At New Year’s Eve 2020, two award-winning NYC high school science teachers and four students — all from New York City’s public schools — will push the crystal button on the main stage in the center of Times Square, signaling the lowering of the Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball. Viewed by billions around the world, this moment officially begins the 60-second countdown to the New Year and is historically seen as a celebration as the human spirit.
These teachers and students will stand on stage to honor science teachers and their students, in response to global concern about climate change in 2019 and the role of youth in both demanding and creating solutions to the climate crisis.
The two teachers, Jared Fox and Aida Rosenbaum, represent two of the seven recipients of the Fund for the City of New York’s 11th annual Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics. The awards recognize creative science and mathematics teachers in New York City public high schools who achieve superb outcomes and promote a love for science and mathematics, often inspiring students to pursue careers in science and math.
Fox, who teaches at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in Upper Manhattan, will be joined on stage by seniors Ricardo Herrera and Diane Arevalo, who are working to create a “Clean Air Green Corridor” between their school and Highbridge Park. In addition, Jared Fox is on the Board of one of our favorite non-profits ~ Biobus. The mobile Biobus labs allow more than 45,000 students to discover, explore and pursue science every year.
Rosenbaum, who teachers at the Bronx Latin School and graduated from Bronx Science (the NYC public high school that boasts the most Nobel Laureates among its alumni of any school in the world), will be joined by high school seniors Daniel Soto and Van Troy Ulloa from her AP Environmental Science class. They led a Walk for Water initiative to raise money for places without clean water and also organized participation in the Youth Climate March.
Here is the schedule in Times Square for New Year’s Eve. Where did all that confetti come from & what does it say?
Can’t be there? Check out the Times Square New Year’s Eve 2020 Live Webcast.
#TimesSquare ~ #BallDrop