the

Dataissue

How ‘Big Data’ is Andrea Califano on the Data by Design: Changing Science Systems Biology Perspective The ‘Moveable Type’ Exhibit

www.nyas.org • Winter 2012

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 1 3/6/12 1:45 PM Board of Governors

Chair Vice Chair Treasurer Nancy Zimpher Kenneth L. Davis Robert Catell

President [ex officio] Secretary [ex officio] Ellis Rubinstein Larry Smith

Governors Len Blavatnik Elaine Fuchs Thomas Campbell John E. Sexton Mary Brabeck Jay Furman Jackson George E. Thibault Nancy Cantor Alice P. Gast John E. Kelly III Paul Walker Martin Chalfie Brian Greene Mehmood Khan Iris Weinshall Milton Cofield Thomas L. Harrison Jeffrey D. Sachs Anthony Welters Robin L. Davisson Steve Hochberg Kathe Sackler Frank Wilczek Mikael Dolsten Toni Hoover Mortimer D.A. Sackler Michael Zigman

International Governors Chairman Emeritus Honorary Life Governors Seth F. Berkley Rajendra K. Pachauri Torsten N. Wiesel Karen E. Burke Manuel Camacho Solis Russell Read Herbert J. Kayden Gerald Chan Paul Stoffels John F. Niblack S. Kris Gopalakrishnan President’s Council

PETER AGRE Aaron Ciechanover Leon Lederman Phillip A. Sharp Nobel Laureate & Univ. Nobel Laureate & Nobel Laureate & Pritzker Nobel Laureate & Director, Prof. and Director, Johns Distinguished Research Prof., Prof. of Science, Illinois McGovern Inst., MIT Center Hopkins Malaria Research Tumor and Vascular Biology Inst. of Tech.; Resident for Cancer Research Inst., Dept. Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Scholar, Illinois Math & Elliott Sigal Microbiology and Medicine, Technion-Israel Science Academy CSO, Bristol-Myers Squibb On the cover: iLexx (head), Artur Figurski Immunology, Bloomberg Inst. of Tech., Haifa, Israel GREGORY LUCIER Michael Sohlman (binary background) / iStockphoto.com School of Public Health Gordon Conway Chairman and CEO, Life Former Exec. Director, The Richard Axel Chair in International Technologies Corporation Nobel Foundation Nobel Laureate & Development, Imperial Roderick MacKinnon Paul Stoffels Professor, Columbia Univ.; College London Nobel Laureate & John Company Group Investigator, HHMI Peter Doherty D. Rockefeller, Jr. Prof., Chairman, World Wide Lee Babiss Nobel Laureate & The Rockefeller Univ.; Research & Development, Exec. VP, Global Laboratory Researcher, St. Jude Investigator, HHMI Pharmaceuticals Group, Services, Pharmaceutical Children’s Research Joel S. Marcus Johnson & Johnson Product Development Hospital, Memphis, TN; CEO, Alexandria Real Marc Tessier-Lavigne David Baltimore Univ. of Melbourne Estate Equities, Inc. President, The Rockefeller Univ. Nobel Laureate & President Mikael Dolsten Gerald J. McDougall Mary Ann Tighe Emeritus, Caltech President, Worldwide National Partner, Global CEO, New York Tri-State Executive Editor Etienne-Emile Baulieu Research and Development; Pharmaceutical & Health Region, CB Richard Ellis Former President, French Sr. VP, Pfizer Inc Sciences Practice, Shirley Tilghman Diana Friedman Academy of Sciences Marcelo ebrard PricewaterhouseCoopers President, Princeton Univ. Paul Berg Casaubón LLP Frank Walsh Nobel Laureate & Prof. Mayor, Mexico City Richard Menschel CEO, Ossianix, Inc. Art Director Emeritus, Dept. of Edmond H. Fischer Sr. Director, Goldman Sachs Gerald Weissmann Biochemistry, Stanford Univ. Nobel Laureate & Prof. Ronay Menschel Prof. of Medicine, NYU Ash Ayman Shairzay Len Blavatnik Emeritus, Dept. of Chairman of the Board, School of Medicine Chairman, Access Industries Biochemistry, Univ. of Phipps Houses; Board of John Whitehead Günter Blobel Washington Overseers, Weill Cornell Former Chairman, Lower Contributors Nobel Laureate & Director, Alan J. Friedman Medical College Manhattan Development Douglas Braaten, Marci A. Laboratory for Cell Biology, Former Director, New York Ferid Murad Corp.; former Co-Chairman The Rockefeller Univ. Hall of Science Nobel Laureate & Director, of Goldman Sachs Landsmann, Noah Rosenberg Irina Bokova Joseph Goldstein IMM Center for Cell George Whitesides Director General, United Nobel Laureate & Chairman, Signaling, The University of Mallinckrodt Prof. of Nations Educational, Molecular Genetics, Univ. Texas at Houston Chemistry, Harvard Univ. Editorial Office Scientific and Cultural of Texas Southwestern John F. Niblack Torsten N. Wiesel 7 World Trade Center Organization (UNESCO) Medical Center Former President, Pfizer Nobel Laureate & former Sydney Brenner S. Gopalakrishnan Global Research & Secy. General, Human 250 Greenwich St, 40th Fl Nobel Laureate & Exec. Co-Chairman of the Development Frontier Science Program New York, NY 10007-2157 Distinguished Prof., Salk Inst. Board, Infosys Technologies Paul Nurse Organization; President Michael S. Brown Limited Nobel Laureate & President, Emeritus, The Rockefeller Phone: 212.298.8645 Nobel Laureate & Prof. of Paul Greengard The Royal Society; former Univ. Fax: 212.298.3655 Molecular Genetics, Univ. Nobel Laureate & Prof. President, The Rockefeller Frank Wilczek of Texas Southwestern of Molecular & Cellular Univ. Nobel Laureate & Herman Email: [email protected] Medical Center Neuroscience, The Robert C. Richardson Feshbach Professor of Linda Buck Rockefeller Univ. Nobel Laureate & Sr. Vice Physics, MIT Nobel Laureate & Glenda Greenwald Provost for Research, Ernst-Ludwig Membership Director Investigator for HHMI; President, Aspen Brain Floyd R. Newman Prof. of Winnacker member of the Fred Forum Foundation Physics, Cornell Univ. Secy. General, Human John F. Grifferty Hutchinson Cancer Peter Gruss Richard Roberts Frontier Science Program; Research Center President, Max Planck Nobel Laureate & CSO, former Secy. General, Karen E. Burke Gesellschaft, Germany New England Biolabs European Research Council; Membership & Annals Orders Dermatologist & Research William A. Haseltine Edward F. Rover former President, Deutsche Phone: 212.298.8640 Scientist President, The Haseltine President, The Dana Forschungsgemeinschaft, Thomas R. Cech Foundation for Medical Foundation Germany Fax: 212.298.3650 Nobel Laureate & Sciences and the Arts; F. Sherwood Rowland Andrew Witty Email: [email protected] Distinguished Prof., Univ. of Chairman, Haseltine Global Nobel Laureate & Prof. of CEO, GlaxoSmithKline Colorado, Boulder Health, LLC Chemistry & Earth Science, Dato zakri abdul hamid MARTIN CHALFIE Eric Kandel Univ. of California, Irvine Science Advisor to the Advertising Inquiries Nobel Laureate & William Nobel Laureate & Prof., Bengt Samuelsson Prime Minister of Malaysia R. Kenan, Jr., Prof. of Physiology & Cell Biology, Nobel Laureate & Prof., ELIAS ZERHOUNI Phone: 212.298.8636 Biological Sciences; Columbia Univ. Medical & Physiological President, Global Email: [email protected] Chair, Dept. of Biological Kiyoshi Kurokawa Chem., Karolinska Inst.; Research & Development, Sciences, Columbia Univ. Former Science Advisor to former Chairman, The Sanofi-Aventis CECILIA CHAN the Prime Minister of Japan; Nobel Foundation Ahmed Zewail Visit the Academy online Managing Director, Gold Prof., National Graduate IVAN SEIDENBERG Nobel Laureate & Linus Avenue Ltd. Institute for Policy Studies Chairman of the Board, Verizon Pauling Chair of Chemistry www.nyas.org (GRIPS) Ismail Serageldin and Physics, Caltech Director, Bibliotheca Guangzhao Zhou Alexandrina, The Library of Former Chairman, Chinese Alexandria, Egypt Association of Science & Technology

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 2 3/6/12 1:45 PM Winter 2012 contents

Columns Cover Story Letter from the President 10 The Rise of Big Data 2 by Diana Friedman Tackling the Science Education Are datasets the most valuable scientific instrument? Challenge

4 Annals Highlights Recent and upcoming Annals Cover Story volumes 14 Particle Detectives by Diana Friedman 7 Inside the Academy Physicists at Brookhaven National Laboratory use petabytes of data to search News about Academy programs for new information about the universe’s smallest constituents. and activities

20 Academy eBriefings Summaries of recent eBriefings Academy Interview Data as Design 23 Member News 16 Using The New York Times as a data source, Mark Hansen creates a unique Awards, appointments, and exhibit at the intersection of algorithms and art. announcements about Academy members

26 Calendar Member Memoir Academy conferences and Systems Biology: meetings in February, March, 18 April, and May Where All Points Converge by Marci A. Landsmann Andrea Califano applies computational approaches to understand cellular interaction.

Donor Profile 28 Inspiring Tomorrow’s Visionaries by Noah Rosenberg Ashok Vemuri and the Infosys USA Foundation place a premium on promoting STEM.

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 1 3/6/12 1:45 PM Letter from the President

Tackling the Science FULL S U B S C R I P T I O N Education Challenge TO NATURE! your n a deeply moving evening on who had volunteered to spend a mini- Dec. 10, the Girl Scouts of the mum of one hour a week for a semester It’s not unusual for the USA joined your Academy in a inspiring kids with hands-on science and celebrationO on “Nobel Night.” In Stock- math projects. education department holm, it was the 100th anniversary of Meghan paired these graduate student to field calls from young Scientific Marie Curie’s second Nobel Prize. In and postdoc volunteers with profession- New York, the audience included leading als who know how to handle lively mid- scientist mentors thanking women scientists, presidents of universi- dle schoolers, but who do not necessarily ties and women’s colleges, and luminaries have training in STEM fields. Together, the Academy for the such as Dupont CEO Ellen Kullman, No- they administered projects in genetics, bel Prize laureate Paul Greengard, and— astronomy, earth science, biodiversity, opportunity to teach KNOWLEDGE. representing the nation of Sweden—Prin- robotics, and math, giving these children cess Madeleine! the captivating experience of hands-on middle schoolers. One Stay abreast of the most important developments in science, and those that matter most to Everyone applauded the dramatic science and the thrill of interacting with NYU Poly student wrote, your scientifi c career. Receive Nature as part of your Academy Professional Membership! announcement that the Girl Scouts had a young scientist. signed an MOU with the Academy. The The results were heartwarming and “My math students often For more information contact the Academy Customer Service objective: to identify and train young profound for the kids, the staff, and the women scientists to serve as role models volunteer mentors. It’s not unusual for cheer when I walk in the Department or access the Member Center. and mentors, working in collaboration the education department to field calls with Girl Scouts volunteers to bring high- from young scientist mentors thanking room—as an engineer that quality, hands-on, informal science edu- the Academy for the opportunity to teach never happens to me!” cation opportunities to middle school- middle schoolers. One NYU Poly student age Girl Scouts. wrote, “My math students often cheer Flashback: Eighteen months ago, Dr. when I walk in the room—as an engi- Meghan Groome kicked off a pilot proj- neer that never happens to me!” Within a so the Academy might adapt this program ect meant to address the frustrations we matter of weeks, children who previously throughout the entire state of New York: all have that our schools—especially in drew an Einstein-looking character when to Albany, Utica, Buffalo, and beyond. underserved areas—are not providing asked to draw a scientist started drawing But that is just a start. In partnership children with a sense of the excitement, images of young women or young men with the Girl Scouts, we are developing much less value, of math and science. who looked a lot more like themselves. mechanisms to expand the program on While so many worthy organizations are Indeed, they were drawing the images of a national scale. Imagine the possibility tackling the inadequacies of the formal their new heroes. that in the major cities and towns across system, your Academy chose to try what Flash-forward: In the last issue of this America, young scientists will work with footballers call an end-around. magazine, Meghan announced that she scout leaders to imbue our kids with not Working with the City’s Department was expanding the Afterschool STEM only the importance, but also the excite- of Youth and Community Development, Mentoring Program to reach children in ment, of science, technology, engineer- whose goal is to provide New York’s most the city of Newark, N.J. By the end of this ing, and math.  underserved neighborhoods with high- semester, more than 3,300 children will quality youth and family programming, have interacted with 300 young scientists Meghan donated a cadre of carefully from 12 different universities. The State trained volunteers from New York’s uni- University of New York has been so im- versities and academic medical centers. pressed, they co-submitted a grant appli- Ellis Rubinstein All were graduate students and postdocs cation to the National Science Foundation President & CEO

2 www.nyas.org www.nyas.org

22945-02_NYAS.indd 1 28/09/2011 16:01 228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 2 3/6/12 1:45 PM FULL S U B S C R I P T I O N TO NATURE! your Scientific KNOWLEDGE. Stay abreast of the most important developments in science, and those that matter most to your scientifi c career. Receive Nature as part of your Academy Professional Membership!

