Science, Community, and Limitless Possibility
The New York Hall of Science 2024 and 2025 Annual Report
Letter from the President & CEO and Board Chair
Looking Toward the Future
As we reflect on the past year, we are energized by the work we have done and continue to do leading the incredible institution that is the New York Hall of Science. Born from the spirit of the 1964 World’s Fair, the Hall of Science has evolved into an essential part of New York’s cultural and educational fabric.
The Hall is a place with immense meaning to the New York community, a place that evokes passion, with loyal visitors who came here as children and now bring their children decades later. But it is more than just a building. Our exhibitions and hands-on STEM experiences spark curiosity for visitors of all ages. Our education program engages our youngest learners, provides professional development for educators to bring science to life for children, and fosters multigenerational learning that extends well beyond the classroom. Our youth and workforce development program, the Alan J. Friedman Center for the Development of Young Scientists, nurtures high school and college students’ interest in STEM education and careers, helping them envision futures in science and technology. And our research team partners with staff across the institution to improve our practices, understand our impact, and deepen our efforts to support ambitious, creative STEM learning.
None of this is possible without partnerships. Partnerships with our supporters whose philanthropy advances our mission; with public and private agencies; and with our neighbors and community members. Our partners help us reach learners wherever they are—in our science center, in classrooms, online, and in the communities we serve—and empower every person to discover their place in the world of STEM. We look forward to continuing and expanding upon our important work together.
With appreciation,
Lisa J. Gugenheim
President & CEO
Timothy J. Tynan
Chair, Board of Trustees
DesignMakePlay
NYSCI’s exhibitions and programs are created to support all learners in using the tools of science and engineering in creative, joyful, and inventive ways...enabling everyone to become a confident and empowered STEM learner.
“NYSCI in my community means a wealth of opportunities.”
NYSCI ignites curiosity across generations—creating a trajectory of STEM learning experiences that connect science and technology to everyday life.
CityWorks: Building Tomorrow’s Cities Today
In May 2025, NYSCI opened CityWorks, a major exhibition on urban infrastructure that offers visitors a rare opportunity to see inside the living systems of their city and discover how science is powering bold solutions to climate and infrastructure challenges. CityWorks focuses on four key aspects of urban life and their relationship to each other: Transportation, Water and Wastewater, Sanitation, and Urban Development. CityWorks anchors NYSCI’s commitment to inspiring all New Yorkers to use the tools of science and engineering to explore, understand, and improve our city.
This interactive exhibit was made possible by: public and private partnerships with government agencies including the MTA NYC Transit, NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability, NYC Departments of Aging, City Planning, Citywide Administrative Services, Environmental Protection, Health, Parks and Recreation, and Sanitation; engineers; urban planners; nonprofit organizations; research funded by the National Science Foundation; and philanthropic support.
We express our deep gratitude to the following supporters: Freedom Together Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Sara Lee Schupf and the Lubin Family Foundation, The Plumbing Foundation City of New York, Inc., Ravenel B. Curry III, and the State of New York.
Early Childhood STEM Learning and Engagement
NYSCI collaborates with local District 24 schools, families, and other community partners to ensure that our museum is a welcoming and dynamic hub for STEM learning. Since September 2022, NYSCI has enriched early science learning for 3K and Pre-K students at Q369, which we opened on campus in partnership with NYC Public Schools (NYCPS). Through our Pre-K STEM Enrichment Program, NYSCI engages the whole school ecosystem in collaborative STEM learning by creating science and engineering enrichment activities, providing professional development for educators, and engaging families through events to foster multigenerational learning.
NYSCI at Q369 reaches more than 240 students, 60 teachers and paraprofessionals, and 1,000 participants at family events each year.
