Saturday Science: Building Community Through STEM Exploration Uptown
Since 2017, Saturday Science at Columbia University has engaged nearly 10,000 local children and their families through scientific exploration.
Inside the light-filled Education Lab at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute, you’ll find high-powered microscopes, neuron model guides, and interactive activity stations designed to teach youth about the different facets of neuroscience.
The space, nestled on the University’s Manhattanville campus, is where scientific curiosity and community impact meet through an array of programs. Among them is the Saturday Science series, which invites local families and community groups to connect over immersive STEM education activities.
Launched in 2017, the program transforms cutting-edge research into interactive experiences that encourage visitors to experiment, ask questions, and make their own connections.
“Built through a collaboration between BioBus and Columbia University researchers, students, and educators, Saturday Science reflects a shared commitment to making science welcoming and accessible to all,” said Kent Katner, Senior Public Programs Manager, Zuckerman Institute. “By prioritizing families and community organizations in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx, the program helps address educational inequities while fostering curiosity, confidence, and a sense of belonging in science.
"Since 2017, Saturday Science has engaged nearly 10,000 children and their families, opening doors to scientific exploration and lifelong interest in how the brain and world around us work.”
The latest Saturday Science session, hosted last fall, explored the wonders of electricity through over a dozen interactive activity stations created by BioBus and Columbia University Neuroscience Outreach (CUNO).
During the workshop, titled "Shocking Science," families investigated how spiders hunt with eerie precision, how certain animals sense their surroundings without sight, and how nerve cells transmit electrical signals through the body. A perennial favorite of the program—the Brain Bank—captivated visitors with real brains from sheep, whales, and other species.
The event was further enriched by guest partners, including the George Bruce New York Public Library, the NYC Urban Park Rangers, and Teachers College’s Laboratory for Clinical and Developmental Studies and Neurocognition of Language Lab, underscoring the collaborative spirit behind Saturday Science.
Check out photos from the workshop below and come to the next Saturday Science event on Feb. 28!