For more information contact the Academy Customer Service Department or access the Member Center.

www.nyas.org

22945-02_NYAS.indd 1 28/09/2011 16:01 228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 3 3/6/12 1:45 PM Annals Highlights Annals is the premier publication of the Academy, offering review articles in topical areas and proceedings of conferences. Learn more and order copies at www.nyas.org/annals.

The Orbitofrontal Cortex’s Risky Business

current thinking about how the orbito- frontal cortex influences decision making through such mental capacities as emo- tional memory, valuation, and calculation of risk. Much of what is now widely accepted about the orbitofrontal cortex has been derived from studies of brain lesions in primates and humans. Critical Contribu- tions of the Orbitofrontal Cortex to Be- havior includes reviews based on some of this work, suggesting that there is greater granularity and subregional specificity than first expected. For example, in ad- dition to medial and lateral divisions, the orbitofrontal cortex may be organized into anterior portions for representation of more abstract aspects of object-reward In the Fall of 1848, a young railroad the orbitofrontal cortex—with specific associations. Such hierarchical organiza- worker named Phineas P. Gage suffered a mental functions. In the last two decades tion might also serve to enhance reward- horrific injury—an errant explosion pro- especially, great strides have been made guided memory retrieval, to facilitate de- pelled a three and a half foot tamping iron in characterizing anatomical and func- cisions that are based on subjective value up through his cheek, through the back of tional aspects of the orbitofrontal cortex, (what something means “to me”), and to his left eye, and out of the top of his skull, underscoring its critical role in learning encode brain states relevant to the experi- creating a brain lesion including much of and representation of reward—the posi- ence of reward, such as anticipation—all the area known as the orbitofrontal cortex tive value an individual assigns to objects of which contribute to shape behavior. of the frontal lobe. Remarkably, Gage sur- and/or behaviors. Critical Contributions of the Orb- vived the trauma, but friends and cowork- A recent conference held at the New itofrontal Cortex to Behavior surveys the ers noted a distinct change in his person- York Academy of Sciences, supported by most recent developments in elucidat- ality and behavior—Gage was suddenly the American Psychological Association’s ing the role of the orbitofrontal cortex, “no longer Gage”1 but behaved impulsive- Committee on International Relations in together indicating a broader range of ly and was uncouth and capricious. Psychology, provided a forum for leading activities associated with orbitofrontal Unbeknown to Gage, his sensational international researchers to come togeth- function and highlighting the necessity of survival helped to usher in new discourse er to present work on the orbitofrontal including this region in neural models of m o

on functional locations in the brain, and cortex. Critical Contributions of the Or- decision making. c o.

set the stage for investigations into the bitofrontal Cortex to Behavior stems from Reflecting expert views of the orbito- t o association of specific regions—such as this conference and reviews much of the frontal cortex, this Annals volume stands ckph

as yet another bellwether for the rapid ex- o Critical Contributions of the Orbitofrontal Cortex to Behavior t

pansion of neuroscience methods in the iS Edited by Geoffrey Schoenbaum (University of Maryland School of Medicine, Balti- study of behavior.  /

more, MD), Jay A. Gottfried (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, orov Chicago, IL), Elizabeth A. Murray (National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 1 Harlow, J. 1868. Recovery after passage kh Pro

MD), and Seth J. Ramus (Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME) of an iron bar through the head. Publ. y e Volume 1239, December 2011 // ISBN 978-1-57331-822-8 Massachu. Med. Soc. 2: 329–346. r nd A

4 www.nyas.org

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 4 3/6/12 1:45 PM Recent Annals

Antimicrobial Therapeutics Reviews: Antibiotics That Target the Ribosome Edited by Karen Bush (Indiana University, Bloomington, IN) Volume 1241, December 2011 Decisions, Decisions ISBN 978-1-57331-848-8 Animal Models: Their Value in Predicting Drug Efficacy and Toxicity Edited by Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences editorial staff Volume 1245, December 2011 ISBN 978-1-57331-875-4

The Year in Diabetes and Obesity Edited by Rexford S. Ahima (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA) and Alvin C. Powers (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN) Volume 1243, December 2011 ISBN 978-1-57331-847-1

Annals Meeting Reports Edited by Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences editorial staff Volume 1242, December 2011 ISBN 978-1-57331-855-6 At any moment of the day we are bom- in learning and the capacity to make deci- barded with situations that require deci- sions; but aside from general notions that sions to be made, ranging from the most older people can have cognitive difficul- basic—to eat or not to eat that cookie—to ties, it is not clear how aging specifically ment and decision-making biases and very complex decisions, such as those re- affects the underlying mental functions problem solving efficacy over the lifespan, garding investment strategies and estate required for making rational decisions. again underscoring the importance of planning. Both types require attention, Decision Making Over the Life Span in- specific factors like context in identifying time, and context. cludes one of the first reviews to critically age-related differences. Researchers investigating decision examine how declines in the serotonin The upsurge in research investigating making increasingly appreciate that fac- and dopamine neurotransmitter systems how decision making may change over tors such as aging critically influence not might underpin impairments in various the life span has important real-world ap- only the way we make decisions in gener- forms of cognition that are central to de- plications. For example, how do we foster al but also the way we make specific kinds cision making. decision making that leads to sustained of decisions. The recent Annals volume At the other end of the spectrum, the emotional and physical well-being and entitled Decision Making Over the Life volume also includes a meta-analysis of how do we encourage long-term invest- Span selectively reviews a number of cur- age differences in how we make “risky ment strategies in an ever-increasing ag- m o

c rent ideas on aging and decision making, choices,” and suggests that (some) ob- ing population? o.

t and explores some of the mechanisms served differences in decision making Decision Making Over the Life Span o that may underlie differences in decision under risk may vary greatly depending is a unique compendium of reviews ckph

o making as we age. on the characteristics of the experimental addressing these topics that lays the t

iS Much of the previous work in this area setup used to study them. groundwork for a new era in decision- / has pointed to age-associated decrements Other work presented reviews judg- making research.  orov

kh Decision Making Over the Life Span Pro

y Edited by Gregory R. Samanez-Larkin (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN) e r Volume 1235, December 2011 // ISBN 978-1-57331-844-0 nd A

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 5

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg.indd 5 2/28/12 6:56 PM Annals Highlights

What is New York State Doing About Climate Change?

tive Climate Change Adaptation in New York State (ClimAID),” a comprehensive survey of the impacts of climate change in New York State on key sectors and stakeholders. Funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the ClimAID team, led by Cynthia Rosenzweig (Columbia Univer- sity), William Solecki (City University of New York), and Arthur DeGaetano (Cor- nell University), assessed information on climate change impacts and adaptation for eight sectors in New York State: wa- ter resources, coastal zones, ecosystems, agriculture, energy, transportation, tele- communications, and public health. The ClimAID report provides a num- ber of important conclusions and recom- mendations, focusing on five integrating themes: climate, vulnerability, adapta- tion, equity and justice, and economics, as they apply to the eight sectors. Among the basic conclusions are that extreme heat events are very likely to increase and extreme cold events are very likely to de- crease throughout New York State; that intense precipitation events are likely to increase; and that coastal flooding asso- Climate change is a consequence of hu- by the United Nations Environmental ciated with sea level rise is very likely to man activity confronting all parts of the Programme and the World Meteoro- increase—as sea level along New York’s globe. The use of fossil fuels—to run fac- logical Organization, provides the world coastline has risen by approximately one tories, cars—combined with deforesta- with scientific evaluations on the current foot since 1900. tion—think of the diminishing Amazon state of knowledge of climate change and Responding to Climate Change in New rainforest—has led to increasing con- its impacts. The IPCC is a worldwide- York State includes three appendices centrations of carbon dioxide and other focused body, assessing climate informa- with expert reviews of the ClimAID as- so-called greenhouse gasses in the earth’s tion on a global scale. sessment, a New York State adaptation atmosphere, which increasingly prevents More regionally-focused groups limit guidebook, and an economic analysis heat from escaping into space. their scope to country, state, and even of climate change impacts in New York Many groups study climate change. city. Responding to Climate Change in State. A special issue of Annals, this ~650

For example, the Intergovernmental Panel New York State presents the final report page report is freely available to down- y 1 on Climate Change (IPCC) , established entitled “Integrated Assessment for Effec- load or to read online (www.nyas.org/ aph r g

publications/annals).  o t

Responding to Climate Change in New York State o h Edited by Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences staff 1 www.ipcc.ch/organization/organiza- P Ian

Volume 1244, December 2011 // ISBN 978-1-57331-876-1 tion.shtml l chae Mi

6 www.nyas.org

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 6 3/6/12 1:45 PM Inside the Academy Reports from the directors of Academy programs and news about Academy activities. Read more online at www.nyas.org/academynews.

undergraduate education at more than 30 U.S. women’s colleges. Academy Hosts Women in In addition to a high-quality STEM education, this U.S. govern- ment partnership initiative will provide mentorship, network- Science Event, Announces ing, support, and enrichment activities for each international NeXXt Scholar, as well as an American student nominated to be New Partnerships her STEM-sister. The Academy will support these efforts by pro- viding Academy memberships and mentorship to these women, connecting scholars with a large network of women in STEM fields through its Science Alliance program. The Academy and the Girl Scouts of the USA announced a partnership to design and implement a STEM Mentoring Pro- gram for Girl Scouts, modeled on the Academy’s Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program. The program will be adapted and scaled to the Girl Scouts’ network of more than 100 councils across the country. The goal is to identify and train young wom- en scientists to serve as role models and mentors, working in collaboration with Girl Scouts volunteers to bring high-quality, hands-on, informal science education opportunities to middle school-age Girl Scouts.  Study of Malaysia’s

Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden (left) dines with Leslie Research Institutions Vosshall, a neurobiologist at The Rockefeller University in New York City, at the Academy’s “Celebrating Women in Science” event Nearing Completion In 2011, the Prime Ministers of Malaysia asked the Academy On December 10, 2011, the night the 2011 Nobel Prizes were to assemble a Global Science & Innovation Advisory Council presented in Sweden, as well as the centennial of Marie Curie’s (GSIAC) to provide advice and an international perspective 2nd Nobel Prize, the New York Academy of Sciences hosted a on Malaysia’s current economic development plans. As part of “Celebrating Women in Science” event at the Academy’s New these responsibilities, GSIAC asked Academy staff to undertake York headquarters. At the event, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary a comprehensive evaluation of Malaysia’s public and private sci- Rodham Clinton announced via video address the creation of entific research institutions with GSIAC members providing re- the NeXXt Scholars Initiative—an innovative education pro- views and guidance for the study. The specific purpose of the gram designed to encourage women to pursue science, technol- evaluation is to assess the performance of these institutions to ogy, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. The Academy then better understand opportunities to improve Malaysian research announced a partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA to ex- capacity, strengthen ties to industry and communities, and ac- pand its Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program to provide sci- celerate innovation and other outcomes. The study, launched in entific mentorship to middle school-age Girl Scouts nationwide. October 2011, will be complete by April 2012 and will likely be a A host of notable women participated in the evening, includ- discussion topic during the second GSIAC meeting in May. ing honorary guest Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of GSIAC, the Academy, and Malaysia Industry-Government Sweden; keynote speaker Ellen Kullman, chair of the board and Group for High Technology (MIGHT) are also jointly working to

y CEO of DuPont; and several women’s college presidents. At- develop a “Smart City-Smart Village” initiative for Malaysia, and

aph tendees included influential scientists, as well as leaders from recently held a Smart Communities Workshop in Kuala Lumpur. r g

o government, academia, industry, and philanthropy. The event The goal of the Smart City-Smart Village initiative is to balance t o

h served to catalyze action around a common goal: increasing the Malaysia’s rapid urban and rural development with environmen- P participation of women in STEM fields, both at the student and tal concerns, applying green technology and information and Ian

l professional levels. communications technology wherever possible to improve the The NeXXt Scholars Initiative seeks to empower women in efficiency of all aspects of Malaysian life, including healthcare, chae

