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“As quarantine progressed, I found people (including myself) diving into more and more news sources surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic without considering their credibility or intent...In these moments, I realized how pervasive scientific misinformation is in our society and also how difficult it can be for the public to access scientific resources...I decided to begin a platform called Science Made Equal (ScienceMade.org), which raises the voices of our community and journals like Columbia Science Review that strive to make science both accessible and credible. It is so important that we come together as a community...My research is now also remote. I am learning about the association between certain neurodegenerative disease and cancers, specifically Parkinson’s and the NFkB receptor, which plays an active role in many cancers. On a lighter note, I have taught myself how to bake for the first time!” Emily Sun ‘23 Chicago, Illinois Editor
“This summer, I had initially intended to work on a project that utilized astrocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells as a research model to study underlying molecular mechanisms of late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. The shutdown of research labs across the country in response to COVID-19 made me completely rethink my plans. All of my previous laboratory experiences had taken place at the lab bench, but I was fortunate enough to receive guidance on adapting to a remote research environment and pursuing my project from a computational angle instead, namely analyzing the transcriptomes of these differentiated cells. Although I miss my pipettes and daily cell culture routine, I have gained a new interest in learning how to program and using different software to continue my research!”
Rebecca Siegel ‘22 East Brunswick, New Jersey Illustrator
Cheryl Pan ‘21 New York, New York Editor
“I, like everyone else, experienced disruptions in my personal and academic plans and pursuits due to COVID-19, such as the cancellation of Barnard’s SRI program this summer, as well as the cancellation of the study abroad program for next semester, through which I was planning on studying in London. Throughout this time of COVID-19, I have become much more cognizant of those around me...as everyone’s emotional struggles became a shared experience...I’ve found myself stopping and spending my time meaningfully in ways that can be hard to come by in our fast-paced lives, whether it be reading more, picking up old hobbies, donating to or showing support to important causes, and staying informed... I feel that I have experienced much growth and grappled a lot with the idea of mental health...in the hopes of bringing positivity to a reality”
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