STEM Starters Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists

The Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics (IICD) has launched a new collaboration with STEM Starters, a Columbia graduate student-led science outreach organization. Through free monthly events, STEM Starters offers hands-on science workshops for local elementary and middle-school students and their families in Harlem. 

The initiative was co-founded in 2019 by Aubs Decker, a PhD candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Prachi Patel, a graduate of Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute. Their goal was to invite middle school students from the local community to campus to meet with scientists and feel comfortable engaging with them, demonstrating that science is approachable and accessible to everyone.

“Our goal is to inspire everyone’s inner scientist by showing that science is all around us and that exploring the world through STEM is really fun! From demonstrating how electronic circuits work to exploring animal behavior, we encourage students to engage scientifically with their world,” notes Pauline Affatato, a PhD student and a STEM Starters Event Leader.

Those events not only inspire young scientists, but also give graduate students the opportunity to practice science communication and design engaging, accessible science curricula for the public. This is also a great way for Columbia graduate students to get involved with the wider community.

For volunteers like STEM Starters Event Leader Ketan Kotla, a PhD student in Biological Sciences, the goal is to provide other kids with opportunities for hands-on science experiences, and STEM Starters offers a way to make that happen. “As a kid, some of my favorite experiences involving science were hands-on experiments and demonstrations; I remember my favorite field trips were to the Science Museum of Minnesota for this reason.”

“The quality of science education is heavily determined by exposure in the school system. I think STEM Starters is a great bridge to introduce children to a possible career path that many are not introduced to until much later,” adds Nastasia Nelson, a PhD student in Biological Sciences and part of the STEM Starters Finance Team. “I joined STEM Starters because the events are affordable, accessible, and interactive.”

Each month features a different central theme, explored through interactive activities to engage the kids. Past themes include “Math Saves Manhattan” (introducing kids to the Monty Hall dilemma and geometry shapes found in nature), “Vision and Light Day” (exploring refraction versus reflection, lenses, and microscopes), “The Earth Through Time” (focusing on erosion, alternative energy sources, vegetable power), and more. 

“It’s always fun to get kids excited both about the science and the storyline. For example, we hosted a Halloween-themed forensics science event where kids eliminated spooky suspects of a burglary through blood typing, fingerprinting, and microscopy. As teachers, it is rewarding when the children express their enthusiasm for the science they learned,” reflects PhD student Jean-Baptiste Reynier.

Volunteers at STEM Starters have so many standout moments to share from their involvement in the organization. “Some of my favorite moments from past events are when the kids take our activities and add on to them in creative ways. To me, it shows a genuine interest in the activity and applying their critical thinking,” recalls Pauline Affatato. “Additionally, I really love whenever the participants’ legal guardians also get involved with the activities. I find it very fulfilling to be able to make experiments that engage an audience of all ages.”

“In my first year of the program, I was able to bring transgenic round worms, with green and red fluorescent proteins, that glow under different fluorescent lights. The children got to learn the basic components of a microscope by asking questions about these round worms. It was nostalgic to reminisce about something that has become routine in my work and recall the joy in learning new techniques,” shares Nastasia Nelson. 

STEM Starters inspires curiosity and bridges science with community. This collaboration reflects IICD’s broader commitment to public engagement and science education, making science accessible at every age. 

Read more about STEM Starters here.