Mi predominantly Muslim countries to obtain world-class STEM education, transportation, and energy use. Workshop partici-

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 7

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 7 3/6/12 1:45 PM Inside the Academy

pants included top management from international companies The day after the Gala, the newly created Alzheimer’s Disease such as Philips, Verizon, IBM, Cisco, and General Electric; local and Dementia Leadership Council gathered for its inaugural companies from Malaysia; and top government officials from the meeting at the Academy. The leadership council, consisting of Prime Minister’s cabinet. The Academy is currently in talks with key opinion leaders in industry, academia, and government, is Malaysia to further the initiative by developing a detailed road- charged with creating strategic objectives for the Translational map of the implementation of such an initiative.  Science Initiative. During the meeting, the leadership council listened to talks from members representing industry (Council Co-chairs Mi- Translational Science chael Ehlers and Jeffrey S. Nye, Johnson and Johnson Pharma- ceutical Research & Development, LLC), academia (Sam Gandy, Initiative Unveiled at Mount Sinai School of Medicine), and government (Marc Wal- ton, FDA) to help frame their thinking around the challenges Science & the City Gala that need to be overcome to achieve the goals of the council. Members of the leadership council broke out into interdis- ciplinary working groups to discuss bottlenecks and barriers to translation in dementia and define the council’s goals. Council members committed to participating in ongoing working groups to develop action plans focused on overcoming barriers and pro- moting progress in this vital area of research and discovery.  Green Building Group Hosts Events Exploring Data-Driven Environments

The Green Building Discussion Group of the New York Academy of Sciences is developing a program that examines a data-driven environment—the future of the building industry. On February 16, the discussion group held a two-hour event titled, “Finding Former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (left) and Garen K. Staglin, the Needle in the Data Haystack: The Implications of a Data- co-chairs of One Mind for Research, attend the New York Academy of Driven Built Environment” in preparation for a full-day confer- Sciences 8th Annual Science & the City Gala ence on “Data Analytics in the Built Environment” on April 30. At the meeting, participants discussed the state of data ac- On November 14, 2011, more than 450 global leaders in sci- quisition and utilization across the real estate industry, varia- ence, medicine, government, industry, and academia gathered tions due to building type, the use of environmental data, and at the New York Academy of Sciences 8th Annual Science & municipal efforts to benchmark buildings. There was also a the City Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. At the conversation about how data analytics is transforming medical event, Academy President and CEO Ellis Rubinstein unveiled research, consumer products, advertising, and other industries, the Academy’s Translational Science Initiative, which aims to and how data analytics in these industries might inform analyt- accelerate the transfer of basic scientific discoveries into new ics in real estate.  methods for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. The initiative will intersect the Academy’s signature programs, including multidisciplinary conferences and workshops, public advocacy events, academic and lay publications, career mentor- Scientists Without Borders ing, and working groups. The first of the Academy’s translational science “modules” or Information System discrete projects is a partnership with One Mind for Research, a coalition of researchers and advocates dedicated to improv- Challenge Extended

ing the understanding and treatment of brain disorders. By con- y

necting scientists and clinicians across disciplines and sectors, Scientists Without Borders has extended a challenge posted by aph r g

the Academy and One Mind for Research will work to foster one of its members, Howard Brooks, who is seeking input on o t o

the translation of scientific discoveries into therapeutics for the development of a rapid-deployment communications and h Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions. In rec- information system designed for crisis areas. Here, the Academy P Ian

ognition of the partnership, One Mind for Research and its co- speaks with Brooks about his challenge, titled “Crisis Informa- l founders and co-chairs, Garen K. Staglin and Former U.S. Rep- tion System for Distressed Areas.” Visit www.scientistswithout- chae

resentative Patrick Kennedy, were honored at the Gala. borders.org to respond to Brooks’ challenge. Mi

8 www.nyas.org

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 8 3/6/12 1:45 PM NYAS: Why did you post this NYAS: In the challenge, you supply information about a com- challenge? munications system using a custom database and digital cam- Brooks: I posted this chal- eras. What additional information, equipment, and expertise lenge to obtain feedback, would you need to make such a system a reality? gauge interest from others in Brooks: The system described in the challenge is currently in the the development community, development stage and has not yet been deployed. The challenge and meet potential partners utilizes open-source and off-the-shelf components that have and collaborators. As a tech- been proven to work in a variety of environments. Though parts nologist and entrepreneur, I of the system have been tested, the project requires additional have a limited network of ex- development before full testing and deployment can proceed. I perts to call on. The Scientists am looking for partners with an expertise in industrial design, Without Borders community health management, information systems, and individuals with offers a large and diverse net- first-hand experience in crisis areas. Furthermore, I am seeking work that I can quickly and feedback and comments that can help improve the challenge and easily access. inform future iterations. Howard Brooks NYAS: Are you currently NYAS: What is the value of a network such as Scientists With- working in a crisis area? out Borders that allows you to connect with other scientists Brooks: I am not currently working in a crisis area. My inter- around the world? est is primarily in the re-working of existing technology from a Brooks: I am based in New York City. Scientists Without Bor- wide range of disciplines for use in remote and under-developed ders is an invaluable resource that enables me to seek expertise regions. I am specifically looking at areas where nimble, ad hoc and assistance from a diverse and global network of scientists communications and remote sensing systems can be deployed to and development experts. The open, collaborative, and mul- support crisis and refugee situations. tidisciplinary nature of Scientists Without Borders makes it a unique resource. 

Why I Support the Academy

“As an Academy Governor, I take special pleasure in sponsoring the Academy’s Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. These annual awards recognize the ground- breaking accomplishments of outstanding young scientists at a critical point in their careers. The Academy, more than any other institution I know, is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists.” – Len Blavatnik Chairman, Access Industries y The 2011 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists Finalists, 8th Annual Science & the City Gala aph r g o t Support the Academy today at o h

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NYAS013 Academy Magazine V1.indd 1 1/5/12 2:09 PM The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 9

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 9 3/6/12 1:46 PM Cover Story

The Rise of Big Data Are datasets the most valuable scientific instrument?

by Diana Friedman

10 www.nyas.org Omega Centauri, NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 10 3/6/12 1:46 PM he importance of observation—the crux of the scientific tal cameras and ‘intellectual prosthetics,’ like iPhones,” says method—remains unchanged from the early days of sci- Johannes Gehrke, professor, Department of Computer Science, entific discovery. The methods by which observations Cornell University. “For example, if you bought a hard drive 20 Tare made, however, have changed greatly. Consider astronomy. years ago, you would have had 1.5 to 2 gigabytes of storage. To- In the early days, under a black expanse of night punctuated by day, you can easily get 2 terabytes. That’s a factor of 1,000.” brilliant fiery lights, a group of science-minded people looked It is not just the amount of data that has changed; the way we up at the sky and recorded what they saw—the fullness of the interact with and access that data has changed too, says Gehrke, moon, the locations and formations of the stars. a 2011 winner of the New York Academy of Sciences Blavatnik Observation with the naked eye was the norm until the 17th Awards for Young Scientists. “There is an entire industry that has century, when the invention of the telescope revolutionized as- sprung up around our ability to search and manage data—look tronomy, allowing scientists to see beyond what their eyes could at Google and Microsoft,” says Szalay. show them—a literal portal into the unknown. But what is big data? Is a 2-terabyte file considered big data? Now, a new revolution is taking place, in astronomy and Not anymore. “It’s a moving target,” says Szalay. “In 1992, we across nearly all scientific disciplines: a data revolution. Sci- thought a few terabytes was very challenging.” Now, the average entific data collection has become almost entirely automated, portable, external hard drive can store a few terabytes of data. An allowing for the collection of vast amounts of data at record easy definition of big data is “more data than a traditional data speed. These massive datasets allow researchers from various system can handle,” says Gehrke. organizations and locales to mine and manipulate the data, making new discoveries and testing hypotheses from the con- Searching for Structure tents of a spreadsheet. Scientists working on large-scale projects, like the SDSS, or “The astronomy community was able to switch to the idea those in genomics or theoretical physics, now deal with many that they can use a database as a telescope,” says Alex Szalay, terabytes, even petabytes, of information. How is it possible to Alumni Centennial Professor, Department of Physics and As- make sense of so much data? tronomy, Johns Hopkins University, as well as a researcher in “We have the data—we can collect it—but the bottleneck oc- the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), a 10+ year effort to map curs when we try to look at it,” says Szalay. Szalay is currently one-third of the sky. working on a project at Johns Hopkins to build a data-driven su- Thanks to projects like the SDSS and open access data from percomputer (called a data scope) that will be able to analyze the the Hubble Space Telescope, would-be Galileos don’t need access big datasets generated by very large computer simulations, such to a telescope, or even a view of the night sky, to make discov- as simulations of turbulence. “We are able to provide scientists eries about our universe. Instead, huge data sets (so-called “big who don’t usually have access to this kind of computing power data”) can provide the optimal view of the sky, or, for that matter, with an environment where they can play with very large simula- the chemical base pairs that make up DNA. tions over several months; with this computer we are providing a home to analyze big data.” How Big is ‘Big Data’? The rub? Scientists need to be fluent in computation and It is hard to estimate exactly how much data exists today com- data analysis to use such resources. “Disciplines in science have pared to the early days of computers. But, “the amount of per- been growing apart because they are so specialized, but we need sonal storage has expanded dramatically due to items like digi- scientists, regardless of their specific niche, to get trained in

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 11

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 11 3/6/12 1:46 PM Cover Story

Modeling Our World: Understanding Nature Through Numbers

cal area—an important defense against Santa Barbara, and two colleagues, James potential bioterrorism. “Invasives can Janak, a theoretical physicist, and James cause damage that can weaken a nation. Wallis, a hydrologist—both of the IBM For example, a parasite that affects wheat Thomas J. Watson Research Center, cre- or corn could lead to changes in the food ated this very model. supply, economic output, and eventually, “Creating a model in a computer is social unrest.” standard science in the sense that the GARP analysis uses a two-step ap- primary statements are hypotheses,” says proach that first models an ecological Botkin. In order to learn something new space (abiotic and biotic) and then projects from the model, it must rely on precise data that model into a particular geographical that are readily available and it must be val- space. “For the model to work right, data idated, adds Botkin, whose model is now collection must be primary,” says Roberge, in use in more than 50 countries around When seeking to understand whether an who used the model for his doctoral dis- the world. Currently, Botkin is working with invasive species could comfortably settle sertation on invasive species. “You need scientists in Australia who have tree data down and thrive in any given area, it’s not really detailed survey data on the species, that are more precise than the data here in highly desirable to test the idea with, say, including its population and distribution, the U.S. “This will allow us to extend the real African giant pouched rats on a real and the geographical space.” If such data model’s validation,” he says. The model island in Florida. Even experiments that are available, the model can churn out already shows realistic first forest growth involve placing organisms, like dangerous impressive information about whether a when run from scratch; it can create a for- parasites, into experimental fields in BL3 pathogen can “take” to a new location and est that changes from deciduous to boreal or BL4 facilities raise concerns. Lawrence how fast it could spread. at a specific elevation range; and it has Roberge, associate professor of anatomy Ecological modeling is not limited to in- accurately recreated all the forest data that and physiology at Laboure College, touts vasive species. Daniel B. Botkin realized 40 Botkin was able to find. the value of computer modeling as a safe, years ago that if he put down all the known “If a model is realistic, you can learn a quick, cost-effective, and most of all, ac- information about how trees grow, includ- tremendous amount from it,” says Botkin. curate, alternative to real-world ecological ing physiology, population distribution, and Changing the statements in the model can experiments. competing species, he could whittle down give you information about forest growth Using GARP (genetic algorithm rule set this information into statements and create under different conditions that could not prediction) analysis—the “gold standard a program that is a model of tree growth. be observed over a single lifetime, or even of ecological modeling for invasive spe- Over one summer, and with surprisingly several lifetimes. “However,” he cautions, cies”—Roberge is able to tell whether few lines of code, Botkin, professor emeri- “if a model has nothing to do with reality, it an invasive species has the potential to tus, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and can misguide you.” survive and thrive in a particular geographi- Marine Biology, University of California,

computation and data analytics. We need scientists to make this is both a powerful debugging tool (allowing researchers to see, transition to ultimately increase our knowledge,” says Szalay. through the creation of a nonsensical picture, if there might be a Two fields in particular are garnering attention from sci- flaw with their data) and an important means for communication entists for their ability to provide structure when data is over- of data, whether to other researchers or to the general public (as whelming: data visualization and machine learning. in the case of weather forecasts). So perhaps the old adage needs to be re-written: Is a picture now worth a thousand lines of code? Picture This “There are many flavors of visualization,” says Rushmeier. Data visualization takes numbers that are either generated by Information can be mapped onto a natural structure, such as a large calculation or acquired with a measurement and turns valves being mapped onto the heart, or an entirely new picture them into pictures, says Holly Rushmeier, chair and professor, can be created (data without a natural structure is referred to as Department of Computer Science, Yale University, and a judge high-dimensional data). The classic example of high-dimension- for the Academy’s Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. For al data is credit card data, says Rushmeier, “but there is a lot of example, a project might take numbers representing flow going high-dimensional data in science.” through a medium and turn them into an animation. Rushmeier is currently immersed in 3D mapping, work- “Visualization allows you to look at a large volume of num- ing closely with an ornithologist who studies bird vision. He bers and look for patterns, without having a preconceived notion records light waves to which birds are sensitive, from the UV

of what that pattern is,” says Rushmeier. In this way, visualization to the infrared, to get a better sense of how bird vision evolved K e ii ch i Hi k / st o ckph t o. c m V i s u a lFi e l d / st o ckph t o. c m

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228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 12 3/6/12 1:46 PM Safety In Numbers: Can Big Data Preserve Privacy?

