This summer marks NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering’s eighth annual #STEMNow program – one of the City’s most fruitful efforts to even the playing field for underprivileged students.
The free initiative encourages students of color, low-income students, and female students, all underrepresented demographics in the fields of sciences and technology, to learn about such areas as cybersecurity and robotics.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the program will be conducted virtually for the first time.
“It is always positive news when there’s investments in educational opportunities for students,” said City Councilmember Mark Treyger (D-Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend, Sea Gate), a former teacher who chairs the Committee on Education. “I commend NYU Tandon for offering free STEM workshops for middle and high school students that will provide many innovative and exciting learning opportunities. Students will have access to resources and tools to develop skills that will provide real-world educational experiences for our students to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, former middle school principal and Democratic nominee for New York’s 16th Congressional District Jamaal Bowman (Bronx, Westchester) agreed, praising its implementation and ability to offer structure to the city’s most vulnerable students during an unusual summer.
“The #STEMnow program for young people is prioritizing reaching out to exactly who that program should — students of color, girls and young women, and students from low-income households who are too often left out of the field,” he said. “This pandemic is an unprecedented time for our children, who are feeling a sense of loss as they can’t go to school, camps, or even see their friends.
“While it’s sad our students can’t do this free program in person, I’m glad to know middle schoolers and high schoolers in the Bronx, and across all five boroughs, will be able to do this research virtually, with equipment packages sent to their homes. As a former principal, I know it’s especially critical to keep our students engaged and excited about learning during this time of great uncertainty.”
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Midtown West, Chelsea, West Village) declined to comment.
