Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at the Nano-scale, at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. Nanotechnology is believed by many to be one of the most promising areas of technological development and among the most likely to deliver substantial economic and societal benefits in the 21st century. With so much potentially at stake, a global competition has emerged among nations and companies to develop and capture the value of nanotechnology products.

In June 2011 at, Carnegie Mellon University, President Obama launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a national effort bringing together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in the emerging technologies that will create high quality manufacturing jobs and enhance our global competitiveness. Investing in technologies, such as information technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, will support the creation of good jobs by helping U.S. manufacturers reduce costs, improve quality, and accelerate product development. Nanotechnology figures highly in this agenda, primarily enabling building domestic manufacturing capabilities in critical national security industries; and establishing U.S. leadership in next-generation. On March 25, 2010, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a document called the "Report to the President and Congress on the Third Assessment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative" recommending that the U.S. government help nanotechnology companies attract and retain trained professional foreign nationals who are needed in the industry.

Ensuring the U.S. has a cadre of world-class scientists, engineers, and technicians — an asset deemed critical to U.S. innovation & competitiveness — has been an enduring concern of Congress, generally, specifically with respect to nanotechnology.

Nanoparticles exhibit size-related properties that differ significantly from those observed in fine particles or bulk. Nanoparticles often possess unexpected optical properties, as they are small enough to confine their electrons and produce quantum effects. This allows for their extreme versatility and exploitation in the following fields:

Biomedical; Electronics; Antibacterial agents; and Energy Most of the state of the art methodologies include laser ablation, gas synthesis (e.g. chemical vapor deposition), and solution phase:

Since most of the above mentioned technologies present drawbacks such as high temperatures and pressure, greener approaches to fabricate metallic & metal oxide NPs are needed. Furthermore, several greener approaches are still disadvantageous because the size tunability of the NPs, the control of the shape, and the narrow distribution are poor and they have low stability in aqueous media.

In the summer of 2011, HCS initiated an extremely successful pilot program in Green Chemistry & Nanotechnology. Students, parents, teachers, and schools have expressed a strong interest in keeping this program and allowing the students to explore the field and perhaps take it on as a career objective. This will bolster our efforts in playing a leading role in developing a workforce capable of meeting the 21st century needs in Science & Technology.

Bioinformatics is a newly emerging interdisciplinary field that uses IT to integrate biology, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics in order to manage the voluminous and complex data with new emerging technologies like Genomic, cDNA and protein micro-arrays. This information would not only be useful in the study and understanding of various biological phenomenons, but also help in generating the next generation of drugs and treatment modalities.

Retrieval and analysis of electronic information are essential in today's research environment. This course explores the theory and practice of molecular database searching and sequence alignment and introduces students to integrated information retrieval and analysis. It covers databases and Internet access, sequence homology searching and multiple alignments, and sequence motif analysis. Classes are held in the computer lab and include analysis of software setup and usage, sequence analysis over the Internet and various databases, including the interpretation of results.

HCS has for the past several years using Bio/Informatics in its curriculum and allowing the students to explore the field and perhaps take it on as a career objective. National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported HCS Bio/Informatics programs with a three year ~$1 million Grant.

The students are given an overview of the principles, tools, applications of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics the use of Computers in bioinformatics. They are given an understanding of Sequence basics: random vs. biological sequences, Sequence patterns in genes, Identifying genes in sequences, Identifying genes in databases, Identifying and working with human genetic variation; Phylogenetic trees, and use of programming language like pearl in the study of Genes, proteins. Through guided computer exercises, course participants use online tools for DNA analysis, database searches, and genomic browsers, building a basic understanding of bioinformatics-specific analysis routines and how they are rooted in molecular biology and genetics. They are taught to Find and Retrieve DNA Sequences in Databases. In Statistics Analysis of Gene expression data and Clinical Trials, they are introduced to Basic concepts in probability and statistics, Human genome project and genebank, Gene chip, gene expression profiling and cancer diagnosis, MicroRNA, siRNA and gene silencing, and Basic knowledge in clinical trials. In a interdisciplinary course, Math Art, Programming, and Molecular Graphics, they are taught Mathematical imagery, geometric shapes and symmetry, together with classical examples of visual art, Human genome project, small molecular and protein structure and visualization, Perl programming and two general methods in computer-graphic technologies, PostScript and Ray Tracing. Students also create and present their individual graphic art for important scientific objects. Student are given a nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) and protein/ amino acids and learn using the programming language like Pearl to find sequences for: specific genes, function and sequence whose name are known; for known nucleotide sequences; and to find: background information for genes, proteins, or phenotypes; chromosomal locations for genes; homologous genes in different organisms; and identify specific characteristics in DNA sequences (e.g. exons, introns, promoter regions, etc.)