It stands to reason that any data worth Similarly, people strike a balance between collecting could also be worth stealing. risk and reward every time they put data So in a world of big datasets and digitized online for the sake of convenience—the information, is our data safe? “Previously, ability to shop online or do banking online. it you wanted to steal my tax return, you’d Striking this balance is something we do have to break into my accountant’s office, willingly, if not always consciously. take it, and physically transport it out of It is the realm of privacy where a larger the office. Now, it’s certainly easier to steal grey area appears. Privacy, the ability to large amounts of data at one time,” says be left alone, or to hide in a crowd, is a Johannes Gehrke, professor, Department of distinct concept from that of security, says Computer Science, Cornell University. This Gehrke. And privacy can pose problems for is a reality we deal with everyday. Despite researchers dealing with sensitive informa- countless technologies aimed at thwarting tion. “For example, a hospital may want to digital data thieves (e.g., encryption, digital share data about its patients for the benefit this slightly randomized number—and rights management, secure hardware), of medical research, but you shouldn’t already it becomes much harder to infer examples of data theft abound: credit cards be able to tell I was a patient.” It can be whether a particular individual was in the are disabled and new ones are mailed on a hard to publish data in such a way that the hospital. “Finding algorithms that randomize regular basis because massive datasets of confidentiality of the person’s identity is data such that an attacker can learn little, credit card numbers are “compromised.” preserved, but the data is still meaningful, but a researcher could still learn enough But security is not a one-dimensional says Gehrke. “Privacy introduces a lot of from data is one of the major open prob- concept, says Gehrke. Rather than data noise into data. We want a balance of data lems in data privacy today,” says Gehrke. simply being secure or not, security rep- utility and privacy.” Gehrke and his colleagues in the Cornell resents a ratio of risk and reward. Gehrke Data privacy is a continually evolving Database Group have recently been ap- gives the example of building a 10-foot field where algorithms will play an important proached by World Bank to help generate fence around your house. Your house role. For example, if the hospital wants to such privacy-protecting algorithms for use might be more secure, but you’d be giving publish information about how many of its in the developing world. To learn more up views of your neighborhood, the curb patients have a given disease, it could take about the group’s work on data privacy, visit appeal of your house, and ease of access. this number, add some noise, then publish www.cs.cornell.edu/bigreddata/privacy/.

and for what purposes (e.g., mating and survival). Through 3D eerily spot-on. But it is important to remember that getting from mapping, Rushmeier is able to take the ornithologist’s numerical data to real information requires a step, says Blei. This is especially data and simulate the actual viewpoint of the bird onto different true when machine learning is applied to science and medicine. 3D surfaces. “We need more work in exploratory data analysis,” says Blei, as well as careful validation of algorithms, to avoid making ir- Learning Without Limits? responsible conclusions. Interestingly, Blei says that quality of “To stop a conversation dead in its tracks, I tell people I work data is not as important to the final result as it might seem; in- in statistics. To get a conversation going, I say I work in artifi- stead, quantity of data is paramount when it comes to drawing cial intelligence,” jokes David Blei. Both are true—Blei, associate conclusions through machine learning. And enormous datasets professor, computer science, Princeton University, works in the abound in science—just consider all of the raw data generated by field of machine learning, a field that encompasses both statisti- The Human Genome Project. cal and computational components. Now, says Blei, the analysis of data sources (like Twitter) pose The goal of machine learning is to build algorithms that find an equally big challenge. “Unlike a dataset, a data source has no patterns in big datasets, says Blei. Patterns can either be predic- beginning and no end.” tive or descriptive, depending on the goal. “A classic example of A prediction that doesn’t require a complex algorithm? The a predictive machine-learning task is spam filtering,” says Blei. fields of data visualization and machine learning, as well as other A descriptive task could, for instance, help a biologist pinpoint forms of data science, will continue to grow in importance as da- information about a specific gene from a large dataset. tasets and data sources get bigger over time and everyone, from Machine learning is not only used by technology companies neuroscientists to corporations, looks for a way to turn data into and scientists—it is a part of our daily lives. The Amazon shop- meaningful information.  ping and Netflix recommendations that pop up almost instanta- neously on our computer and TV screens are a result of complex Diana Friedman is executive editor of The New York Academy of

K e ii ch i Hi k / st o ckph t o. c m V i s u a lFi e l d / st o ckph t o. c m machine-learning algorithms, and the recommendations are often Sciences Magazine.

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 13

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 13 3/6/12 1:46 PM Cover Story Particle Detectives Physicists at Brookhaven National Laboratory manage and analyze petabytes of data from the ATLAS Experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in search of answers about the universe’s smallest constituents.

A view of the ATLAS detector at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider

ne hundred meters below the Swiss-French border, an The task of identifying the universe’s fundamental particles is enclosed 27-kilometer ring serves as an exclusive race complex enough that it takes 3,000 scientists at 174 institutions track of sorts. Instead of cars with souped-up engines, around the world to operate the ATLAS detector and analyze the bunchesO of protons race around this track and physicists, not pit data generated. Data generated at CERN, the Tier-0 computing fa- crews, keep things running smoothly. The goal here is not to cross cility, is transferred to Tier-1, -2, and -3 centers through a federat- the finish line first, but rather to cause collisions. When bunches ed grid-based computing system. BNL, the largest ATLAS Tier-1 of protons collide, the ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC Apparatus) de- center in the world, is responsible for 23% of the total Tier-1 com- tector records the photo finish—that is, the particles that are the puting and storage capacity, says Michael Ernst, manager, Relativ- byproducts of the collision. istic Heavy Ion Collider/ATLAS Computing Facility at BNL. The ATLAS Experiment, part of the Large Hadron Collid- er (LHC)—the world’s biggest particle accelerator—at CERN The Trigger (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), represents Srini Rajagopalan, a physicist at BNL who is currently transition- a worldwide effort to answer big questions about the smallest ing to Gordon’s position, explains the ATLAS detector as a “gigan- particles. “We want to know, what are the fundamental particles tic, multibillion pixel camera.” Protons pass through each other at in the universe, what are they made of, could there be additional the center of the detector 20 million times every second (cur- particles that we don’t know about, and how do they interact?” rently every 50 nanoseconds). “Imagine that you take that many says Howard Gordon, U.S. ATLAS deputy operations program pictures over and over, every 50 nanoseconds of every minute, manager at Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) in New York, the every hour for months,” says Rajagopalan. The amount of data io na l Lab v en N at host laboratory for ATLAS in the U.S. that is produced is far too much to record and store, especially Finding the answers to these questions—such as what gives given ATLAS’ limited running time (about 30% of the year). particles mass and what comprises dark matter—could greatly “We just don’t have the technology to write out that many advance not only the world’s knowledge of high-energy physics, events so we have to run algorithms to get the numbers down,” tes y/Broo kha but a variety of fields in science and beyond. “We don’t neces- says Rajagopalan, who for the past five years has been work- sarily know what the applications of this research will be at this ing on ATLAS’ trigger—the name for the algorithms that are

point—this is inquiry-based research,” says Gordon. programmed to look for specific patterns associated with dif- L AS Ex pe ri ment © CE R N AT P h o t c our

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228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 14 3/6/12 1:46 PM ferent physics phenomena. The algorithms must be carefully About 1 petabyte of raw data has been filtered through the programmed to suppress what Rajagopalan calls “fakes” (or Higgs triggers so far, and Ernst estimates it will take another background events) and to keep events which could lead to new petabyte of data (amounting to about another year of data col- physics results. Even with the aid of the trigger, “We write 300 lection) before physicists can hopefully confirm or rule out the 1.5 megabyte (MB) events to disk every second. That’s a Justin existence of the Higgs. Thus far, physicists have noted a little bit Bieber CD’s worth of information every second,” says the father of an excess of events that might point to a Higgs particle, but it of a teenage girl with a laugh. is not sufficient to say definitively whether it exists or not. When the LHC first started, there were significantly less protons Either way, work related to the mass of particles is far from per bunch, but as time goes on the luminosity (how many protons over, says Rajagopalan. “If the Higgs is discovered, we’ll know are colliding) of the LHC is increasing. And more collisions equal more data. Rajagopalan’s challenge is to fine-tune the trigger to keep up with this influx of data, while preserving the most potentially useful information (events that are not picked up by the trigger are not stored for future use because of the immense volume of data coming in). “We have to look at 20 million events every second, pick around 300 events most interesting to physics under study, and trash the rest immediately.” To do this well, the algorithms through which the data passes must be both fast and accurate. Data Management and Analysis ATLAS raw data, which originates at the LHC, is maintained in a distributed fashion at Tier-1 centers through the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid. A grid system (as opposed to one central data repository) is ideal not only because of the sheer amount of data generated, but because a federated grid spurs a diversity of approaches that leads to the adoption of best practices, says Ernst. “Scientific innovation in data-intensive science requires distributed access to that data.” Physicists at Brookhaven National Through the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid, BNL receives Lab monitor ATLAS data from the its share of raw data, almost instantly, from CERN. BNL repro- ATLAS remote monitoring room. cesses this data with improved processing capabilities (interpret- ing the electronic signals produced by the detector to determine the original particles that passed through, their momenta and that it’s there, but we’ll need to understand its properties, how it directions, and the primary vertex of the event) and then adds it works, how it interacts with other particles. If it’s ruled out, we back into the complete data set (comprised of the results from all have to work to discover an alternative explanation of what gives Tier-1 facilities). While a complete dataset is kept at CERN, it is particles mass.” not stored in a form that can be used for analysis. Instead, BNL and other Tier-1 facilities create derived datasets for physicists to The Future of ATLAS use for further analysis, including duplicate datasets for the most “The ATLAS detector will run for as long as the next 20 years,” popular data. “We must provide access to a huge data volume, says Gordon, given periodic breaks for maintenance and up- requested by several thousand users worldwide simultaneously, grades. Many of the physicists working on ATLAS at BNL con- in addition to managing more than 50,000 concurrently running tributed to the original construction of ATLAS detector parts. user analysis jobs,” says Ernst. The data hosted at BNL was repli- Now, they have a role in upgrading the parts to allow for more cated to Tier-1, -2, and -3 sites at a rate of about 200 MB/second physics capabilities. “We have to improve the trigger to extract over the past six months. the events of interest,” says Gordon. “We have some ideas about The volume of raw ATLAS data totals about 1 petabyte a year, how to improve the trigger [which is currently running at 20% but that volume is multiplied several times over (there was a to- to 30% of the intended design intensity] when the intensity of tal of 7 petabytes of ATLAS data created in 2010) when second- beams gets higher.” ary data analysis and derived datasets are included. The next scheduled ATLAS shutdowns are in 2013-2014, 2018, and 2022. In 2022, physicists are scheduled to replace io na l Lab v en N at The Hunt for Higgs parts that will have become damaged by radiation. The upgrades One of the highest-profile ATLAS projects is the search for the are not inexpensive—but they are necessary, says Rajagopalan. Higgs boson, a hypothetical elementary particle. “We are look- “The investment in science provides a foundation for our future. ing for the Higgs because we believe it is what gives particles Where we are today—all of the advancements in technology, tes y/Broo kha mass,” says Rajagopalan. Multiple triggers have been designed, science, and medicine, is because of a solid foundation in basic each focusing on specific particles into which the Higgs might research. It’s important to continue to build that foundation so decay. Each trigger selects certain physics events that could pro- we have a brighter future tomorrow.” 

