Grant will fund programming for 1,000 students in Queens, New York

The Cognizant U.S. Foundation announced it has awarded a $500,000 grant to the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) to inspire and prepare the next generation of students to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).NYSCI is an interactive science center located in Queens, N.Y., serving a diverse audience with more than a half million visitors each year. 

The Foundation grant will be used to support NYSCI’s Science Career Ladder program and STEM exploration events for an estimated 1,000 youths and families over the coming year.  Expansion of the Science Career Ladder program will support professional development and mentorship for high school and college students who serve as facilitators of STEM learning for museum visitors. NYSCI’s current 125 facilitators represent 42 neighborhoods across New York’s five boroughs and speak more than 21 languages, providing a diverse perspective and positive experience for museum visitors.

Nearly 70 percent of students who graduate from the Science Career Ladder program pursue a STEM-related degree in college and/or enter a STEM-focused career. Program alumni completed their bachelor’s degree programs at a rate five times higher than their New York City peers. 

The grant will also support STEM Career Nights and STEM career exploration events, involving an estimated 900 students over the next year. At these events, young people engage in panel discussions and networking about the range of STEM careers and how the fields will continue to evolve. These events also provide a critical opportunity for families and teachers to stay current on potential careers for students by hearing from STEM experts. 

“NYSCI’s programs are playing an important role in educating young people and ultimately diversifying the technology workforce—an imperative of the Cognizant U.S. Foundation. Cognizant and our employees in the region have long supported the important work that NYSCI does for families across the city. We look forward to this grant increasing NYSCI’s community impact,” said Carol Cohen, founding board member of the Cognizant U.S. Foundation, and Senior Vice President and Global Head of Talent Management, Leadership Development, and People Analytics, at Cognizant.

“NYSCI is an institution in the community, with engaging programming that inspires students and families alike. We can think of no better partner to cultivate the next generation of STEM leaders from a diversity of backgrounds,” said Kristen Titus, Executive Director, Cognizant U.S. Foundation.

The partnership was launched at an October 30 event, Exploring the Tech Workforce, the first of several STEM career nights hosted by NYSCI and the Cognizant U.S. Foundation.

“NYSCI is one of the most successful developers of diverse STEM talent in the United States, and we are thrilled to have the Cognizant U.S. Foundation's partnership and investment in this work,” said Margaret Honey, President and CEO, NYSCI. “In a world where the nature of work is evolving at a rapid pace, our foundational philosophy of Design, Make, Play guides us in preparing young people with the skills and competencies that will serve them well, not only to succeed in the future, but also to play an active role in shaping it.” 

About The New York Hall of Science

The mission of the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) is to nurture generations of passionate learners, critical thinkers and active citizens through an approach called Design, Make, Play. Design, Make, Play emphasizes open-ended exploration, imaginative learning and personal relevance, resulting in deep engagement and delight in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. NYSCI was founded at the 1964-65 World’s Fair and has evolved into New York’s center for interactive science serving a half million students, teachers and families each year. For more information, visit nysci.org or call 718-699-0005. Follow NYSCI on Twitter and Instagram: @nysci, and on Facebook at: facebook.com/nysci.

About The Alan J. Friedman Center

NYSCI is also a training ground for aspirational future STEM professionals. Building on three decades of expertise in supporting young people’s learning of STEM and workforce skills, NYSCI established the Alan J. Friedman Center for the Development for Young Scientists in 2014. The Center serves high school and college students through our signature Science Career Ladder program, which enables youth from underserved communities to find pathways to successful STEM careers.

About Cognizant U.S. Foundation

The Cognizant U.S. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation supporting STEM education and skills training. Launched in 2018 with an initial $100 million investment from Cognizant, the Foundation has since awarded $12 million to organizations working to educate and train the next generation of workers in communities across the U.S.