Students use different software tools to get their answers from the GenBank database, the repository of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), which is a part of the US National Library of Medicine. Each sequence in GenBank has a unique accession number and GenBank entries can be queried with a variety of tools, including Entrez, Blast, and FASTA. Entrez is a web-based search engine for GenBank DNA and protein sequences as well as MEDLINE reference publications. It can also search for keywords such as gene names, protein names, and the names of organisms or biological functions. Entrez is also a database, which contains all of the nucleotide and protein sequences in GenBank (updated daily) along with all of the literature in MEDLINE and the 3-D protein structures in PDB (Protein Data Base). Through guided computer exercises, course participants use online tools for DNA analysis, database searches, and genomic browsers, building a basic understanding of bioinformatics-specific analysis routines and how they are rooted in molecular biology and genetics. The students, increasingly self-sufficiently learn to tackle computer-based problems that have been developed in order to foster bioinformatics and computer skills. It also entails a pre-computed list of relationships between all of its data elements relationships between: sequences are computed with BLAST, articles are computed with "MESH" terms (shared keywords), DNA and protein sequences rely on accession numbers, and sequences and MEDLINE articles rely on both shared keywords and the mention of accession numbers in the articles. These pre-computed relationships include genes in the same multi-gene family, articles written about genes that have the same function, or other proteins that function in the same biochemical pathway, thereby allowing horizontal movement through the linked databases. Thus, as a researcher, the student’s start with only a vague set of keywords or a sequence identified in the laboratory and rapidly access a set of relevant literature and a list of related database sequences.

Although many of HCS’s students having been studying environmental sciences in other laboratories, HCS intends to use this vital field to teach young students with several resources available to HCS like soil and water testing and GIS and Geospatial analysis.

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems. HCS intends to focus its research and educational objectives in the following areas: Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, and Geosciences.

Environmental Chemistry is the study of chemical alterations in the environment. Principal areas of study include soil contamination and water pollution. The topics of analysis include chemical degradation in the environment, multi-phase transport of chemicals (for example, evaporation of a solvent containing lake to yield solvent as an air pollutant), and chemical effects upon biota. Geosciences include environmental geology, environmental soil science, volcanic phenomena, and evolution of the Earth's crust. In some classification systems, this can also include hydrology, including oceanography.

While still intensely collaborating with scientists and researchers in campuses across New York, HCS intends to shore its research wing helping students from middle and high school get into the fields, where institutions would be reluctant to serve a younger population of students to teach them such hands-on research and science that they would only read in their class room text books. HCS also intends to use various tools with GIS and Geospatial analysis for teaching and performing research.

Obesity has become a serious pandemic with serious implications on our nations health and prospects. The National Health Examination Surveys (NHES) study showed that in the United States 34% of adults over the age of 20 are obese. The NHES also determined that although obesity affects all races and both sexes, there is a significantly higher incidence of obesity in women and in the non-Hispanic black population and the Hispanic-American population. Recent data show that in the United States the adult non-Hispanic black population and Hispanic population has a 51% and 21% higher incidence of obesity respectively when compared to non-Hispanic whites. Obesity in adolescents and children has also been increasing at an alarming rate causing concern for the future. It is hypothesized that unhealthy behaviors that develop in childhood often persist into adulthood, indicating a need for targeted programs for children and adolescents.