L AS Ex pe ri ment © CE R N AT P h o t c our vide evidence of the existence of the Higgs. —Diana Friedman

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 15

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 15 3/6/12 1:46 PM Academy Interview Data as Design Using The New York Times as a data source, Mark Hansen creates a unique exhibit at the intersection of algorithms and art.

he co-creator of an exhibit hundreds of people have NYAS: How is the screen content generated? passed by every day for the past five years, Mark Hansen, Hansen: We get feeds of articles, blog posts, and user comments, professor of statistics at the University of California, Los which are automatically passed through statistical natural lan- TAngeles, speaks with The New York Academy of Sciences Maga- guage processing algorithms. We parse each sentence and create zine about the Moveable Type exhibit—a fixture in the lobby of a tree that represents its grammatical structure. Our scenes are The New York Times Building in New York City since 2007. really just filters on these trees. In addition to all this language, The exhibit is made up of 560 vacuum-fluorescent screens we also get a feed of the web access logs from NYTimes.com, as that display phrases, words, and numbers from the newspaper, well as a sample of their search engine logs. the Times archives, and the activity of visitors on NYTimes.com. Setting up the software that fetches the data and parses it was The content presented on the screens is governed by statistical pretty quick. In an age of APIs [application programming inter- methods and carefully programmed natural-language process- faces], this kind of work is painless. But the process of figuring ing algorithms, organized into a dozen or so “scenes,” each pre- out what to compute from the text and how the results of those senting data on a different theme (quotes from the day’s paper or computations should move across the displays in the lobby, that questions posed in recent articles) or from a different section of was a long, interactive process. We started working on this in the paper (weddings, obituaries, crosswords, and soon, recipes). the early 2000s in Ben’s studio with a test wall of six screens. Over time, we built up a grid of about 50 screens, which let us NYAS: How did the Moveable Type project get started? experiment with presentation ideas, at least in a limited sense. What was the inspiration for it? We had to rethink much of this work, however, when the full

Hansen: It was an outgrowth of a previous work. My collabora- grid of 560 screens was installed in the lobby at the Times. What io d u

tor, artist Ben Rubin, and I had a piece exhibited in the Whitney looked interesting in the studio could fall flat in a busy midtown t S

Museum of American Art that pulled text from web-based chat lobby. We spent about three months in the Times lobby doing R EA

rooms and bulletin boards; a group from The New York Times programming for Moveable Type, looking at pacing for the work - n i

saw it and thought it would be interesting to do something simi- and seeing how people reacted to it. b u R lar in the lobby of their new building. en B

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228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 16 3/6/12 1:46 PM Depending on what words or phrases we’re displaying, some- look because they would just be reading the paper in a busy lob- times we want large, bold text, sometimes we want small, tight by. If it’s all surprise, people won’t connect to it. text. By adjusting the text’s size and how it moves down the lob- by, we can control to some extent how the public interacts with NYAS: With the enormous amount of data being the work. The crossword puzzle scene, for example, starts with generated today, is it easier or harder to see trends and a graphical representation of the crosswords (black and white draw inferences about our collective consciousness? squares) from the last 80 weeks. The puzzles are arranged so that Hansen: I think we’ve always felt overwhelmed by data, granted, all the Monday puzzles are in one row, all the Tuesdays in the the absolute scale of data was vastly different than it is now. What next and so on. You can see the puzzles getting harder as the also seems different now is our access to data. With organiza- week goes on! After a few moments with the graphical repre- tions believing that data publication is a form of transparency, sentation of the puzzles, the squares fade out, and the puzzles with the open data movement, the public is being invited to ana- start to play themselves, with answers appearing to the sound of lyze information in a new way. This might make it harder for us a pencil on paper—560 puzzles playing at one time. This scene to make sense of the world. With each new data set we have to is a pretty direct representation of the data, but it illustrates how judge the motivations and incentives of the data creators, and moving text and sound are used in the piece. now there are more of them.

In Moveable Type, as with some—maybe all—data visualization, we’re balancing two components: recognition and surprise.

The dozen or so different scenes run on a cycle. Some are In fact, there’s a new set of skills that constitutes an expanded short, some are long, and the frequency varies too (some run once view of quantitative reasoning. Virtual data have real effects in an hour, some run three times an hour). Oh, and we’re still adding the physical world, and understanding how that works and how new themes. The Times has been very generous in that way. we can participate has become almost an exercise of citizenship. For academics like myself, it means we have to do a better job of NYAS: Can seemingly random data, when presented in teaching people to “read” data and its effects. a thoughtful way, tell us something about ourselves? Hansen: All data come from somewhere; it’s an act of record- NYAS: Why do you choose to work at the intersection ing something about the physical or virtual world or even a of data and art? state of mind. Whether it’s air quality or your blood pressure Hansen: I’ve learned so much about my own practice by doing or mood over time, all data have context. Often, the public is these projects. Some of the artists I’ve worked with are better conditioned to believe that data and data interpretation belong statisticians than I am! Through these projects, I’ve also become to someone else, some authority with specialized expertise like a better teacher—I’ve learned so much about how to effectively a statistician or a scientist. This has been the case for centu- present data and concepts around data. ries, with data providing us surprising, often shocking views of our world. So much data collection now, however, is happening NYAS: What are some of the most pressing issues in in the personal realm, on mobile phones, say, and these data data collection and analysis that we might hear about are finding their way into research on health, urban planning, over the next few years? and social science. But the public knows quite a lot about the Hansen: I think some of the most important developments will context around these data and can (and should!) have a role in be around interactions with the public. I’ve already alluded to the interpreting them. The scale of modern data is creating new ways in which data are refiguring certain social relationships, for relationships around its collection and analysis. It’s an exciting example. I also think that you will see a major shift in the acad- time to be a statistician. emy. Data will be seen as deserving a scientific discipline of its Artworks like Moveable Type and similar pieces (there is so own, a field that combines the expertise of statisticians, comput- much good work out there) are another signal that our relation- er scientists, and mathematicians, as well as practices from some ship to data is changing. In addition to applications in science, unexpected places like design, architecture, urban planning, and data and data processing are supporting a raft of creative practic- the humanities. So many university disciplines are starting to es. Artists and designers are making beautiful data visualizations. grapple with data, and as they do, are creating new and interest- In Moveable Type, as with some—maybe all—data visualiza- ing approaches to data collection and analysis. I predict we’ll see tion, we’re balancing two components: recognition and surprise. departments of data science on university campuses, programs People might recognize that it is content from the Times, but the that integrate these experiences in one place.  pieces might be juxtaposed in a way that’s new. They might see a new or surprising pattern. If it’s all recognition, people won’t B en R u b i n - EA S t d io

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 17

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 17 3/6/12 1:46 PM Member Memoir

Systems Biology: Where All Points Converge Andrea Califano applies computational approaches to understand cellular interaction.

bylineby Marci rule A. Landsmann

he greatest scientific discoveries rarely put the brakes on metabolite, but rather on the regulatory mechanisms that allow further exploration. The Human Genome Project, for several of them to work together. “Our goal is to put together a example, provided limitless amounts of data—plunging comprehensive regulatory model for normal and disease-related Tscientists yet deeper into a great abyss of inquiry. cells to see what components of the regulatory machinery are Academy Member Andrea Califano, professor of systems bi- broken in disease.” ology at Columbia University in New York, uses a simple anal- ogy to describe the phenomenon. “A Boeing 747 has seven mil- Clues to Cell Behavior lion parts,” he says. “If I gave you a box with all these parts, you Performing computational analyses on supercomputers, Cali- would have a tough time putting it together. This is because the fano uses a variety of current genomic and proteomic profiles actual assembly manual of a 747 takes more space than the plane from large tumor sample collections to reverse-engineer the itself. If we want to understand disease at the cellular level, we regulatory networks that drive the corresponding cells. Taking need the complete assembly manual of each relevant disease cell samples from tumor tissue, for example, scientists can isolate or at least a good abridged version of it.” and simulate virtual models of regulation to find the Achilles’ Systems biology and biomedical informatics use the power of heel of the cancer cell. computational approaches to decode how things work together. “We took a bit of a gamble 10 years ago,” says the founding di- The focus is not on single variables, such as a gene, protein, or rector of the Columbia Initiative for Systems Biology, “instead of

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228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 18 3/6/12 1:46 PM working on ‘omics,’ such as genomics, epigenomics, etc., which “We call genes such as these ‘tumor bottlenecks’ or ‘non-on- are important but only indirectly related to the actual behavior cogene additions.’ That is, tumor cells are completely addicted to of a human cell, we wanted to put together the complete set of them even though they do not present major genetic alterations molecular interactions that implement its regulatory logic, i.e., and would not therefore be selected as candidate therapeutic tar- the brain of the cell that determines its behavior as a function of gets,” he says. “While individual mutations may be present only the omics and of external stimuli.” in a small percent of the tumors, these bottlenecks tend to be When you finally have at your disposal a reasonable, ge- conserved in a much greater percent of the tumors, approaching nome-wide model of cell regulation, you can ask an entirely dif- 60% in GBM, and can be more effectively targeted as biomark- ferent set of questions, says Califano. “For instance, one may ask: ers and therapeutic targets.” A New Approach To achieve a better understanding of the processes in place, researchers need access to an enormous amount of informa- “Genome-wide models of cell tion—data made available by open-access collaboration, such as that of the Cancer Genome Atlas, the International Cancer regulation allow us to deal with cancer Genome Consortium, and the TARGET consortium for pediat- and other diseases as if they were ric malignancies. Two years ago, the lab at Columbia University assembled a $12 million supercomputer to allow complex and computer programs run amok.” time-consuming algorithms to be run on the data generated by these programs. Recent developments allow the lab to analyze mutation profiles, expression profiles, and proteomic profiles Andrea Califano from these efforts in the context of gene regulatory networks, to Professor of Systems Biology, Columbia University; Founding Director, identify possible convergence points and clues to cellular mech- Columbia Initiative in Systems Biology; Director, JP Sulzberger Columbia Genome Center; Associate Director for Bioinformatics, Herbert Irving anisms. “It can’t be done one genome at a time. We need a com- Comprehensive Cancer Center bination of large-scale computers and sophisticated algorithms to get this done,” says Califano. PhD: Physics, University of Florence This approach also requires a new type of science: “There’s Activities: Working in the lab; putting four daughters, ages 2 through 18, been a traditional division between experimental and compu- through the New York educational system; keeping his 26-year marriage going; playing tennis; and watching good movies (preferably with a non- tational biologists. The latter see the former as the geeks in lab predictable plot) coats, and the former see the latter as the geeks in front of the

Currently reading: The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, IQ84, The glowing computer screens. We need a new generation of scien- Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, tists who have mutual trust and respect for each other and under- Game of Thrones series, The Imperfectionists, several Daniel Silva novels stand both analytical and experimental biology. Ultimately, we must first be biologists and ask biologically relevant questions, no matter which tools we will use to answer them,” says Califano. ‘If this is the gene expression pattern I’m observing in a cancer The lab he runs at Columbia is both wet and dry, what Califa- cell and this is its regulatory logic, what are the genes responsi- no terms a “humid” lab. The combined approaches allow scien- ble for driving that pattern?’ This is helping us elucidate mecha- tists to perform complex algorithmic analyses, as well as validate nisms of tumorigenesis via these kinds of genes, which we call the hypotheses that emerge from these in silico models in real master regulators. It is allowing us to deal with cancer and other cellular systems, both in vitro and in vivo. diseases as if they were computer programs run amok. Some of Collaboration and open access with fellow scientists is also these master regulators identify cells that may be far more ef- key. To that end, Califano is involved in a systems biology experi- ficient at initiating tumors, more aggressive, or more resistant ment called the Federation, which is composed of members from to chemotherapy.” five systems biology laboratories across the U.S. Scientists share Using this approach, Califano, in collaboration with the lab data, but also ideas, he says. “Because we are now talking to each of Antonio Iavarone at Columbia, isolated two key master regu- other on a routine basis, we are discovering areas in which our lators in an aggressive brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme research is particularly complementary and we’re able to achieve (GBM), using a computer-generated map of its gene regula- projects that would not have happened in individual labs,” says tory network. Interestingly, these genes, the transcription fac- Califano. “The experiment seems to be working by promoting a tors Stat3 and C/EBPb, did not present any genetic alterations new collaborative rather than competitive model.” but were shown to have the capacity to reprogram neural stem This meeting of the minds is essential, says Califano, to cells along a mesenchymal lineage, producing highly invasive cracking some of cancer’s, and other diseases’, most com- tumors. Conversely, silencing both Stat3 and C/EBPb in mouse plex questions.  xenografts from human glioma cells blocked tumorigenesis, as well as the ability of the tumors to invade and migrate in vivo. Marci A. Landsmann is a medical writer in Philadelphia.

