Curious Minds Science Zone

On September 19, over 1,280 students from five public elementary schools in Washington Heights participated in a hands-on science fair at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The event, organized by the VP&S Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, featured the Curiosity Cube, a mobile science lab sponsored by the TV show Abbott Elementary. Students engaged in activities exploring topics like heart health, reflexes, and brain science. Physical therapy students facilitated activities related to balance, core strength, and flexibility. Roy Vagelos, a 1954 graduate of VP&S and retired chair of pharmaceutical giant Merck, attended the event to participate in a roundtable discussion with science students, highlighting how a career in science and medicine has the power to make a positive impact on humanity. The event was supported by various departments at Columbia, along with community organizations.