NYU Science Outreach and Research

SOAR Fellows Cayden Auyeung, Dione Cheung, Isabella Huang, and Si Yue Jiang presented at the 2026 Research Expo.

Their exhibit showcased various STEM modules, activities, and games that were adopted into the curriculums of local NYC schools to help engage students with advanced concepts in an accessible and digestible way.

This Thursday, we presented at the Earth Day Symposium organized by Sustainable Engineering VIP! Our poster also highlighted a paper analyzing Wonderville.org’s Save the World simulation and our own Kilowatt Pursuit, a board game about energy consumption.

Here are seven 3D prints of viral pathogens created by our previous SOAR fellows. We developed a technology-enabled learning environment surrounding the use of 3D prints focused on the topics of homoeostasis and immunity for a ninth grade Living Environment class. The teacher and students’ surveys reveal that the 3D prints helped the students to effectively learn the material leading to a better understanding and retention of the topics.

SOAR Predoctoral Fellow Isabella Huang spent Brain Awareness Week on the Biobus at the neuron station, teaching students about the parts of a neuron and what they do. (P.S. That’s a mouse brain under the microscope on the screen behind her!)

In 2019, SOAR fellows Serena Jones, Priya Katyal, Xuan Xie, Madeleine Nicolas, and Eric Leung conducted research to evaluate the effectiveness of gameified learning using 'Kahoot!' in an AP Biololgy classroom.

To preface the quiz-styled game, our fellows presented on transcription, translation, and DNA replication to the students. The presentation contained all the necessary information that the students needed to answer the questions in the ‘KAHOOT!’ game. It included two videos created using Chimera visualization software that depict the actual conformational states of proteins/nucleic acids. A snapshot of the videos is shown on Slide 2.

Last week SOAR fellows Isabella Huang, Alikhan Kaukenayev & Cayden Auyeung created and implemented a class science project for PS3 4th grade class: “The Marshmallow Boyle’s Law Experiment” where the kids learned about the relationship between pressure and volume!

Soar fellows Andrew Qu, Madeleine Nicholas, Eric Leung, Serena Jones, Priya Katyal, Kamia Punia created the Models of Organic Molecules module which lets students build organic molecules and calculate their chemical names.
Students can use the module as additional practice by constructing a model and manually deriving its name, based on naming conventions learned from class that week, before checking their work with the calculator. They could also observe how the addition or removal of an atom affects the name, such as by changing the suffix from “-ane” to “-ene.”

NYU SOAR fellows explore the use of 3D printed learning tools at the high school level in collaboration with 75 Morton.

NYU SOAR collaborated with three sixth grade science classrooms at 75 Morton to introduce the activity across 114 6th grade students, ages 11-12. The students were first given a multiple choice six question Pre-Quiz to gauge their prior understanding of the concepts of Parallel vs Series circuits. Afterwards, an introductory presentation was given with a basic explanation of the loop and junction rules and instructions for their circuit construction activity. The students were then given basic wiring materials and instructed to connect two bulbs to one battery using parallel and series arrangements with the aid of two 3D printed templates, one outlining a parallel circuit, and one outlining a series circuit. Some time after participating in this activity, 4-14 days depending on the scheduling of the particular class instructor, the students would then complete a multiple choice six question Post-Quiz to determine if the activity increased the classes’ overall understanding of the concepts introduced. The Pre and Post Quizzes were completely identical and could be compared question by question. 

The 3D printed templates were generated using Fusion 360, an Autodesk CAD software. The templates were designed with simple geometry and minimal material use in mind. Both were printed on an Ultimaker S3 in under 4 hours. Three copies of each template type were printed for a total of six models. One classroom would hold all six models at a time, and students would work in small groups to complete the activity using the model.