In an effort to bolster good nutrition and developing healthy living, HCS conducted research in all NYC neighborhoods. HCS students focused on the assessment of quality and price of produce in various neighborhoods all over the city and the surrounding boroughs. Students made quality assessments of display, color, size, freshness, and ripeness of fruits and vegetables while recording price per unit. The aim of this study was to correlate differences in price, quality, and availability of produce with neighborhood demographics, socioeconomic status, and rates of nutrition related disease.

In this paradigm, students are actively participating in scientific research and encouraged to pursue careers in science & technology. The experience of the HCS students in this study is invaluable, as they are part of the urban communities largely affected by obesity & diabetes and are often representative of the demographics & socioeconomic status of these neighborhoods. Involvement in this nutritional research gives the students an understanding of diseases that can be mitigated by healthy eating habits & nutritional education, thereby instigating change in their families & communities.

New York Senator Gillibrand has expressed a keen interest in HCS’s research program in Nutrition and the unique way how students have been involved in the research and study of nutrition. Dr. Bhattacharya who serves in her advisory team has been instrumental in bringing various initiatives that he and the Senator are working on.

Forensic Science has also been one of the components in the HCS curriculum has for the past several years. It has helped students to explore the field and perhaps take it on as a career objective.

Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a variety of queries. Although the field was used initially exclusively in the legal context, but in modern times, the field has expanded to cover several related and nonrelated fields across disciplines. A myriad of fields are covered, like computational, digital, anthropology, archeology, chemistry, botany, DNA analysis, engineering, entomology, engineering, pathology, odontology, serology, toxicology, and several others.

Students in our group have been mostly focused on Forensic DNA and fingerprinting analysis. DNA profiling (also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or genetic fingerprinting) is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals by their respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person's DNA makeup, which can also be used as the person's identifier. DNA profiling should not be confused with full Genome sequencing. DNA profiling process involves several highly sophisticated techniques like RFLP analysis, PCR analysis, STR Analysis, AmpFlp, DNA family relationship analysis, Y-chromosome analysis, mitochondrial analysis, DNA databases, etc.

Training our Future Astronauts & Space Scientists from our Inner City Neighborhoods In collaboration with NASA Space Research Institute at Kennedy Space Center, University of Central Florida and the Space Research Company – Orbital Technological Corporation in Middleton, Wisconsin

For the past several years, our students have been involved in research in Robotics and Propulsion & Plasma Research with some of the advanced and breakthrough technologies at the NASA Laboratories at the Florida Space Institute and at several engineering laboratories in University of Central Florida; and to the Space Research Company, Orbital Technological Corporation, in Middleton, Wisconsin. The Harlem Children Society supported not only each student’s stipend, but also their travel, housing, and research support for a senior scientist to train these, our future potential scientists, and young enthusiasts.

Our students have worked in the frontiers of space technology with research projects involving studying the Development of Hybrid Rockets for Space Travel, and the relationship between dark matter and super massive black holes.

Space exploration is the final frontier for humans. The benefits and opportunity of space exploration can positively impact society. NASA plans on future space missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and Mars. Mars, the 4th planet from the sun, is NASA’s next goal due to its close proximity and favorable conditions for life. Many studies have been conducted and scientists’ debate whether these findings prove that there was once life on Mars. The evidence shows water and life existed in the past. Technological advances in rocket science need to get underway to allow a manned space mission to Mars. Hybrid rockets will provide NASA astronauts as well as other space agencies a safer, much more cost-effective and viable way to send people and robots to outer space.

Our students have evolved a novel fuel for Hybrid Rockets, which are a new type of chemical rocket. They differ from liquid fuel and solid fuel rockets in that they combine both types of propellants into the rocket design. In the Everclear 1 Project, the students were involved in designing and improving the performance of the hybrid rocket and its efficiency using a ‘Novel’ alcohol gel as the solid fuel. The alcohol gel is extremely viscous, combining alcohol substance with aqueous methylcellulose solution, which extends the life of the rocket. As for the oxidizer, the students used nitrous oxide due to its ease of handling and storing. For the design of their rocket, there were two versions; the first version of the Everclear 1 rocket design used nitrous oxide capsules, rubber washers, ball needles, thermal valves, and fuel tubes as the main components. The second version of the Everclear 1 rocket design used carbon dioxide tanks, a valve, tubing, thermal valves, and fuel tubes as the main components. The ultimate goal was to construct and develop a working hybrid rocket.

