"I saw people who never knew each other [before] meet at the event and develop strong relationships. A lot of people came just to watch and be part of that community. That's when I knew this was special."
Modern scientific societies are increasingly vulnerable due to their dependence on membership fees and journal subscriptions, which are being challenged by the rise of virtual networking and open-access publishing.
Growing up, I struggled to figure out what made sense for me, what made me me. When I joined the drum line and felt that community, everything clicked. It made me a better person. It gave me something to fight for.
SNP introduces NYC public high school students to modern brain research. About 20 participants attend interactive lectures, read and present a scientific paper, dissect a brain, design their own neuroscience experiment and visit research labs. The two-week course is led by Rockefeller graduate students. The hope is to develop young people's passion for science, especially for students with otherwise limited opportunities.
The fewer solicitations you have, the less time grant applicants have to figure out which of our pigeonholes they fit into. In the past, a solicitation might have been for an individual program, which means it's attached to an individual program officer and a specific dollar amount. Now, instead of going to one program officer's area, the NSF will use technology to better route applications to wherever within the agency they can best be reviewed.
This is a striking decision at a moment when public confidence in higher education is eroding. It is also puzzling because rigorous research and evaluation have demonstrated, over and over, the value of the work of centers for teaching and learning, including positive impacts on student learning outcomes, institutional effectiveness and faculty development.
Registration for the 2026-27 school year at the Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) center opens on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Nearly 1,500 students in grades 10-12 from over 45 schools in Santa Clara County enroll each year, earning college credit and industry certifications and gaining real-world experience and skills for higher education or careers after graduation. SVCTE is open to students in Santa Clara County, and transportation is free for students to and from schools in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District.
Young people are "experiencing higher education differently, and that is shaping much of what parents are saying," said Lammers. "[Parents] are reacting to the questions their children are asking and trying to find the best way to help them navigate the next steps."
The program introduces Cali, a "human-centered" AI tool designed to enhance-not replace-human support. Cali can converse in more than 140 languages and help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The tool is expected to reduce errors on the forms and help students stay on track toward enrollment and graduation.
