A poster by Yael Saiger has been selected as the high school winning entry in the DOE's fifth annual School Wellness Poster Contest. Yael will receive an award in June, and her design will appear on posters displayed in schools citywide, on the DOE website, and in other documents used to increase awareness of School Wellness, including a colorful calendar. In addition, HSMSE will receive a $500 grant for fitness and wellness equipment, including balls, racquets, small fitness equipment, and a portable speaker to be used during PE classes. For information about the contest, including posters by HSMSE's three previous contest winners, see http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/FitnessandHealth/wellnessposters.  

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - CCNY - HSMSE Lunch and Learn Workshops

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - CCNY - HSMSE Lunch and Learn Workshops involved four days of fascinating presentations about cancer and cancer treatment. On March 10, Professor Michelle Juarez gave a lecture on microinjections. She taught about a teenager who had been punctured in the skull by a spear gun, and survived. She then reproduced this action with her own experiment on Drosophila Melanogaster or fly larvae. She punctured the fly larvae with the microinjection, a tiny glass needle, usually used for vitro fertilization. She was then able to look at the cells around the damaged area and see them repairing themselves, which she hypothesized must be also happening to the teenager who was punctured by the spear gun. We discussed the possible reasons for the repairing of the surrounding cells, which we thought might be transcription of the DNA after the injury. This transcription was a clear pattern around the damaged area, but Professor Juarez told the class that she could change this reaction pattern by mutating the cells. After the lecture, we had an informal question and answer session over lunch, where many more people asked her about other research she has done.  

On the March 11, Dr. Karen Hubbard lectured about the causes of cancer, its developments, its mechanisms, its effects, and how to deal with them. She explained that cancer cells develop in our bodies due to damage in DNA in human cells. If the cells are damaged, cell death will be announced by the immune system or if there's little damage to the cell, cell senescence occurs. Cell senescence is when a cell can live but for a limited lifespan and can't reproduce as much. If cancer cells develop and then stop, that is called a benign tumor and isn't life-threatening. If cancer cells develop and keep on developing, then that's a malignant tumor which is extremely life-threatening and dangerous. We then learned about the next stage of cancer which is to metastasize. When cancer metastasizes, the malignant cancer cells spread throughout the body and lodge in different places. Dr. Hubbard explained that benign tumors can be easily removed and usually don't grow back while malignant tumors can be removed but usually grow back. Another treatment called chemotherapy is used to destroy cancer cells by directing rays of radiation towards the tumor. Dr. Hubbard then concluded by telling us about the various types of cancers such as HPV, Hepatitis B and C and Leukemia and about the causes of cancer such as poor diet and consumption of alcohol. We then enjoyed lunch along with a question and answer session.

On March 13 Dr. Steinberg, CCNY Chemistry Professor, focused on arsenic, an environmental pollutant widely found in America's southwest, Mexico, Chile, India and Taiwan. Arsenic sources are normally found in higher concentrations in human urine, hair, nails, and blood. Arsenic induces oxidative stress and stimulates the generation of reactive oxygen species. Dr. Steinberg also showed us diagrams and data of arsenic impact on human environment and life. Dr. Steinberg showed pictures of animals that were exposed to arsenic substances that cause tumors and other health problems. Exposure to arsenic can lead to high risk of skin cancer.  

On March 14 CCNY Professor of Biology Kamilah Ali lectured about obesity and its effects on the body, which include cancer. She informed us that approximately three-fifths of Americans are overweight. The main cause of cancer is using tobacco, and the second is being overweight. Being overweight has to do with an individual's energy balance, which is the balance between energy expenditure and food intake.When someone's caloric intake is higher than his or her output, it can lead to being overweight, or even obesity. According to Professor Ali, one is obese when his body mass index, or the measure of body fat based on height and weight, is higher than 29. Obesity affects the skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver in such a way that it can lead to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not effectively use insulin. This greatly increases one's chance of developing cancer. The speaker noted that obesity can be prevented or treated via exercise, reduction of caloric intake and simple sugars, and gastric surgery. Overall, the presentation was very fascinating and explanatory.

