Every year, all Bronx Science ninth gradres take a unique foundational class called Elements of Engineering. Physics teachers teach most of the classes and create fun, experimental courses to introduce students to the basics of civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Students build bridges, light switches, and have the opportunity to design and create projects of their own. They learn the basics of computer modeling, then use their newfound skills to design homes and buildings with computer software. Students work collaboratively and have a chance to work hands-on with cardboard, wire, and lots of hot glue in the engineering labs.
Experimentation with the Elements of Engineering
Elements of Engineering is one of Bronx Science’s unique foundational courses, taken by all ninth graders, where students have a chance to build, design, and test creations hands-on in the engineering labs.
About the Contributors
Liza Greenberg, Staff Reporter
Liza Greenberg is an Editor-in-Chief for ‘The Science Survey,’ in her third year writing for the newspaper. Liza prioritizes writing investigative pieces and articles about issues facing the school community. She is also deeply passionate about advocating for student journalism, and she has worked to start student newspapers in underserved high schools and defend student journalists against administrative censorship. At Bronx Science, Liza is a club director for the League of Presidents and on the school’s Gender Equity Board, which helps to strategize on how to increase female enrollment in advanced STEM classes. Outside of school, Liza works in a biochemistry lab. In college, she wants to study English literature, or science, technology, and society, and ultimately hopes to pursue a career as a doctor and scientific journalist.
Jenna Zhou, Staff Reporter
Jenna Zhou is a Graphic Designer and a Managing Editor/Advisory Editor for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook. She is also a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey.’ She finds journalistic photography interesting because in the action of taking the picture, you capture a moment in time. Outside of school, Jenna enjoys visiting new restaurants around New York City to explore different tastes, and she also completes small art projects in her free time. Jenna plans on studying architecture in college and going more in depth with interior design and architectural planning afterwards.
Yardena Franklin, Staff Reporter
Yardena Franklin is a Chief Graphic Designer and Editor-in-Chief for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook, as well as a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. She enjoys journalistic writing as a method to inform people about important subjects, and to share ideas for which she is passionate, all in a constructive, engaging way. She appreciates the art of taking photographs because they force her to think in a different manner, framing the picture in such a way that it tells a story and captures the exact moment in time. It is a precise art that requires much forethought, in order to plan how the photograph will turn out. In doing so, it requires much perspective shifting and flexibility, the challenge of which she enjoys. Yardena loves acting, singing, and directing. She hopes to become an engineer, but she plans to continue to pursue writing in some form, either through journalism or as a novelist, in the future.
Nora Gupta, Staff Reporter
Nora Gupta is an Editor-in-Chief and a Chief Graphic Designer for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook as well as a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey.’ She is also an awarded and published student poet and the author of the upcoming chapbook Decipher the Smoke. She advocates for artistic expression and writing sovereignty while stressing the importance of “painting a picture with words,” a mantra that she follows with a disciple’s devotion. Nora loves to use imagery and refined rhetoric in her writing, along with giving character to the people, objects, or events that she writes about. She views journalism as a healthy (and vital) part of a community — allowing greater community transparency and personality. Nora aspires to pursue writing as a future career.
Angeline Rivera, Staff Reporter
Angeline Rivera is a News Editor for ‘The Science Survey.’ As a journalist, she loves to captivate the readers and share her knowledge and passion with other people through her writing. To her, journalism is educating others on her interests in a thoughtful and carefully put-together way, making sure to hold the attention of those reading. She believes that journalistic writing allows for the truth without bias to be stated and read, leaving an everlasting impact on people’s lives. Journalistic photography is a way for her to show others the little details of what is currently happening, even when most people don’t realize it. Much of her free time outside of school is spent making art, baking, and reading, all hobbies to which she is completely devoted. Although her future career trajectory is not completely decided, Angeline has a passion for medicine and hopes to one day become a travel nurse. Regardless of her future career, journalistic writing will have a lasting impact upon her life and continue to be one of her life-long passions.
Emilia Wang McKinney, Staff Reporter
Emilia Wang McKinney is a Copy Chief for ‘The Science Survey.’ Since a young age, she has had a passion for writing and uses it as her main outlet for creativity. As a reporter, she aims to empower voices and shed light on the truth while crafting an enjoyable read. Emilia has a strong sense of identity and enjoys exploring her voice in her writing. Apart from academics, Emilia is an avid reader of fantasy novels and an Ambassador Girl Scout at her local troop. Most of her evenings and weekends are spent swimming for a competitive club team (Cross Island YMCA Barracudas). For her future college career, she hopes to combine her love for numbers with her zeal for writing.
Binah Friedman, Staff Reporter
Binah Friedman is a Graphic Designer and Groups Editor for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook. She is also a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey.’ She appreciates the value of a good story, whether it is told through words, pictures or both. Binah enjoys learning new things and sharing them with others, and she tries to always make her published work intriguing to the reader. She is an artist, and likes to create character drawings and comics in her free time. Binah plans to study computer science in college, but hopes to combine it with some kind of graphic design or otherwise creative work.