The research done in the development of Hybrid Rocketry by our students last year helped the NASA scientist, Dr. John Brandenburg helped him in his research. This is a beautiful illustration of our belief that we at HCS can train young minds to deliver as well as serve to support research in training our future potential scientists.

Increasing scientific literacy in students of all ages will help them understand health and science issues. The interdisciplinary experience of the students in the HCS model is an essential part of their STEM education model. The basis of science inquiry will also help students in critical thinking and problem solving abilities. In order to reduce some of the disparities that exist in both science teaching and the number of students that pursue science careers it is necessary to give them not only exposure to science inquiry, but also the abilities to experience and excel in science. Scientific reasoning is a method that can be used by all students and they can understand how science math, technology, and knowledge affect their daily lives.

These HCS Research Initiatives have a long term objective that are twofold - leading to both interest in science careers on the STEM education side as well as have an impact on nutrition education and obesity in communities disproportionately affected by obesity in Manhattan.

This module is created to train the students in bioinformatics and related field and to give them a suitable background and set as a broad introductory experience, and operated under the assumption that students knew absolutely nothing about the topic.

For the past few years, HCS has initiated a highly successful pilot program in Biostatistics and GIS. Students, parents, teachers, and concerned educators have expressed a deep interest in keeping this program and allowing the students to explore the field and perhaps take it on as a career objective. Using this model, HCS teaches science through research inquiry and a type of community based participatory and action based research. In this student-centered inquiry education model, the participants learn about nutrition, nutrition-related diseases, as well as research methods and logical inquiry. One large part of the scientific method is the dissemination of knowledge to the public. The students attend a scientific conference and present their work to the scientific community. In addition, in an annual outdoor science fair, part of the HCS model of STEM education, the students presented and communicated their results to their peers, families, and communities. Public dissemination of knowledge is particularly important in this model as it can teach communities about nutrition and obesity research. This type of dissemination of knowledge is advantageous as the students are compelled to focus on research that directly impacts their communities. Their conclusions are not only relevant to their communities and families, but also as they set up the parameters for research methods in nutrition, the students learn and discover the indices which are important to fruit and vegetable consumption, either due to their ethnicities and backgrounds, or due to their income-level. This can lead to real community change that can impact public health and obesity rates.

Surveys derived from NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) for the students to complete are distributed students are trained to form hypotheses based on the questions in the survey, introducing concepts of dependent and independent variables, exchanging papers and describing hypotheses. Exercises are evolved to illustrate the data collection and analysis process in a Meta way.

Each session is followed with a review of material covered in the prior class in the form of a brief quiz. The purpose of the quiz is to engage students in thinking about key concepts and to prompt class discussion. The class regularly participates in these discussions following the quiz “warm up” activity. The remainder of the session leads to introducing new topics, supplementing the discussions with handout materials (worksheets, tables, etc.), and assigning problems to be solved on the spot. The session routinely concludes with students working as teams to solve assigned problems.

By the end of the term, the students will develop an understanding of the concept of biostatistics, basic data description, and analysis. The course will conclude with an exam targeted to measuring students’ progress in understanding these key concepts.

Geospatial analysis, using GIS, was developed for problems in the environmental and life sciences, in particular ecology, geology, and epidemiology. It has extended to almost all industries including defense, intelligence, utilities, Natural Resources (Oil & Gas, Forestry etc), social sciences, medicine, and Public Safety (emergency management & criminology). Spatial statistics typically result primarily from observation rather than experimentation. Spatial analysis includes a large variety of statistical techniques that apply to data that vary spatially and which can vary over time. Modern GIS technologies use digital information, for which various digitized data creation methods are used. GIS has become an important tool and expertise in recent times with great impact and potential in Disease surveillance and management, gene technology and genetic research, cancer studies, environmental research, study of emerging infectious disease, etc just to name a few.