Expanding Our Reach and Impact
With philanthropic support from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation, NYSCI expanded the Program to four additional Pre-K Centers part of the Mosaic network in Corona, Queens: Q372, Q422, Q391, and Q373. As a result, in the past three years, NYSCI has served approximately 500 students and 50 teachers and paraprofessionals through 25 professional development trainings and 50 science coaching visits. In addition, NYSCI has engaged approximately 500 students through field trips or STEM shows and 835 participants at family engagement events.
We also developed for educators three literacy-based engineering guides, which were funded by the Guttman Foundation and the NYCPS. The guides use our Design, Make, Play approach of designing playful STEM experiences as an anchor for exploration and skill-building to complement the NYCPS Pre-K curriculum.
NYSCI is where science becomes a tool for understanding our world and shaping our future together. Highlights of our annual impact include:
250,000
visitors
explore our 450+ exhibits and programs
95,000
children
from school or camp groups enjoy NYSCI
3,000
educators
receive training to make science engaging in the classroom
The Science Career Ladder
The Science Career Ladder
The Science Career Ladder
Shaping the Future of STEM
NYSCI has been empowering young people with the confidence, skills, and experience to chart their own paths in science and technology. Our signature youth and workforce development program, the Alan J. Friedman Center for the Development of Young Scientists, features the Science Career Ladder (SCL), which has equipped 5,000 people with mentorship and hands-on experience that prepares them for college and careers in STEM. These young people, known as “Explainers,” work as museum facilitators, bringing exhibits to life and making STEM accessible and exciting for every visitor who enters our doors. Through their work, Explainers build communication skills, professional confidence, and a deep understanding in STEM that form the foundation for college and career success. In 2026, we are celebrating the SCL’s 40th anniversary, a remarkable milestone that reflects our long-standing investment in young people and in building the future STEM workforce.
“Being in the SCL has been a journey of learning more about who I am and who I aspire to be. NYSCI has helped me to build self-confidence and the skills to be a leader.”
Anisha Tulloch, Senior Explainer
Thank you to the following funders who made the Friedman Center’s Science Career Ladder program possible in FY24 and FY25.
The Barker Welfare Foundation
BlackRock
BNY Mellon
The Carson Family Charitable Trust
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
The Countess Moira Charitable Foundation
Deutsche Bank
The Walt Disney Company
Anita and Nicholas Donofrio
Memorial Sloan Kettering
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
New York City Council
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York City Public Schools
The New York Community Trust
The Pinkerton Foundation
The Seidenberg Family Foundation, Inc.
Simons Foundation
Sybil Golden Science Career Ladder Fund
United Airlines, Inc.
Research that Shapes STEM Learning
Our research team collaborates with developers of our exhibits and programs, our local community members, and external partners across the country to explore new strategies for fostering STEM learning within the museum and beyond our walls. Support from the National Science Foundation funded a pilot program to add two Postdoctoral Fellows to our team. Fellows led original research that explored the intersection of science, food, and culture, and the conditions and strategies that support effective institutional change. Insights generated by their research inform our own programming and contribute to the broader educational and research communities to help make STEM education more responsive to the needs of our audiences.
Decoding Your Brain and AI
Through the AI Institute for Artificial and Natural Intelligence (ARNI), a five-year partnership with Columbia University supported by the National Science Foundation, NYSCI is engaging cohorts of Explainers in year-long fellowships to develop museum activities that foster public engagement with AI and neuroscience. The program provides Explainers with summer experiences at Columbia, where they deepen their knowledge and guide activity development in collaboration with NYSCI staff. Public engagement activities developed through this partnership invite visitors and their families to discover how our brains work, tinker with AI to explore exciting parts of being human (like experiencing and seeing how memories form), and investigate how AI is similar to and different from the way humans think.
