Genspace first opened its doors in 2009, with the broad goal of creating a community biology laboratory where anyone, regardless of educational background, can learn the fundamental skills and knowledge they need to explore the life sciences. Our founding team was composed of a journalist, an artist, a designer, and a few scientists, and as a result, we placed a heavy emphasis on interdisciplinary explorations of science, hands-on learning, and dialog about the ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging technologies.
OUR VISION
Everyone is empowered to use the life sciences to explore questions and develop applications that are connected to their lives and rooted in their communities.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to foster a safe and inclusive community where all people – including those from non-traditional and underrepresented backgrounds – can experientially learn, boldly create, and meaningfully grow with the life sciences.
To carry out our mission, we employ a range of informal education strategies to teach youth and adult learners through hands-on active learning that emphasizes the social context of scientific discovery.
Our core program areas are:
-
Youth Programs: The Biorocket Research Internship, a six month intensive internship program for underserved youth in New York City, and ongoing work with the alumni to enhance college and career readiness
-
Public/Adult Education: A regular schedule of short courses and workshops taught by professional scientists, artists, engineers, and designers, covering cutting edge topics like biomaterials and genome editing with CRISPR to increase scientific literacy through hands-on exploration and interdisciplinary dialog
-
Lab Memberships: A membership program in which individuals and teams pursue novel research, art, or design projects in our fully functional biology laboratory space
-
Public Outreach Programs: A rotating roster of free, public events for students, families, and adult learners to spark curiosity and creative expression with the life sciences
Stay Connected!