HCS has been utilizing GIS and Geospatial sciences in the research and study and in the training of our students in a myriad of fields and subjects like obesity and nutrition. For instance, with GIS technology, the locations of farmers markets were mapped with the socio-economic and demographic variables of the communities in the surrounding areas, with an emphasis on both race and family size. There was a higher incidence of obesity in the areas with larger numbers of Hispanic and Black residents and in Harlem and Washington Heights-Inwood. The neighborhood surrounding the Union Square farmers market had the lowest rates of obesity. The students found that produce was less expensive at farmers markets than at neighborhood grocery stores and that the quality was significantly better. The GIS mapping indicated that there was a significantly higher quality of produce overall in higher-income neighborhoods. The data confirmed the necessity to maintain the current farmers markets, and indicated a need to increase the quality of produce in lower income neighborhoods associated with a high incidence of obesity. The involvement of the students of HCS in data collection for these studies is central to learning about the consequences of obesity and the methods to prevent it within their own families and neighborhoods, which are shown in this study to be communities often affected by these issues. Understanding the geographic variations in the neighborhoods most affected by obesity, particularly in Manhattan, can help health policy initiatives, and GIS is a very useful technology that could help elucidate the factors, which correlate with obesity, providing a basis with which to make change.

The students that performed this research as part of Harlem Children Society’s summer research program are in many ways representative of the demographics of these neighborhoods, through both race and income level. In this way, they may be encouraged to understand the rates of disease in their communities that can be mitigated by changes to nutritional habits as well as by health education programs and health initiatives.

For the past few years, HCS has initiated a highly successful pilot program in Biostatistics and GIS. Students, parents, teachers, and concerned educators have expressed a deep interest in keeping this program and allowing the students to explore the field and perhaps take it on as a career objective. Using this model, HCS teaches science through research inquiry and a type of community based participatory and action based research. In this student-centered inquiry education model, the participants learn about nutrition, nutrition-related diseases, as well as research methods and logical inquiry. One large part of the scientific method is the dissemination of knowledge to the public. The students attend a scientific conference and present their work to the scientific community. In addition, in an annual outdoor science fair, part of the HCS model of STEM education, the students presented and communicated their results to their peers, families, and communities. Public dissemination of knowledge is particularly important in this model as it can teach communities about nutrition and obesity research. This type of dissemination of knowledge is advantageous as the students are compelled to focus on research that directly impacts their communities. Their conclusions are not only relevant to their communities and families, but also as they set up the parameters for research methods in nutrition, the students learn and discover the indices which are important to fruit and vegetable consumption, either due to their ethnicities and backgrounds, or due to their income-level. This can lead to real community change that can impact public health and obesity rates.

The students are taught the Global Spatial Analysis module designed to introduce students to the concepts, science, and theory of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial analysis. The course is designed to provide students a firm understanding of GIS in the commercial world, an appreciation of data and error handling, and the sensitivity of decision-based techniques of spatial analysis within GIS applications. The intention is to build on skills and knowledge gained from introductory GIS by developing the various decision-making capabilities inherent in GIS, within both management and spatial data analysis. Planning, design, error handling, decision support techniques and advanced spatial analysis are examined within the overall implementation of GIS projects through lectures, prescribed computer-based assignments and projects in order to enable students to gain an understanding of the potential value of GIS across a broad range of application areas. Students work with the leading software and technology in the field of geospatial analysis and receive hands-on experience using the latest version of ArcGIS. The goal is for to students to master sufficient introductory concepts and skills to develop, complete, and present a GIS project. Since GIS can be implemented within several disciplines and related to any data with a spatial component, regardless of the source of the data, various examples and training scenarios in the course include: Bio/Medical sciences, Bio-Informatics, Epidemiology, Forestry, Communication Technologies, Meteorology, and the study of socio-economic sciences and patterns, and others.

In collaboration with various faculty mathematics and computer science preparation workshop will be carried out starting in the summer term. The classes are designed to develop the student's skills to prepare for college level mathematics necessary for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs of study.