Partnerships Power NYSCI’s Community-Centered STEM Programs
The Simons Foundation has been a dedicated supporter of NYSCI for nearly 14 years. Their partnership has enabled NYSCI to become an indispensable part of the educational and cultural fabric of our immediate community of Corona and its surrounding neighborhoods. Central to this work is NYSCI's commitment to developing programs in close collaboration with community stakeholders—including families, educators, local organizations, and community leaders—to ensure that offerings reflect community strengths, priorities, and lived experiences. This approach has shaped a wide range of initiatives, including parent and family engagement opportunities that explore how science connects to everyday life through participants' own languages, cultural traditions, and personal interests; the Science Innovators Club afterschool program for third- and fourth-graders; school and community outreach events; and community-anchored celebrations that draw up to 1,000 attendees annually.
NYSCI's LEAD Corporate Partners
Special Events
Special Events
Special Events
Gala FY 2024
On November 8, 2023, NYSCI’s Celebrate Science and Inspiration Gala brought together leaders in STEM to salute a shared commitment to making STEM learning more accessible to everyone. We honored Steve Cohen, New York Mets Owner, with the Distinguished Leadership Award, which was accepted by Michael “Sully” Sullivan. We also honored Richard R. Buery, Jr., CEO of Robin Hood, with the Vision and Venture Award, and Ivan Tornos, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet, with the Trailblazer in Science Award. NYSCI’s Seidenberg Family Top of the Ladder Award was given to Anisha Tulloch, Senior Explainer. Funds raised from the Gala fuel NYSCI’s efforts to deliver engaging STEM learning experiences to children, families, and educators and encourage the next generation of STEM leaders to solve global challenges for a better world.
Gala FY 2025
On November 4, 2024, leaders in STEM convened at NYSCI’s Celebrate Science and Inspiration Gala to raise vital funds to help foster the next generation of STEM innovators and leaders. We honored Yann LeCun, MD, Chief AI Scientist of Meta, with the Trailblazer in Science Award, Frank Baker, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Siris Capital, with the Distinguished Leadership Award, and Mike Finley, CEO of Boingo Wireless, with the Vision and Venture Award. Senior Explainer Edwin Gomez received the Seidenberg Family Top of the Ladder Award.
President’s Council
NYSCI’s President’s Council is a passionate group of STEM leaders and philanthropists who support NYSCI’s work at the highest level. Through a series of invitation-only events, members connect with scientists and educators from NYSCI and our partner institutions, build relationships with STEM industry leaders, and engage with our programs firsthand.
Past events explored the intersection of quantum computing and AI and how these emerging technologies can solve problems that humanity is facing. We featured esteemed scientists Jeannette Wing, PhD, Xaq Pitkow, PhD, and Darío Gil, PhD, in that engaging discussion. Another event offered insights on the future of smart cities, AI, and urban development, and complemented the launch of CityWorks, our groundbreaking exhibition revealing the complex science, systems, and technologies behind an ever-evolving city. A panel of luminaries included Robert Galvin, Stacy Hobson, Amen Ra Mashariki, and Rafail Portnoy.
NYSCI Supporters
Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025
(July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025)
$1,000,000+
- Estate of Roger J. Hertz
- Freedom Together Foundation
- National Science Foundation
$100,000 – $999,999
- BNY Mellon
- The Carson Family Charitable Trust
- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
- The Countess Moira Charitable Foundation
- Ravenel Curry
- Deutsche Bank
- Anita and Nicholas Donofrio
- The FAR Fund
- Glenn W. Bailey Foundation
- IBM Corporation
- Jesse and Joan Kupferberg Family Foundation
- Martin R. Kupferberg
- The Kupferberg Foundation
- MacMillan Familly Foundation
- The Pinkerton Foundation
- Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund
- The Seidenberg Family Foundation, Inc.
$50,000 - $99,999
- Amazon & AWS
- Amdocs, Inc.
- BlackRock
- Citi
- Hydro-Québec Energy Services
- JPMorganChase
- Srini Kalapala
- Sara Lee Schupf and the Lubin Family Foundation
- MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation
- Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, Inc.
- Nasdaq
- NBCUniversal
- The New York Community Trust
- New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
- PepsiCo, Inc.
- Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation
- Melissa Vail and Norman Selby
- Verizon
- Zimmer Biomet
$10,000 - $49,999
- 1Finity
- John E. Abele
- Accenture
- ADP Foundation
- Anonymous (5)
- Apax Foundation
- Frank Baker
- Bank of America
- The Barker Welfare Foundation
- Scott and Rosemary Becchi
- Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Boingo Wireless
- Boston Consulting Group
- Al and Caryn Bunshaft
- Casa Systems
- CBRE
- Thomas and Ann Charters
- David and Pamela Christman
- Ciena Corporation
- Cisco
- City Strategies
- Dan Clivner
- Neil de Crescenzo
- Dell Technologies
- DTCC
- Seth H. Dubin and Barbara E. Field
- Barbara Dzubak
- Ericsson
- Estate of Samuel C. Florman
- Evercore
- Anna M. Ewing and John Capotosto
- EY
- F5
- Joseph R. Ficalora
- Mike and Susan Finley
- James and Ann Firestone
- Stuart Fischer and Jeanette Mall
- Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP
- The David Friedman Family Foundation
- Kathryn W. Guarini, PhD
- Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park
- Hard Rock Cafe
- HCL Tech
- Gary and Alexandra Hoberman and Family
- Edward and Deborah Horowitz
- HPE
- The Hyde and Watson Foundation
- Independent Chemical Corporation
- Juniper Networks
- Sandra and Michael Kamen
- KPMG
- Maya Kulycky
- Lily Auchincloss Foundation
- Mary Jane and George McCartney
- Medici Next
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Richard† and Ronay Menschel
- MetLife
- Morgan Stanley
- Andrew Murphy
- Kelsey and Sudhir Nair
- Naveen and Courtney Nataraj
- NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
- Nokia
- Omnicon
- Pfizer
- The Plumbing Foundation City of New York, Inc.
- PGA Tour
- PNC Bank
- PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
- Property Services Corporation of Long Island
- Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Resorts World New York City
- Jane Safer
- S&P Global
- Stephen and Maxine Sands
- Linda S. Sanford
- Sidley Austin LLP
- Simons Foundation
- Lisa and Alan Sinsheimer
- Siris
- Spirent Communications
- Minerva Tantoco, City Strategies
- Steve and Amy Thogmartin
- Tishman Speyer
- Tim Tynan
- UBS Financial Services
- United Airlines, Inc.
- The Venetian Group LLC
- Margo and Anthony Viscusi
- Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III
- The Walt Disney Company
- James S. Wiener and Sarah Gleit
- Wolters Kluwer
- World Wide Technology
- Ari Zweiman and Ashley Timmer
- ZT Systems
- Alexandra Zubko
$1,000 - $9,999
- 7G Capital Management
- Actum
- Dale Allsopp
- Stephen Altschul
- American Chemical Society
- Anonymous (7)
- John Archer
- A Sprout Foundation
- Michael Avella
- Ellen S. Baker, MD, MPH
- Dr. Gilda Barabino and Joseph Barabino
- Bonnie Bassler
- Stephen Bernous
- Ryan Bond
- Brookhaven Science Associates
- Richard R. Buery, Jr. and Deborah Archer
- Pat Burns
- Joan and Robert Catell
- CCS Fundraising
- Peta-Gay Clarke
- Chris Colón
- Joe Crescitelli
- Deloitte & Touche LLP
- Christopher Doroszczyk
- Dr. Claudy and Adrienne Jules Family Foundation
- Duane Morris LLP
- Tom Dubin and Pam Klem
- Robert J. Easton
- Yvette Encarnacion
- Bridget Engle
- Equinix
- Christopher Fenimore
- Julissa Ferreras
- FGS Global
- Charles B. Fischer, Jr.
- Randall J. Fleischer
- Forest Electric Corp.
- Peter Hovenier
- Marilyn C. Hoyt and Dan C. Wharton
- Afwa Kandawire
- Kunal Khara
- Ivan Kimball
- Jamie Lake
- René Lammers
- Tina Lee
- Jeffrey and Jill Libshutz
- Linda and Alan Kahn Foundation, Inc.