--Eli Sobel, Nicole Konforti, Nasillul Hossain

S.T.E.A.M. Young Women's Leadership Conference  

On Friday, March 21, HSMSE students attended the CCNY College Now Program's First Annual Women's Leadership Training Conference for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). The conference began with a keynote address by Dr. Lynne Holden, the founder of "Mentoring in Medicine." Dr. Holden addressed the three keys to success: preparation, presentation, and perseverance.

Following the address, students attended workshops on a variety of topics in STEAM fields. Professor Jennifer Tuttle, assistant professor of Theatre and Speech at CCNY, led a workshop titled "What Can I Do With A Theatre Degree?" Assisted by CCNY theatre majors Vanessa Ilachi, Atiya Brown, and Mercedes Williams, Professor Tuttle led student in a series of physical exercises and offered advice to prospective theatre majors. Professor Tuttle noted that people with degrees in the liberal arts had the highest rate of employment during the 2008 recession, as liberal arts majors learn to be flexible and develop versatile skills.

Two panels addressed "Female Perspectives on the Path towards an Engineering Career." At one session, Professor Alison Conway, assistant professor of Civil Engineering at CCNY, along with CCNY engineering students, acquainted students with the variety of engineering fields and presented some of the students' inventions. Another session with the same title was moderated by Professor of electrical engineering Yingli Tian and Professor of chemical engineering Elizabeth Biddinger. Professors Tian and Biddinger, along with students from the Grove School of Engineering, discussed different fields of engineering, and also addressed questions about sexism in the job market and in the workplace. A few panelists also brought materials to conduct some experiments related to their day-to-day work.

At a session on "Women in Technology," Theresa Stahling, IT technician and Former CIO of the New York City Department of Transportation, emphasized the importance of leadership qualities, such as taking initiative, acting strategically, maintaining constructive relationships, and communicating effectively. HSMSE student Diana Acosta was impressed by Ms. Stahling's presentation, noting that "She named many women who made it in the stereotypical male-dominated world, which inspired me to succeed and add my name to the list of women with great successes."

Finally, Professor Christine Li, chair of the CCNY Biology Department, led a workshop titled "My Career Path to Molecular Genetics." Professor Li described how she became a biologist, then taught students about genetics. HSMSE junior Julian Galperin described the session as "incredible," noting that Professor Li "was so enthusiastic about what she was talking about that you could really see just how much she loved her job." Her love of genetics may have been contagious; Galperin notes that Professor Li's enthusiasm "gave [him] a whole new topic that [he] might be interested in going into in the future." 

Thanks to Gabrielle Luna, Natasha Kowlessar, Diana Acosta, Yorli Chazari, Anthony Vasquez, John Bejarano, Din Islam, Boris Granda, George Gao, Julian Galperin, Diana Saavedra, Christopher Savan, Dilin Reci, and Ishaat Hossain for their contributions to this account.

The Links, Incorporated Etiquette Workshop: "What Would Michelle Obama Do?"

The Links, Incorporated held a meeting about etiqeutte for young women of HSMSE on Thursday, March 13. The meeting addressed how young women should present themselves with grace and class. Of course, it is okay for women to be strong, opinionated, and bold, but in a sophisticated way.  Held in room B1 after school, the meeting was presented by three professional women who discussed how we should carry ourselves. The discussion proceeded in an atmosphere that was open and comfortable. The LINKS members  explained to us how our social media may affect us when it comes to jobs, how to properly set a table (with the proper uses for certain utensils), how to properly thank an employer, and how our actions and words may carry us farther in life. Not only did we leave the class with our heads filled but we also left with hands full because the presenters provided us with a bag of nifty gifts.

The next LINKS Workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in Room B1 from 3:45 - 5:30 PM and light refreshments will be served. Please see Leadership students in the Cafeteria or Ballroom during both lunch periods to reserve your seat. Spaces are limited, so act fast.

--Tiffany Bennett '16  

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