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 19

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 19 3/6/12 1:46 PM Academy eBriefings eBriefings are online multimedia reports documenting recent Academy events. Find new and noteworthy ones previewed here and more at www.nyas.org/eBriefings.

Animal Models and Their Value in Predicting Drug Efficacy and Toxicity

ince the earliest days of medical research, scientists have been very valuable in coming up with new medicines for a range used model organisms to understand human biology. From of conditions and disorders.” ancient Greek analyses of comparative anatomy, to J.S. Hal- After a set of concurrent workshop sessions, attendees recon- dane’sS studies on decompression sickness, to the modern phar- vened for a joint discussion on regulations and best practices. maceutical development pipeline, animals have provided handy Animal studies require careful ethical review in order to evaluate surrogates for measuring all types of biological phenomena. the work against a changing backdrop of rules, guidelines, and For just as long, researchers have understood that no animal ethical norms. Research policy experts from both the U.S. and the model is a perfect representation of humans. But while vivisec- European Union reviewed the current regulatory framework, and tion of prisoners may have been acceptable to Aristotle’s contem- then an interactive panel discussion allowed audience members poraries, modern biomedical scientists must navigate an ethical to share their own insights on ethical animal experimentation. mine field when working on animals and, especially, when work- At another joint session the meeting’s focus shifted to new an- ing with human subjects. imal models, especially ones developed with the latest techniques At the New York Academy of Sciences conference on “Ani- in genetic engineering and cell culture. One of the most exciting mal Models and Their Value in Predicting Drug Efficacy and developments in this area is the rapid advance in embryonic stem Toxicity,” held September 15-16, 2011, researchers from around cell research, and the resulting potential for growing genetically the world discussed the ways animal experiments inform—and engineered organs of one species inside bodies of another spe- sometimes misinform—the vast research effort that now under- cies. That work could lead to much more human-like laboratory pins the regulation of drugs and toxic chemicals. models, but it also raises its own set of ethical concerns. “I think The meeting began with a keynote presentation by Jackie that’s an experiment that would, if it worked...potentially pro- Hunter (OI Pharma Partners, Ltd.) who provided a broad over- duce developing fetuses or…developing embryos with human view of the problems facing researchers. While pointing out the tissues,” said Roger Pedersen of the University of Cambridge. numerous shortcomings of animal research, Hunter emphasized Presentations on new technologies for animal studies covered that such research remains at the heart of preclinical drug de- a wide range of approaches, including several talks that empha- velopment and chemical toxicity testing: “We are concerned be- sized the potential for novel imaging and analytical techniques cause we are not able to have models that are as predictive as we that could reduce the number of animals that are necessary for an had hoped, but let’s not forget that...actually animal models have experiment, while simultaneously providing higher-quality data. Other speakers talked about entirely computerized strategies that use sophisticated algorithms to simulate human biology without On the Web needing animals at all. While both approaches are clearly advanc- Full eBriefing by Alan Dove, PhD: ing, the talks and the subsequent panel discussion emphasized www.nyas.org/AnimalModels-eB that the field is still in its infancy, and that animal models will remain an essential part of research for the foreseeable future. 

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228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 20 3/6/12 1:46 PM Recent eBriefings

1. Chronic Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain www.nyas.org/NeuropathicPain-eB 2. Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning: Sclerosis: New Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment Implications for Education www.nyas.org/MSCognition-eB 3. Measuring Energy Efficiencies in tinct effect on brain dynamics, said con- Buildings: Connecting Goals with ference organizer Bruce McCandliss of Metrics Vanderbilt University. Other insights of- www.nyas.org/BuildingMetrics-eB fered by neuroscience include a new un- 4. Sixth International Congress on derstanding of the role of perceptual defi- Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome cits in dyslexia and observations of the www.nyas.org/SDS-eB neural correlates of reading acquisition. 5. Smart Growth Around While mathematical skill may seem Transportation Hubs less natural than language learning, cogni- www.nyas.org/TransportationHubs-eB tive science demonstrates that babies and 6. Innovating on a Shoestring: Medical even other primates possess an “approxi- Technologies for the Developing mate number system,” the foundation World of mathematical ability. Toddlers with a www.nyas.org/MedicalTechnologies-eB high-functioning approximate number 7. Next Generation Science and One of the most important ideas in con- system typically grow into school-aged Engineering Standards temporary neuroscience is plasticity—the children who are good at formal arithme- www.nyas.org/NextGeneration-eB brain’s ability to physically remodel itself tic. How best to cultivate this ability—and 8. Targeting Angiogenesis: The 2011 Dr. in response to experience. Another name to what degree it can be improved—is an Paul Janssen Award Symposium for plasticity is learning. Learning is es- open question. Brain activity studies sug- www.nyas.org/Janssen2011-eB sentially a process of neurological change; gest that as math skills improve, the brain 9. The Systems Biology of Aging and as we absorb new skills and information, becomes more efficient at allocating re- Neurodegenerative Diseases neurons form new connections and prune sources to computation. www.nyas.org/AgingNeuro-eB back others. From this perspective, the Cognitive neuroscience also probes 10. Personalized Medicine: A Search for science of how the brain perceives infor- the skills known as “executive function,” Tailored Therapeutics mation, responds to data, and develops capacities such as attention, working www.nyas.org/ skills has major potential to transform the memory, and self-regulation that enable BPDGPersonalizedMedicine-eB practice of education. This new field at the learning. Keynote speaker Goldie Hawn, 11. A New Era: The Fight Against interface of neuroscience and education whose Hawn Foundation implements Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogenic was the focus of the second annual Aspen a school curriculum that teaches social Bacteria Brain Forum meeting in Aspen, Colorado, and emotional learning skills, referred to www.nyas.org/PathogenicBacteria-eB for a symposium, “Cognitive Neurosci- executive function as the “wise old owl” 12. Brain Barriers: A Hurdle for Drug ence of Learning: Implications for Educa- of the brain. This clever shorthand refers Discovery tion,” held September 22-24, 2011. to the many related faculties of executive www.nyas.org/BrainBarriers-eB In studies of reading disabilities, neu- function, including cognitive flexibility, 13. Animal Models and Their Value in rocognitive research is identifying under- planning, delayed gratification, and the Predicting Drug Efficacy and Toxicity lying deficits that point the way toward ability to control attention. Researchers www.nyas.org/AnimalModels-eB teaching techniques that could ameliorate have recently begun to identify the neural 14. Market Makers: Developing and such problems. As a child begins spelling correlates of such capacities, permitting a Deploying Energy Efficiency out words, directing his or her attention brain-based understanding of what these Technology in NYC to phonology—how words sound—im- skills are and of how they develop. www.nyas.org/MarketMakers-eB proves literacy acquisition and has a dis- At the policy level, neuroscience can 15. Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning: provide fresh insights into unresolved de- Implications for Education On the Web bates among educators, such as whether www.nyas.org/NeuroEducation-eB Full eBriefing by Kathleen McGowan, PhD: so-called “authentic practice”—teaching www.nyas.org/NeuroEducation-eB an entire skill at once—is more successful than breaking tasks into many micro-skills

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to be learned incrementally. By monitor- along with the body of scientific knowl- ing science, with the goal of allowing stu- ing how the brain changes during learn- edge? It’s a challenge for educators, scien- dents to continue to build their scientific ing, neuroscience can evaluate competing tists, and policymakers that is becoming knowledge, even as that knowledge con- theories about how best to help minds more pressing as the rate of scientific ad- tinues to change and grow.  learn. Persistent academic achievement vancement continues to increase. gaps between minority and white stu- On September 21, 2011, Stephen dents compel us to find new ways to reach Pruitt from Achieve, Inc., an indepen- otherwise underprivileged students. dent, non-profit organization of govern- Market Makers: “It’s clear to me that this is a very ex- ment and corporate leaders dedicated to Developing citing, rapidly developing field with enor- raising education standards, spoke at the mous potential applications,” said Carl E. Academy’s “Next Generation Science and and Deploying Wieman, associate director for science in Engineering Standards” event, to discuss the White House Office of Science and the issue of keeping science education up Energy Efficiency Technology Policy, in his keynote address. to date. His talk focused on the Next Gen Neuroscientists interested in education Standards, which, in an effort to update Technology in can play two important roles, he suggest- what science is taught and how it is taught ed: advancing the state of knowledge of in the nation’s classrooms, aim to provide NYC how learning happens, and changing the guidance to State and local education ad- discussion so that learning is understood ministrators on how to shape classroom as a complex biological process. In this environments in their region. new view of education, learning is what The Standards are an update to the Na- reshapes and redefines the brain.  tional Science Education Standards cre- ated by the National Research Council in 1996. Since 1996, a tremendous amount Next Generation of new scientific content has become available, an expanded understanding of Science and how people learn has emerged, and an ex- plosion of technology has occurred—all Engineering of which need to be incorporated into the 21st century science classroom. Standards To address new scientific content, the National Research Council convened a group of expert scientists to determine By 2050, the global population will ap- what concepts in science and engineering proach 9 billion, escalating the burden are critical for scientific literacy. In his talk, on our energy resources. Because of this Pruitt described a process by which scien- expansion, there is a critical need for ef- tists argued for the inclusion of specific ficient energy solutions. In recent years, scientific topics and ideas. Once the Coun- New York City has been emerging as one cil drafted the framework, they distributed of the leaders in clean technology, with it widely to teachers and scientists who tangible efforts to become a more energy- commented upon the draft. That feedback efficient city. As part of Climate Week at shaped the final version of the framework. the New York Academy of Sciences, on After the framework was complete, September 20, 2011, “Market Makers: Achieve, Inc. began the process of shap- Developing and Deploying Energy Ef- ing the Next Gen Standards, which will ficient Technology in NYC” highlighted be organized by grade bands and which the innovative solutions being developed How can science education keep pace will develop a consistent story of science in NYC to help mitigate the energy crisis. with continuous advances in scientific that builds student understanding in a Colin Smart, the demand response knowledge, while focusing on the big pic- developmentally appropriate way. One section manager of Con Edison, the ture—giving students the tools to grow major change from previous versions is utility company that provides gas, elec- the way in which the scientific method is On the Web treated. Instead of outlining a single sci- On the Web Full eBriefing by Meghan Groome, PhD: entific method, the Next Gen Standards Full eBriefing by Kelly Lombardo, PhD: www.nyas.org/NextGeneration-eB will break down the inquiry process into www.nyas.org/MarketMakers-eB a series of skills essential for actually do-

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228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 22 3/6/12 1:46 PM Member News Share professional news with your colleagues. Submit announcements to [email protected]. tricity, and steam to customers in NYC, discussed the importance as well as the challenges of reducing the peak in de- mand for electricity, especially during the summertime. To manage this prob- lem, Con Edison is focusing its efforts on making the distribution of electricity Fuster Appointed less expensive and more efficient through incentives. In summer 2011, 25,000 NYC residents with central air conditioning al- Physician-in- lowed Con Edison to control their ther- mostats during times when demand for Chief, Mount Sinai electricity was high overall to limit the burden on the grid. Medical Center To further address the problem of in- creased energy usage, Con Edison is col- laborating with ThinkEco, a developer of energy-efficient products for homes and businesses, to test new and innovative en- ergy-saving methods in NYC. Cofounder of ThinkEco Mei Shibata presented the company’s Modlet, the Modern Outlet, a device intended to limit the mounting energy consumption resulting from an increased number of personal electronics. The Modlet can reduce power to electrical appliances plugged into wall outlets when the devices are not in use. The Modlet thus transforms a wall outlet from a pas- sive conduit of electricity into an outlet Valentin Fuster has been appointed physician-in-chief of The capable of saving energy. Mount Sinai Medical Center. He has also been re-appointed as Efforts are also underway to manage director of Mount Sinai Heart, The Zena and Michael A. Weiner and reduce the electricity used by indus- Cardiovascular Institute, and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kra- trial consumers. Allen Freifeld, senior vis Center for Cardiovascular Health for a new five-year term. vice president of external affairs at Virid- Physician-in-chief is a new position that was developed to en- ity Energy, described how the company sure the continued excellence of patient care and satisfaction at helps large industrial consumers regulate Mount Sinai. their energy consumption through use of Fuster, an Academy member and the organizer of the recent a smart grid, an electrical grid that allows Academy conference, “Evolving Challenges in Promoting Car- for the two-way exchange of electricity, as diovascular Health” that took place in Barcelona in November well as of information between suppliers 2011, is one of the most acclaimed cardiologists in research, and consumers. education, and clinical care. “Dr. Fuster is a global champion of Freifeld proposed an option where cardiovascular health, committed to excellence in research and consumers could reduce their energy education, and to fostering an environment of unparalleled clin- consumption to maintain the necessary ical distinction,” says Kenneth L. Davis, president and CEO of balance on the electrical grid. Consum- The Mount Sinai Medical Center and vice chair of the Academy ers would be paid for the electricity they Board of Governors. do not consume, at a price slightly lower As physician-in-chief, Fuster will work closely with the med- than it would cost to activate another gen- ical center’s senior leadership to maintain the highest standards erator, such as a coal plant. This method for Mount Sinai’s patients. “This appointment is a tremendous not only promotes a cleaner environment, honor,” says Fuster. “I look forward to working with Mount Sinai it pays flexible consumers for reducing leadership to make an indelible impact in clinical research and their electricity usage, transforming the on the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of our patients to consumer into a resource available to the reach the highest standard of clinical care that can be emulated grid rather than a burden.  at institutions around the world.”.

