialists named “Calcium Task Force” to guide the global agenda for Calcium. In March and April 2021, the Academy convened two virtual meetings with the Calcium Task Force. This Task Force is composed of experts in micronutrients, malnutrition, pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics, biochemistry, public health, supplementation and food fortification. During these two virtual meetings, the Task Force assessed the evidence on global calcium deficiency and its health consequences, and useful indicators of calcium absorption and intake. It also considered potential interventions such as calcium supplementation for pregnant women to improve pregnancy outcomes and associated implementation challenges, as well as food-based interventions to improve the intake of this vital micronutrient, especially in populations with low calcium intake. The group was also commissioned to identify the research gaps and provide guidance for interventions and policies based on the most current available evidence.
Activities
First Meeting of the Calcium Task Force
On March 1-3, 2021, the Nutrition Science Program of the New York Academy of Sciences convened the first of two meetings of the Calcium Task Force. The agenda was structured around three major topics: epidemiology of inadequate calcium intakes and associated health outcomes, calcium supplementation for pregnant women, and food-based interventions to improve calcium intake.
The second meeting was hosted on April 26-28, 2021. The Calcium Task Force refined the discussions of the first meeting, drew conclusions and recommendations based on available evidence, and identified areas for future research for the three major topics.
Scientific publications associated with the Calcium initiative
The discussions and conclusions from the Calcium Task Force meetings were presented in three peer-reviewed publications. Additional activities are associated with the Calcium Initiative, including: two systematic reviews conducted by Tampere University to assess the impact of maternal dietary calcium supplementation (alone or with vitamin D) during pregnancy on maternal and infant health; feasibility assessments of the food-based solutions carried out by HarvestPlus; modeling analyses for the cost-effectiveness of interventions and the locally available foods that could provide additional calcium. The following articles associated with this initiative were published in a “Calcium Special Issue”:
Following the release of the 2016 WHO Guidelines for Antenatal Care, The New York Academy of Sciences assembled a scientific task force comprised of international experts in micronutrient deficiencies, public health, nutrition, pediatrics and health economics to:
Compile the evidence on the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women or women of reproductive age
Review the evidence on the benefits and risks of multiple micronutrient supplements on maternal and perinatal outcomes
Create a roadmap to guide decisions in countries considering the implementation of such programs.
The findings from the first phase of this initiative show that substantial benefits may be expected, in terms of mortality reduction and poor birth outcome, by shifting from IFA to MMS in Antenatal Care programs.
Promoting MMS in Low and Middle-Income Countries
The Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation Technical Advisory Group (TAG) assists countries considering the use of multiple micronutrient supplements in their antenatal care programs. The New York Academy of Sciences and the TAG have collaborated with UNICEF, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to promote the uptake of MMS by pregnant women in a number of pilot low and middle-income countries (LMICs). These promotional efforts encompass the following activities:
Recruitment and coordination of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide evidence and materials to governments in LMICs so that they can tailor the use of MMS to their specific conditions
Facilitation of global MMS efforts, via the creation of a communications hub to advise and document the pilot phase throughout the planned implementation
Provision of technical support to UNICEF as it rolls out MMS in four pilot countries (Bangladesh, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Tanzania), as well as other locations considering making the switch from iron and folic acid to MMS
For this initiative, UNICEF assisted with the rollout and implementation of MMS in pilot LMIC countries. Vitamin Angels supplied the product and provision of MMS. The Healthy Mother’s Healthy Babies Consortium brought together stakeholders, including country representatives, research and knowledge institutions, non-governmental organization (NGOs), technical organizations, UN agencies, private sector stakeholders, and funders to work together to raise awareness, trigger policy change and accelerate adoption of MMS.
Review of Evidence
Why MMS?
Multiple-micronutrient deficiencies often coexist among women of reproductive age (WRA) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This may put their health and that of their offspring at risk, especially during pregnancy when micronutrients requirements increase. Multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) may fill those gaps but in 2016 the WHO Guidelines for Antenatal Care reaffirmed their recommendation of IFA for routine use in pregnancy. WHO’s recommendation was based on “…some evidence of risk, and some important gaps in the evidence”. The WHO Guideline however, commented that “policy-makers in populations with a high prevalence of nutritional deficiencies might consider the benefits of MMS on maternal health to outweigh the disadvantages, and may choose to give MMS”.
Since the release of the 2016 ANC Guidelines, two important reviews were carried out that provided high quality evidence on the potential benefits to be gained in terms of various antenatal and maternal outcomes by switching from IFA to MMS. Specifically, the IDP meta-analysis found that, when compared to IFA alone, MMS would:
Reduce the risk of stillbirth
by 8% in the overall population of pregnant women
by 21% in the group of anemic pregnant women
Reduce the risk of mortality among 6-month infants
by 29% in the group of anemic pregnant women
by 15% in female infants
Reduce the risk of low birth weight (<2500g)
by 12% in the overall population of pregnant women
by 19% in the group of anemic pregnant women
Reduce the risk of preterm (<37 weeks) birth
by 8% in the overall population of pregnant women
by 16% in the group of underweight women
Reduce the risk of being born small-for-gestational age
by 3% in the overall population of pregnant women
by 8% in the group of anemic pregnant women
In 2020, WHO reviewed the new evidence that became available since the publication of the 2016 ANC Guidelines and updated the recommendations for MMS during pregnancy. These updated Guidelines now state that antenatal MMS that include IFA are recommended in the context of rigorous research.
Reference: Smith ER, Shankar AH, Wu LS-F, et al. Modifiers of the effect of maternal multiple micronutrient supplementation on stillbirth, birth outcomes, and infant mortality: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from 17 randomized trials in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Glob Heal. 2017;5(11):e1090-e1100.
This initiative, supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a collaboration between UNICEF, the MMS Technical Advisory Group, and the New York Academy of Sciences. Activities carried out through this effort include:
The development of a Communications Hub to link the various stakeholders (scientists, implementers, multilateral organizations, policy makers and the private sector) involved in MMS programs
The coordination of technical support to adopting countries, including the preparation of technical reference materials to explain and organize MMS programs and to train the health workforce in their implementation
UNICEF implementation of a MMS rollout in 4 pilot countries (Bangladesh, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Tanzania)
Promote and support MMS programs in additional countries as needed
A webinar to disseminate the findings of the scientific task force
A systematic review on interventions to increase adherence to micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy
MMS Meeting Workshops
Core Product Specification Workshop, November 11-12, 2019
On November 11th and 12th, 2019, the Academy and the Micronutrient Forum (MNF) co-hosted a workshop in Washington DC to develop a Core Product Specification for multiple micronutrient supplement in pregnancy.
Task Force on Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMNS) in Pregnancy, April 17-18, 2018
Second of two closed door technical consultation at the Academy. While the first meeting examined the benefits and potential risks of multiple micronutrient supplementation, the second consultation focused primarily on considerations for the development of a roadmap to guide countries considering multiple micronutrient supplement implementation
Task Force on Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation in Pregnancy, November 15-16, 2017
First of two closed-door technical consultations at the Academy to review recent evidence on the benefits and risks of multiple micronutrient supplementation, identify research gaps, and determine which populations may benefit most from supplementation.
