In September 2021, the College kicked off the Barnard Year of Science (BYOS), a celebration of all things related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Over the course of the academic year, leading figures in STEM, including Barnard’s very own experts, came together virtually and in person to participate in a range of programming. With each month dedicated to a different discipline — from psychology and computer science to the interdisciplinaries — the BYOS provided a unique forum for students, faculty, alumnae, and renowned guests to share ideas and engage in meaningful conversations while showcasing the scholarship, research, and innovation that happens inside Barnard’s classrooms, labs, and beyond.
Needless to say, it was a packed year of events and happenings. As the BYOS comes to a close, we’re sharing our top 10 highlights, from panel discussions and art exhibitions to the College’s successful campaign to fund the renovation and expansion of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center (formerly Altschul Hall).
2021 Convocation
(Photo: Nina Wurtzel)
Each year, Convocation brings together all four Barnard classes at Riverside Church to celebrate the start of the academic year. At the fall 2021 ceremony, President Sian Leah Beilock announced the official start of the Barnard Year of Science, reiterating the importance of STEM in everyday life and on Barnard’s campus. Nim Tottenham ’96, professor of psychology at Columbia, delivered the keynote speech.
Art Meets Science
(Photo: Jonathan King)
While the year focused on STEM, the College also amplified the interdisciplinary nature of the arts and sciences. This connection was physically on display with the Weecha sculpture (above), on loan to the College from August 2021 to August 2022. Created by glass artist Henry Richardson in honor of his geology professor, Maria Luisa “Weecha” Crawford, from Bryn Mawr, Weecha stands 8 feet tall and weighs 800 pounds. Senior art history students also emphasized the arts-sciences connection in their senior theses with “Ecological Imaginary,” an on-campus exhibit that featured 23 different projects.