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Win Phillips Named University of truly humbling and gratifying experience. I look forward to this Florida COO, SVP opportunity of serving our nation in matters of greatest techno- Win Phillips has been named senior vice logical importance,” says Madni. president and chief operating officer of Madni’s NAE election comes on the heels of two other honors. The University of Florida, effective Sep- In 2010, Madni was awarded the Lifetime Contribution Award tember 6, 2011. by the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sci- Phillips is transitioning from his pre- ence at the University of California Los Angeles for his continu- vious role as vice president for research ous involvement in the University, where he currently serves as at the University. In that role, which Phil- an adjunct distinguished professor of electrical engineering. Ad- ips held from 1999 to 2011, University of ditionally, Madni was awarded IEEE Instrumentation and Mea- Florida-sponsored research funding increased from $339 mil- surement Society’s highest honor, the Career Excellence Award, lion to $678 million. in 2010 for “an extraordinary career of enlightened leadership in and pioneering contributions to the development and commer- Chemistry Professor Elected cialization of intelligent sensors, systems, and instrumentation.” President, American Chemical Society Madni is the former president, COO, and CTO of BEI Tech- Bassam Z. Shakhashiri was named president of The Ameri- nologies, Inc. He currently serves as the executive managing di- can Chemical Society, effective January 1, 2012. Shakhashiri, a rector and CTO at Crocker Capital in Los Angeles, CA. chemistry professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was elected in 2010 to serve a three-year term on the board of Academy Member Receives Award directors as president-elect in 2011, president in 2012, and im- for Research on Lighting Quality mediate past president in 2013. Jennifer Veitch, an environmental psy- Shakhashiri’s presidential theme for 2012 is “Advancing chologist and researcher at the National Chemistry and Communicating Chemistry,” which captures Research Council of Canada, was awarded his commitment to support basic research, education, and in- the Waldram Gold Pin Award by the In- novation and to communicate the values and role of chemical ternational Commission on Illumination sciences to the general public. Shakhashiri seeks to showcase (CIE) at its 27th Session in South Africa. chemistry at its best: highlighting its role in addressing signifi- CIE is an international organization de- cant human and societal issues. voted to information exchange, scientific As part of his presidential theme, Shakhashiri has four spe- consensus, and standards documents in all matters related to cific goals: 1) foster public understanding of the science of cli- the science and art of light and lighting. It bestows the Waldram mate change; 2) ensure graduate programs are preparing stu- award once every four years for exceptional contributions to ap- dents for future careers that are critical to ensure U.S. prosperity; plied illuminating engineering research and practice. 3) increase the number of highly qualified high school chemistry Veitch was recognized for her scientific contributions to un- teachers through fellowships for chemistry undergraduates; and derstanding lighting quality, health, and well-being and the appli- 4) celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Morrill Land Grant Act. cation of this information in lighting and architectural design. At Shakhashiri is the first holder of the William T. Evjue Distin- the same meeting, she also began a four-year term as the director guished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea at the University of Wis- of CIE Division 3 (Interior Environment and Lighting Design). consin-Madison, where he has been a professor since 1970. In 1983, he was the founding director of the Institute for Chemical Helfand Assumes Presidency Education. Shakhashiri serves as a national and international of Quest University in Canada consultant to government agencies, academic institutions, in- David J. Helfand has assumed the position of president at Quest dustry, and private foundations on policy and practice matters University in Canada. Helfand became a Founding Tutor at related to science and education. Quest, a nonprofit, secular liberal arts and sciences institution with a focus on undergraduate education, when he took a leave Academy Member Receives from his faculty position at Columbia University during 2007. Prestigious Engineering Distinction For the past three years, he has led Quest on an interim basis, Asad M. Madni was elected to the U.S. much of the time while commuting to New York. The university National Academy of Engineering (NAE) graduated its first class in April 2011. for contributions to development and “We are delighted that David has agreed to be Quest’s presi- commercialization of sensors and sys- dent,” says Ian Worland, Quest’s Board Chair. “He is totally tems for aerospace and automotive safety. committed to the Quest vision, and his combination of admin- Members are elected to NAE, a nonprofit istrative and academic leadership skills will serve us well in the institution that provides engineering lead- coming years.” ership in service to the nation, by their Helfand was first engaged by the founders of Quest in 2005 peers for having distinguished themselves in research, technical when they learned of his successful efforts to add science to Co- positions, and leadership in industry, government, and academia. lumbia’s core curriculum. “I have been lecturing at Columbia for “Induction to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering is a third of a century,” says Helfand, who has won several teaching the highest distinction accorded to an engineer in the U.S. To be awards there including the University-wide Presidential Award, selected for this honor by the ‘best of the best’ in the world is a “but I feel I only began truly teaching when I came to Quest. Here,

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228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 24 3/6/12 1:46 PM In Memoriam: Scientific Community Mourns Fleur L. Strand

women,” says Academy President and of the adrenal gland. It took a number of CEO Ellis Rubinstein. years for the scientific community to ac- Most recently, Strand held the title cept the concept of neuropeptides. of Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of Following her postdoctoral research in Biology and Professor of Neural Science, Berlin, Strand returned to NYU and was Emerita, at New York University (NYU), appointed to a faculty position in the biol- where she retired in 1997. After her retire- ogy department. In 1980, she became the ment, she was appointed by Governor first female chair of the department. Strand George Pataki to the New York State Spinal remained an active researcher in the field Injury Research Board in 2001 and served of neuropeptides, as well as a beloved as a consultant for several pharmaceutical teacher and mentor, at NYU for 36 years. Fleur L. Strand, a physiologist who was a companies until 2010. During this time, Strand sponsored more pioneer of the neuropeptide concept, died Throughout Strand’s illustrious career, than 80 graduate student dissertations, of cancer on December 23, 2011, in her which began at NYU, where she received authored multiple textbooks and primary home in Snowmass Village, C.O. She her BA, MS, and PhD degrees, she broke research and review articles, and co-found- was 83. new ground, both in research and the role ed several professional societies, including Strand was actively involved in the New of women in science. In 1957, she received the International Neuropeptide Society. York Academy of Sciences throughout her a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral In her personal life, Strand enjoyed a career, being named a Fellow in 1976 and fellowship to study at the Physiological long marriage to her husband of 65 years, being elected as chair of the board in 1987. Institute of the Free University in Berlin, Curt Strand, a retired CEO of Hilton Inter- Both her leadership and her friendship Germany. During these early years of national. The couple enjoyed many years of will be missed by the Academy commu- research, Strand was the first to show vacationing in Snowmass Village, Colora- nity. “Fleur was a role model: iconic and that stress-evoked hormones could have do, before moving there full-time in 2004. A ahead of her time in a world of science a direct effect on the peripheral nervous memorial celebration for Strand will be held that should have been far more open to system, independent of the classical role on February 24 at the Snowmass Club.

the students, the faculty, the staff, the architecture, and the in- Expert on HIV/AIDS Appointed To UNITAID Advisory Group stitution’s organization are all focused on one goal: providing a Chinua Akukwe, professorial lecturer in the Departments of life-changing education that will produce graduates who are in- Global Health and Prevention and Community Health in the ternational in outlook, skilled in communication, imbued with GW School of Public Health and Health Services and former quantitative reasoning abilities, inherently trans-disciplinary in chair of the Technical Advisory Board of the GWU Africa Cen- their approach to problems, technologically literate, instinctively ter for Health and Human Security, has been appointed to the collaborative, and engaged in their local and global communities.” independent Global Advisory Group on Funding Priorities for In 2011, Helfand was elected president of the American As- UNITAID. UNITAID is dedicated to scaling up access to treat- tronomical Society, the professional organization of astrono- ment for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis by leveraging mers, astrophysicists, and planetary scientists in North America, price reductions for quality diagnostics and medicines and ac- a post he will hold concurrently with his appointment at Quest. celerating the pace at which these are made available. Since 2006, UNITAID has committed over U.S. $1.5 billion to support proj- Trudy Mackay Named To Board of ects in 94 countries. Regents, National Library of Medicine “This appointment is a call to duty during one of the most Trudy Mackay has been elected to the important periods in global health and financing for interna- Board of Regents of the National Library tional development,” says Akukwe. “UNITAID, with its focus on of Medicine (NLM). The NLM Board of innovative mechanisms for scaling up access to medicines and Regents serves as the advisory body to the other public health goods, can play a more significant role in le- Secretary, HHS; Assistant Secretary for veraging scarce resources to reach more individuals and families Health; Director, NIH; and the Director, in need,” he adds. NLM, on all important aspects of policy Akukwe is an expert on the global response to HIV/AIDS, with regarding the Library and is the final re- a particular focus on Africa. He developed the “Communicable view body for NLM’s extramural grant program. Diseases Guidelines” of the Africa Development Bank that es- Mackay is the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Univer- tablished HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis as priority health sity Professor of Genetics and an associate member of entomol- conditions. He also developed the “Strategic Framework for the ogy at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on Implementation of Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Malaria and understanding the genetic and environmental factors affecting Tuberculosis” for the African Union Commission, which was sub- variation in quantitative traits. sequently approved by the African Council of Health Ministers. 

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 25

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 25 3/6/12 1:46 PM Academy Calendar For further details on meetings and conferences, visit our calendar at www.nyas.org/events.