The training includes development of skills in the use of programming languages such as Basic, Java and Perl, applied to statistical data analysis with the purpose of reinforcing the student’s understanding of the math topics that are covered. Students learn programming skills essential to any work in the sciences, which would enable them to implement functions and formulae applied to statistical data analysis and modeling, including Bio-informatics.

Topics cover content of the SAT exams in mathematics and beyond with the purpose of strengthening the student’s quantitative and statistical literacy. Areas explored include algebra, plane and solid geometry, analytical geometry and trigonometry; matrices and determinants, vectors and imaginary numbers; sequences, series and the calculus; logic, probability and statistics, graphs, diagrams, charts and tables.

The course will also follow a progression beginning with the basics of linear equations, solution sets, scalars, variables, fields, vectors, and vector properties. Matrices and their properties are then introduced, followed by row echelon, Gauss-Jordan Elimination, Matrix Properties, and vector and matrix addition and multiplication. Each session is routinely opened with a review of material covered in the prior class before advancing to new topics. Group activity is facilitated by circulating through the room to monitor progress and answer questions at the event, when students are unable to solve problems.

These group activities serve several purposes: to reinforce new concepts, to prompt students to actively engage in thinking, discussing, and formulating questions about the material, and to empower students to complete their assignments at home. The students then submit the worksheets for grading when they return to class, and receive problem solutions via email from the instructor.

By the end of the term, the students will develop a foundation in the basics of linear algebra.

At the end of the workshop, students are exposed to and/or acquired basic concepts and terms in computer science; Boolean logic, algorithm, design and problem solving skills, reading and creating flowcharts and technical drawings/diagrams; teamwork, leadership and research skills; discussion of topics/news in technology; experience in documenting work and collaborating with technologies such as blogs and online forums, project management, communicating and presenting ideas effectively.

Students will also be taught basic and advanced database systems and web development like SQL Server, Access, Windows SharePoint Services and Designer and the Adobe CS3 web development tools and programming languages such as ASP.NET, VB.ADO and VB.NET.

The students after a training period will be given a hands-on research project that they are required to work under the guidance and tutelage of an experienced faculty and visiting staff.

Increasingly, issues concerning the ethical, legal, and social implications of advances in biotechnology and biomedicine are arising both in the United States and abroad. From stem cell research to health care reform, these topics involve critical dilemmas at the intersections of law, society, culture, public policy, philosophy, religion, economics, and history.

A Debate over emerging technologies is on the rise and will become increasingly critical to humanities future and our environment. As concerned citizens, we have to be vigilant of fields like robotics and artificial intelligence as they develop further. We have to train our youth at a tender age to imbibe in them critical thinking as we explore the frontiers of science & technology. NIBC (Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology & Cognitive science; GNR (Genetics, Nanotechnology, & Robotics); GRIN (Genetics, Robotic, Information & Nano processes; GRAIN (Genetics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Nanotechnology); and BANG (Bits, Atoms, Neurons & Genes) – are currently regarded most popular term for emerging and converging technologies. These will increasingly become pertinent of how we work and evolve as a species and take care of our environment for the better of our future.

Scientists, healthcare providers and policy-makers confront the challenge of how to approach these complex questions, yet scientific and technological advances have far out-paced our ability to understand or make key decisions about these issues. HCS is developing the new Bioethics program to address the critical need to educate students right from their tender years to equip them with the knowledge and skills to understand and make bioethical decisions. Study in Bioethics provides students with the training to work professionally on issues in bioethics, and grounds them in historical, philosophical, legal, and social-scientific approaches and models for addressing bioethics. The program prepares students to work in various capacities within this new and ever-growing field, and includes a concentration in global bioethics – the first of its kind in the United States.

This program will enable students to draw on the extraordinary resources from various universities and institutions. Students will be assigned to a primary advisor, with whom they work closely to design an individualized program that best meets their needs. Students may then focus, if they choose, on one of a variety of areas, including clinical ethics, research ethics, neuroethics, reproductive ethics, environmental ethics, or other realms.

We think, that this new venture will be a first of its kind anywhere to teach and train students right from a tender age of middle and high school, through until their under-graduate years.