- LLL Foundation
- Wyna Liu
- Shrivastava and Namita Luthra
- Chip Manozzi
- Bronwen Mason
- John Massey
- MATRIXX Software, an Amdocs company
- McAfee
- Anthony Melone
- MetroPlusHealth
- Walter Montgomery
- Moonshot Strategies
- Robert Mujica
- Netpace
- New York City FC
- William Norden
- Amanda Wind O'Donnell
- Palo Alto Networks
- Ponce Bank
- Horatio Potter
- Susan M. Puglia
- Raising Cane’s
- Sháka A. Rasheed and Lela Weems
- RHB Consulting
- Tom and Jill Robey
- Jon Rubinstein
- RXR
- Chung Seto
- Robin B. Shahani
- SOLiD
- Jeff Sousa
- Starstone Power
- Lauren C. States and Kenneth Creary
- Lee Tawil and Joanne Hoffer
- Tech Mahindra Ltd.
- James Trister
- Ian Trombley
- Tusk Strategies LLC
- VHB
- Michaela Walsh
- Marie Wieck
- Wind River
- Melinda Witmer
- Catherine and Eugene Wolfe
- Jim Wynne
- Michael Zeto
- Jeffrey Zimmerman
- † denotes deceased
- Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this listing, we may have unintentionally overlooked someone. If this is the case, please accept our apology and notify us immediately by contacting devops@nysci.org.
Board of Trustees
NYSCI Board of Trustees
As of May 2026
Officers
- Timothy J. Tynan, Chair
- Frans Johansson, Vice Chair
- Linda S. Sanford, Secretary
- Martin R. Kupferberg, Treasurer
Members
- Ellen S. Baker, MD, MPH
- Gilda Barabino, PhD
- Al Bunshaft
- Robert Davis
- Christopher Doroszczyk
- Atul Dubey
- Yvette Encarnacion
- Joseph R. Ficalora
- Kathryn Guarini, PhD
- Gary Hoberman
- Edward D. Horowitz
- Frans Johansson
- Srini Kalapala
- Ivan Kimball
- Maya Kulycky
- Martin R. Kupferberg
- René Lammers, PhD
- Yvonne Liu
- Mary Jane McCartney
- Louis Modano
- Martez R. Moore
- Sudhir Nair
- Sháka Rasheed
- Linda S. Sanford
- Anil Shrivastava
- Alan Sinsheimer, Esq.
- Steven Thogmartin
- Timothy J. Tynan
- Melissa G. Vail
- James S. Wiener
- Alexandra Zubko
Ex Officio Members
- Lisa J. Gugenheim President and CEO, New York Hall of Science
- Honorable Zohran Mamdani Mayor, City of New York
- Honorable Mark Levin Comptroller, City of New York
- Honorable Julie Menin Speaker, New York City Council
- Honorable Donovan Richards President, Borough of Queens
- Honorable Diya Vij Commissioner, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
- Honorable Kamar H. Samuels Chancellor, New York City Public Schools
- Honorable Tricia Shimamura Commissioner, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Trustee Emeriti
- Ravenel B. Curry, III
- Nicholas M. Donofrio Chair Emeritus
- Seth H. Dubin, Esq. Chair Emeritus
- Sara Lee Schupf
- Ivan G. Seidenberg Chair Emeritus
- We thank the following Trustees for their service.
- David A. Christman, David B. Chubak, Bridget Engle, Anna M. Ewing, Stuart Fischer, Michael B. Freedman, MBA, CPA, Darío Gil, PhD, Mary E. Kelly, Jaclyn A. Mucaria, MPA, FACHE, Michelle Neal, Frederick Royall, III, Stephen H. Sands, Lisa M. C. Thomas, Ian Trombley
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Including Statement of Activities and Statement of Financial Position from our Audited Financial Statements
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