The New York City Virus Hunters Community Science initiative– working together to prevent the next pandemic

Each year the New York City Virus Hunters program provides New York City high school students the opportunity to use modern viral surveillance techniques to explore their urban environment and generate crucial data on the prevalence of avian diseases. The Junior Scientists are paired with scientist mentors who guide them through the research process, culminating in publications and presentations at research symposia. The Virus Hunters spent time gathering more than 2500 samples, learned about urban wild birds at an animal rehabilitation clinic alongside trained veterinarians and finally joined a leading influenza research laboratory at Mount Sinai to process samples and screen them for viruses. First results have been published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal, with the students as co-authors!

About

Christine Marizzi, Ph.D, is a trained Geneticist and Director of Community Science at BioBus. She believes that #ScienceIsForEveryone. In her work she builds frameworks that help students realize their greatest potential in STEM fields and provide traditionally underrepresented minorities with multiple entry points to academic and professional careers in STEM disciplines.