Wed, Mar 14 • 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM February Therapeutic and Diagnostic Modalities April Targeting Hypoxia in Cancer Tue, Feb 28 • 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM The altered chemical environment of hypoxic Wed, Apr 4 • 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Allosteric Modulation of G Protein- regions provides a mechanistic basis for the Discovering Antibacterial and Coupled Receptors: Opportunities and development of novel cancer therapies and Anticancer Therapeutics in Challenges for Drug Discovery imaging agents. This symposium will explore Unexpected Places Allosteric modulation of GPCRs as a thera- advances in the development of tumor-specif- Research into obscure organisms can aid peutic strategy offers improved selectivity and ic drugs targeting hypoxia. drug development from unexpected angles. safety. This symposium discusses emerging Speakers discuss the use of quorum sensing screening strategies for allosteric modulators Thu, Mar 15 • 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM to develop anti-microbial agents, and a poten- and in vitro assessment of allosteric modula- Lyceum Society: Frontiers of Quantum tial therapy for human melanoma discovered tor activity. Optics Applied to Information in the study of fungal melanin. Technology Wed, Feb 29 • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Lyceum Society is comprised of the Mon, Apr 16 • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Changing Tastes: How Foods Tasted in Academy’s retired and semi-retired members. Application of Combined ‘omics the Early Modern Period and How They Talks cover various scientific fields. All Acad- Platforms to Accelerate Biomedical Taste Now emy members are welcome. Discovery in Diabesity The History and Philosophy of Science Sec- The explosive rise in obesity and diabetes tion of the New York Academy of Sciences Tue, Mar 27 • 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (diabesity) threatens the health of many in holds multiple meetings covering a wide The Pharmacology of Aging: Western and developing Asian countries. This range of topics within the field. Why Age Matters symposium focuses on the discovery potential Older individuals are the major users of many of metabolomics and other ‘omics to elucidate medications, yet clinical data to support the causes and effects. evidence-based therapy are often lacking. March This symposium presents clinical, regulatory, Mon, Apr 16 • 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM and industry considerations in investigating Nature and the City: What Good is Sat, Mar 3 • 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM drugs for older patients. Urban Conservation? Writing About Science for the Public There’s a new energy across the United States This one-day, hands-on workshop will teach Wed, Mar 28 • 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM about recapturing nature in cities, but can you to write clearly and effectively about what The Power of the Sea: these efforts rebuild biodiversity? Leading sci- you do and why it matters in ways non-scien- An Evening with Bruce Parker entists, authors, and urban conservationists tists can understand. Every time we turn on the news it seems discuss the science behind and promise for like the earth is on the attack—tsunamis, today’s urban conservation efforts. The third Wed, Mar 7 • 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM storm surges, and El Niño feel like connected installment of our four-part series Discourses Do I Stay or Do I Go? The Role threats. Join Bruce Parker as he tells the story on Nature and Society. of Retention Strategies in STEM of scientists’ efforts to protect humanity from Education Reform the waters that surround us. Tue, Apr 17 • 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM With a third of new teachers leaving after Malaria 2012: Drugs, Vaccines, and three years and almost half after five, the Fri, Mar 30 • 8:45 AM – 6:00 PM Pathogenesis problem of teacher retention calls to mind the Chemical Engineering Approaches to Malaria control options show promise, image of bailing out the lifeboat with a sieve. Challenges in Energy and Biomedicine with effective vaccines in clinical trials, and Join the Academy and Demos for a panel The field of chemical engineering—poised candidate drugs to address resistance under discussion on teacher retention. at the interface of chemistry, engineering, development. This symposium examines and biomedicine—is well positioned to parasite pathogenesis and intervention, and Fri, Mar 9 • 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM solve global challenges. This symposium will the development of novel therapies. Scientific Considerations for Complex review the role of chemical engineering in Drugs in Light of Established energy and healthcare research. Tue, Apr 17 • 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Regulatory Guidance The State of Games in the American Navigate the most recent regulatory devel- Classroom opments for follow-on versions of com- From FoldIt to Angry Birds, games are a big plex drugs including experimental design, trend in education and play an increasingly interchangeability and immunogenicity issues large part in the daily lives of our students. from the perspective of government, industry, Join the Academy to hear more about the physicians, and consumers. current state and future of how games can change your classroom.

26 www.nyas.org

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 26 3/6/12 1:46 PM Meetings Policy

»»DATES, TIMES, AND TOPICS OF EVENTS LISTED HERE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. For up-to-date Thu, Apr 19 • 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM Tue, May 8 • 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM information, including ticket prices, Lyceum Society: Planets, Planetary Beyond Ideology: How Should We Feed please visit our online calendar at Dust, Meteorites Ourselves if We Care About Nature? www.nyas.org/events. The Lyceum Society is comprised of the Faced with ever-increasing population and Academy’s retired and semi-retired members. ever-decreasing food systems, five scientists »»Registration is required for most and Talks cover various scientific fields. All Acad- discuss the challenges and potential solutions strongly encouraged for all events. To emy members are welcome. that could feed the people and protect nature. register to attend an event, please use The fourth installment of our four-part series the Academy events calendar online at Tue, Apr 24 • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Discourses on Nature and Society. Bridging Bench and Bedside with www.nyas.org/events or contact the meetings department at 212.298.3725 or Quantitative Model-Based Translational Fri, May 11 • 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM Pharmacology HIV / AIDS Update: Prevention, [email protected]. Modeling and simulation are critical in Treatment and Beyond systematically integrating diverse preclini- We present the latest developments in HIV/ »»Unless noted otherwise, cal information to predict clinical response. AIDS research, including vaccine design Academy events are held at: In this symposium, guiding principles and and clinical trials, the viral envelope protein, The New York Academy of Sciences specific applications in quantitative transla- neutralizing versus non-neutralizing antibod- 7 World Trade Center tional research will be reviewed. ies, non-human primate models, and viral 250 Greenwich St at Barclay, 40th Fl reservoirs and persistence. New York, NY 10007 Fri, Apr 27 • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 5th Annual Advances in Biomolecular Tue, May 15 • 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Engineering Symposium Cancer Vaccines and Cancer »»Photo ID is required for entry. Biomolecular engineering aims to design Immunotherapy & Immunomodulation and engineer biomolecules for therapeutics, Cancer vaccines target specific tumor biocatalysts, protein-based biosensors, and antigens yet spare the immune suppressive more. This symposium will emphasize the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. This design of oligosaccharides and proteins for symposium reviews the current approaches in materials and energy applications. cancer immunotherapy, immunomodulation, Jun 11 – 12 and highlights emerging cancer vaccines. Fetal Programming and Environmental Exposures: Implications for Prenatal May 21 – 23 May 12th International Conference on Care and Pre-Term Birth Myasthenia Gravis and Related This 1.5-day conference will explore recent Tue, May 1 • 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Disorders discoveries, challenges, and future research Phosphatidylserine Asymmetry and Review the most recent advances in basic, directions for understanding the complex Cell Survival: Therapeutic Applications translational, and clinical research on the gene–gene and gene–environment interac- in Cancer and Infectious Disease rare, acquired disorder, Myasthenia Gravis, tions responsible for fetal programming in This symposium will highlight recent with implications for a range of additional utero and pre-term birth and the lasting developments in the understanding of PS autoimmune and neuromuscular diseases. adverse health effects. exposure, its biological consequences, and Thu, Jun 21 • 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM its exploitation to create novel agents for the Lyceum Society: Prions detection and treatment of cancer and viral diseases. June The Lyceum Society is comprised of the Academy’s retired and semi-retired members. Fri, May 4 • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wed, Jun 6 • 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Talks cover various scientific fields. All Acad- Targeting the Vasculature in Chemical Biology Discussion Group emy members are welcome. Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Year-End Symposium Cognitive Impairment The Chemical Biology Discussion Group Vascular alterations are both a cause and a brings together chemists and biologists consequence of neuronal loss. This conference interested in discussing the latest ideas in this presents current knowledge on the vascular rapidly growing field, and provides a forum connection to Alzheimer’s pathogenesis and for lively discussion and collaboration. highlights novel approaches to intervention for therapeutic development.

The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine • Winter 2012 27

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 27 3/6/12 1:46 PM Donor Profile Inspiring Tomorrow’s Visionaries Ashok Vemuri and the Infosys USA Foundation place a premium on promoting STEM.

bylineby Noah rule Rosenberg

shok Vemuri’s professional science, as well as the perennially vital achievements are no small feat. fields of biology or earth science. But he insists that neither were The first year of the Afterschool Men- hisA mentors’ roles in helping him arrive at toring Program was an enormous success, where he is today: the Head of Americas placing more than 120 mentors in 84 af- and Global Head of Financial Services & ter-school and summer programs across Insurance at Infosys, where he also serves all five boroughs of New York City. More as a member of the board. than 2,100 elementary and middle school “In my career, I have benefited from children benefited as a result and, Vemuri at the Academy, commended Infosys for being mentored by some key individuals,” notes, the program continues to satisfy its commitment to STEM, and said the says Vemuri, who in 2008 was selected by the Infosys USA Foundation’s mission of company’s involvement would “catalyze Business Today as one of India’s 25 Hot- “fulfilling the social responsibility of the other funders to take action”—which is test Young Executives, and the following company by creating opportunities and imperative to furthering the Academy’s year was elected to the Forum of Young working toward a more equitable society.” mission of impacting as many young lives Global Leaders by the World Economic Clearly, the Afterschool Mentoring as possible. Forum. “And I also make it a priority to Program, which initially partnered with “In today’s times when fewer students offer advice and support to our employ- the New York City Department of Youth are graduating from high school than ees under the aegis of the Infosys Leader- and Community Development, is a win- ever before, as responsible adult citizens ship Institute.” win. The program is central to the Acad- of society, it is important for us to retain It turns out that Vemuri’s support and emy’s K-12 Education Initiative and its students in school beyond regular hours,” advice, and that of Infosys, extends well goal of encouraging higher achievement Vemuri says of Infosys’ decision to scale beyond the company’s hallowed halls. In both in and out of the classroom with re- its involvement with the Academy’s Af- 2010, a passionate conversation between spect to STEM. terschool STEM Mentoring Program. He Infosys Co-Founder and Executive Co- Fortunately, the Infosys USA Founda- notes that participating students are im- Chairman S. (Kris) Gopalakrishnan and tion was just getting started. The Founda- mersed in subject areas that are “core to Academy President and CEO Ellis Rubin- tion, which is financed by up to one per- our business at Infosys.” stein about the value of mentors, led to the cent of Infosys’ annual profits, recently Naturally, Vemuri is pleased to have Infosys USA Foundation’s first U.S. grant, expanded its challenge grant to the Acad- had a role in the Afterschool Program’s which went to the New York Academy emy to include a New Jersey partnership success, and he hopes the program con- of Sciences to help seed its Afterschool with the national non-profit organization tinues to have an influence, churning out STEM (science, technology, engineering, Citizen Schools, effectively extending the the next generation of science, technol- and math) Mentoring Program. Afterschool Program’s influence to low- ogy, engineering, and math visionaries. Infosys’ involvement, Vemuri ex- income students in Newark via $50,000 in “We are proud of our association with the plains, enabled the company and its additional funding, bringing the cumula- Academy and the STEM Mentoring Pro- foundation to support “exploration and tive total to $350,000. gram,” Vemuri says. “For me personally, hands-on learning opportunities” for The additional funding support from it has been very satisfying to see the pro- underprivileged students under the guid- the Infosys USA Foundation will allow gram surpass its goals.”  ance of highly-skilled mentors—graduate the Academy to recruit, train, and sup- students and post-docs who have suc- port 30 new mentors in the 2011-2012 Noah Rosenberg is a journalist in New cessfully applied and trained to become school year. The Afterschool Program York City. Academy Education Fellows. Infosys em- will provide 180 hours of hands-on after- ployees find ways to get directly involved school activities for 450 fourth- through Invest in the Academy too; those who hold engineering degrees eighth-graders in New Jersey, as well as or Masters in science and math volunteer extend Academy membership to at least Contribute to the Academy’s programs their time to engage students with cut- 300 teachers in the state. by contacting Kiryn Haslinger Hoffman, ting-edge subjects like robotics or space Meghan Groome, director, K-12 Sci- VP Development at 212.298.8673 or ence Education and Science & the City [email protected].

28 www.nyas.org

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 28 3/6/12 1:46 PM The Academy Announces the NEW a Chemical Engineering Discussion Group

Chemical engineering is an interdisciplinarydisciplinary field that combines physics, chemistry, and mathematics, to investigate numerousous phenomena. This Discussion Group will convene a diverse group of scientists fromom academia, industry, and national laboratories, including students and young investigators, to share new research and developments in cutting-edge fields ranging from energy to biotechnology. Join us at the first meeting. Chemical Engineering Approaches to Challenges in Energy and Biomedicine March 30, 2012

Information & Registration: www.nyas.org/ChemEng2012

Discourses on NatureNatu and Society Series In this fourr-pa-part sseeries, the New York Academy of Sciences and the Nature Conservancy explore the relationship betwweeneen conservation and our increasingly urban existence. For more information and to register, visit wwww.n.nyass..org/NNatureAndSociety

JAN 12 Energy for the Next 20 Years: Protecting the Environment and Meeting Our Demands

FEB 23 Creating the Next Conservation Movement—Or Do We Even Need One?

APR 16 Nature and the City: What Good is Urban Conservation?

MAY 8 Beyond Ideology: How Should We Feed Ourselves if We Care About Nature?

**Interested to receive future updates about Green Sciences and Sustainability programming at the Academy? Update your email subscription today by visiting www.nyas.org/Subscribe and select the “Green Science” eNewsletter.

228998_NYAS_Magazine_32pg_R1.indd 3 3/6/12 1:46 PM 7 World Trade Center Interested in receiving 250 Greenwich St., 40th Fl. New York, NY 10007-2157 regular updates about The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science?

Visit www.nyas.org/Subscribe and select the “Nutrition” eNewsletter.

Goals for the Sackler Institute are: Developing an agenda for nutrition science research Building communities around important areas of nutrition science through public-private partnerships and public outreach with conferences, webinars, podcasts, e-briefings, and other publications Stimulating research in nutrition science Visit www.nyas.org/Nutrition for more information.

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