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Team New York

From all around New York City,
we bring you the best science we can find

Brigitta Gundersen (she/her)

City Coordinator

Neuroscientist and one of the few people in the world who doesn’t like beer (wine or cider for me, please!). In my free time you’ll find me walking my dog along the Hudson or checking out a new restaurant with friends. I help plan Taste of Science festivals and monthly events at Ryan’s Daughter in NYC.

Rosemary Puckett (she/her)

Volunteer Coordinator

Rosemary is a neuroscientist who loves getting people to think more about how their brains are working in everyday life. Outside the lab, she enjoys museum adventures and rainy days in the city. Pretty sure the evolution of human consciousness is the ultimate bar talk.

Dean Matthews (he/him)

Volunteer Manager

I'm a graduate student studying how the immune system and the microbiota influence and shape one another. Science is hard even for scientists, so I spend a lot of time thinking about how best to demystify the process for non-scientists. I also think a lot about what my dog is dreaming about.

Mihir Pendse (he/him)

Volunteer

I am a neuroimmunologist turned medical strategy and advertising professional. My scientific background focused on understanding how the immune system and the enteric nervous system (the brain of the gut) interact during health and disease. When I'm not in the lab, I'm usually running, listening to emo music, playing video games, or building up my second career as a fantasy football aficionado.

Katrina Mar (she/her)

Social Media/Website Manager + Volunteer

Hi, I’m Kat! I’m an immunologist who studies viral and fungal co-infections in the lungs. Outside of the lab, I'm excited by marine biology, animal behavior, and exploring NYC!

Matt LeClair (he/him)

Volunteer

I’m Matt and I always enjoyed mad scientists when I was a child. Now, I am neither mad nor a scientist, but it’s fun to pretend sometimes.

John Bahrenburg (he/him)

Volunteer

Hi! I'm John, I am a public high school English teacher by day, bartender on the weekends, and wear a cape in the evenings. I first became interested in Taste of Science when I learned that I could listen to lectures in a pub. I attended regularly and liked to imagine myself in the days of old arguing over philosophy, science, and the arts, but with a pint of mead!

Kaitlin Frey (she/her)

Volunteer

Barrett Allen (he/him)

Volunteer

Barrett is a butcher, biologist, and sourdough enthusiast from San Francisco, California.

Fitty Liu (they/she)

Digital Content Creator + Volunteer

Hello I'm Fitty! I study infectious fungi and what they do to the immune system. I'm passionate about making science more accessible and my life more whimsical :)

Kristen Olson (she/her)

Volunteer

Hi! I’m Kristen - I’m a science educator, birder, and overall lover of the natural world. I’m very happy to be part of the Taste of Science community!

Ned Lieb (he/him)

Volunteer

In another life, I was a physics grad student who wanted to study macroscopic quantum effects. Now, I’m looking for a lab to apply my new coding knowledge after some time studying photodynamic therapy at a cancer hospital. Eating food and talking about science are two of my favorite things!

Karla Kretschmannova (she/her)

Volunteer

A neuroscientist with a knack for small things. Still learning more about myself and world around me.

Ayesha Salman (she/her)

Volunteer

Hi! I’m Ayesha, a research technician in a fungal immunology/microbiota lab. I'm building science communication skills to explore career paths beyond bench research and hopefully make science more accessible! When I’m not in the lab, you can find me cooking, at Pilates, or exploring NYC!

Tsee Lee (he/him)

Volunteer

I seek the extraordinary, whether it's experiences, people, or YouTube science videos. I teach CS in a real public high school, and I've tutored students privately. In my free time I take lots of classes (like improv and swimming), and try to bring people together through pickup soccer, karaoke, and cooking. I also volunteer with BBPB's public kayak program.

Clayton Wollner (he/him)

Volunteer

Midwesterner turned New Yorker with a PhD in immunology. Hoping to contribute to science engagement in my new community. My favorite things about living in NYC include the theater scene (on and off-Broadway), the limitless food options, and, of course, that there is a Taste of Science chapter! Novice birder eager to spend more time viewing the world through a pair of binoculars.

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Get a flavor of past events.

events

(POSTPONED + SOLD OUT) Flying High with the Birds

May 9

Engineer's Gate (Central Park)

(POSTPONED + SOLD OUT) Flying High with the Birds

Engineer's Gate (Central Park)

It’s spring migration and the perfect time to observe some of our feathered friends! Join Taste of Science and a team of guest birding experts in Central Park on Saturday, April 25th at 2pm. Bring your own binoculars if you have them (we will have some loaner pairs available), wear comfortable shoes, and dress for the weather! All skill levels welcome!

