By Gabrielle-Anne Torre

The morning of the March for Science started off just like any other morning. I woke up and did an activity I’ve done many times over: put in my contacts and brushed my teeth. A German glassblower devised wearable contacts in 1887, centuries after Leonardo da Vinci and Rene Descartes played with the idea of enhancing corneal power. In the 1900’s, while experiments were being performed on plastic lenses, the formula for modern toothpaste gel was also being tested. The ingredients of toothpaste are still modified by labs, and both contact lenses and toothpaste are worth an estimated $17 billion combined. Compared to the cost of science, the cost I spend on these daily necessities is small. What would I do on any given day without contact lenses or toothpaste? But as I prepared for the day ahead, an even bigger question was on my mind: What would I do without science? 

By ​Poornima Peiris 

On April 8th & 9th Scientistas from across the country gathered for the annual symposium at the Microsoft Office in Times Square, New York City.  The symposium was attended by more than 100 undergraduate and graduate scientistas in various STEM disciplines. The two-day event included a poster competition, workshops, a career fair and the opportunity for attendees to network with other driven and motivated individuals in STEM careers.