THE HARLEM GALLERY OF SCIENCE

PURPOSE: To increase the technological literacy of the residents of Harlem and the lack of preparation of Black and Latinx students for high-paying jobs in the tech sector, City College, in collaboration with Science and Arts Engagement New York has created the Harlem Gallery of Science, an innovative cultural space that brings science and technology alive by creating interactive exhibitions based on popular everyday themes, such as basketball, music and contagion, through which the concepts of STEM are introduced.  The Gallery’s project-based experiential learning experiences help build essential skills, such as critical thinking, complex problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. These are the very skills executives say are critical to successful careers in the tech industries.

The Harlem Gallery of Science (HGS) serves as a bridge between the academic world and the community, translating advanced research and findings in the STEM fields in terms that the lay public can understand and relate to. HGS provides undergraduates (18-24 years old) at CCNY and throughout the City University of New York opportunities to engage in new multidisciplinary experiential learning and teaching opportunities bringing together the resources of CCNY and the Harlem Community. Further, HGS is a central hub for students (11-18 years old) who attend public middle schools and high schools in Harlem, Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx to experience and learn first-hand how STEM impacts their lives through interaction with HGS’s exhibitions and programs built around everyday themes.