A guided walk through Central Park led by Will Harcourt-Smith, Sahid Robles Bello, Ariel Schiff, Santiago Flórez, and Kristen Olson.

Engineer's Gate (Central Park)

Excretions & Secretions: The Necessary Messes

May 7

Somethin' Else

Excretions & Secretions: The Necessary Messes

Somethin' Else

Making a mess is one of the many defining features of the animal kingdom; whether slimy, smelly, or otherwise unpleasant. Join us for two talks that dive deeper into how the processes behind generating some of these unsavory substances are deliberate, intelligent, and an essential part of biology!

Somethin' Else

Unlocking the Past to Predict Our Climate Future

May 5

Ryan's Daughter

Unlocking the Past to Predict Our Climate Future

Ryan's Daughter

As we’ve all learned from this roller coaster of a Spring, extreme weather events are becoming more common not only here in NYC, but around the world. How do we know when weather swings are really “extreme,” or just part of normal variability? Join us for talks from two climate scientists to hear about what we can learn from looking a past climate variability, and how we can apply climate models to predict future climate variability and its impacts on our lives.

Ryan's Daughter

May 3

SciComm Block Party

As a wrap-up to this year’s taste of science festival, we’re bringing our most admired science communication friends together at Caveat to throw our annual SciComm Block Party! We'll have tables with demonstrations, interactive activities, and even some exotic creatures to meet. We invite you to celebrate with us and kick back with fellow NYC science advocates and unashamed nerds whose sense of wonder is alive and kicking. Cheers!

(SOLD OUT) Community Science Scavenger Hunt

May 2

Alexander Humboldt Monument

(SOLD OUT) Community Science Scavenger Hunt

Alexander Humboldt Monument

Spring is a great time to take a closer look at the natural world right in NYC! Team up with other curious people and compete to complete a community science nature scavenger hunt! You and your team will explore the park, guided by nature scavenger hunt tasks. You’ll be discovering, learning, and having lots of fun, all the while contributing nature observations to iNaturalist. Come with a team or join one once you arrive! Binoculars are recommended (we’ll have some on hand to lend out) and please dress for the weather.

Alexander Humboldt Monument

(SOLD OUT) Forensic Science: Decomposition and Deconstruction

Apr 29

Ryan's Daughter

(SOLD OUT) Forensic Science: Decomposition and Deconstruction

Ryan's Daughter

Join us for an evening exploring how forensic science works in real life practice. We’ll hear from Dr. Jennifer Rosati, a forensic entomologist at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, who studies how insects behave during decomposition and how that can help investigators estimate timelines and, amazingly, detect substances like drugs or toxins. She’ll be joined by Dr. Robert Leonard from Hofstra University, a forensic linguist who examines how patterns in language, whether in writing or speech, can be used as evidence in investigations.

Ryan's Daughter

The City Breathes: Urban Trees and Air Quality in NYC

Apr 27

Somethin' Else

The City Breathes: Urban Trees and Air Quality in NYC

Somethin' Else

There are so many ways to describe New York City, however few would include “clean” in their list. Yet our city has made great strides towards improving the quality of the air we all share – not only compared to the smoggy era of the mid-twentieth century, but also within the past decade. Join us for a night of science surrounding our most precious shared resource – the city air that we breathe every day – and learn about how scientists measure air particulates and the many efforts, including the planting of urban trees, that researchers are undertaking to continue to improve NYC’s air.

Somethin' Else

Astro on Tap presents 'Live from Our Pale Blue Dot'

Apr 21

Somethin' Else

Astro on Tap presents 'Live from Our Pale Blue Dot'

Somethin' Else

Started in 2013 right here in Brooklyn, Astro on Tap NYC is a free event series that has expanded around the world! NYC monthly events run on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, and feature astronomy researchers, professionals, communicators, and enthusiasts on stage presenting short, engaging talks. Plus games with prizes! Held at Somethin’ Else in the DeKalb Market. Bring your curiosity and join the fun, and drink in the universe with us!

Somethin' Else

(sold out) Bats: Upside-Down and Inside-Out

Jan 13

Ryan's Daughter

(sold out) Bats: Upside-Down and Inside-Out

Ryan's Daughter

Grab a drink and sink your teeth into the unseen worlds bats carry with them. You’ll hear how gut microbes act as partners in crime—fueling bat diets, boosting immunity, and influencing their evolutionary journeys. After that microbial deep dive, we turn to the concrete jungle: meet the five bat species that call NYC home and discover the clever tricks that help them thrive in one of the world’s most challenging urban environments. Science, stories, and surprising bat facts await!

Ryan's Daughter