NYC Students Showcase STEM Projects in Celebration of National Science Foundation’s 75th Anniversary

On May 10, New York City high school mentees joined their college student mentors for a showcase of collaborative STEM projects on NSF STEM Day, a celebration of the National Science Foundation’s 75th anniversary. The event was designed to highlight NSF-funded programs managed by the Education Development Center (EDC) and NYU that support workforce development and STEM learning for neurodivergent students. 

One such program is Making Mentors, a yearlong initiative in which autistic high school students are paired with autistic college students who provide guidance on transitioning to college, understanding the demands of higher education, and developing self-advocacy skills. Making Mentors began as a pilot program within NYU Steinhardt's Nest Support Project and now involves college students from across NYU.

In addition to NYU, mentors included students from CUNY College of Staten Island, Brooklyn College, York College, and Guttman Community College. They have been assisting students from three NYC high schools since last fall—building connections in the first half of the year, and spending the second semester working with mentees to create the STEM-focused projects on display at the event.

Projects included a motor-powered toy car, a model demonstrating why trains have conical wheels, and a virtual free-throw simulator. Alongside the projects were colorful journals from the groups documenting their progress throughout the creation process. 

“NSF STEM Day brought together not only our students, but also family members, teachers and supporters—often expressing that they did not know how deep these interests ran—who witnessed the creativity, talent and relationships that had been developed between the mentor and mentee,” says Kristie Patten, counselor to the president and professor of occupational therapy at NYU Steinhardt.

The event included a sensory room to serve as a calming and regulatory space. Additional activities were available for visitors to learn more about accessibility and do-it-yourself assistive technology, including making sensory stress balls, playing with 3D printed fidget toys, and exercises that encouraged people to familiarize themselves with Braille.