New York City Virus Hunters - A Community Science Initiative

We aim to increase students' understanding and interest in science through active participation in the first large-scale tracking initiative targeting avian viruses like influenza viruses and avian paramyxoviruses (also known as Newcastle disease virus) ever conducted in an urban area - New York City (NYC) - via analysis of bird droppings. The New York City Virus Hunters (NYCVH) initiative will enable teachers and students, to gain an understanding of the interaction of natural environments and human health while increasing their knowledge, confidence, and interest in science. The NYCVH initiative will build on strong collaborations between the Krammer Laboratory at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) and BioBus, a NYC science education institution. NYCVH will develop and provide all the training, equipment, materials, and infrastructure needed to support this research effort. NYCVH will be designed to offer multiple entry points and levels of engagement for interested students and teachers to participate. Trainings will ensure that interested teachers gain an understanding of modern tracking techniques for microbes and have ways to easily incorporate NYCVH program aspects of their choice into their work. Over the course of the program, 6,000 middle and high school students will be led by 100 teachers trained at workshops held at the BioBus’s BioBase. Workshops will introduce teachers to molecular techniques, experimental design, laboratory and bioinformatics methods, sampling kit components, and details on how teachers and students can participate in research to stay healthy and prevent future pandemics. Through the BioBus’ network, we will enlist partner schools to broaden participation in the program including school-based sampling events. In addition, and importantly, 25 local high school students will be trained to spearhead the initiative as Junior Research Scientists. These students will join the NYCVH as interns over the academic year and get intensive training in sampling, nucleic acid detection, sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and virology in general to become the next generation of leading scientists. With ISMMS, BioBus and a network of scientists from academic institutions and wildlife rehabilitators, students will be supported throughout their research process, including but not limited to study design, sample collection, sample processing, data analysis, and research presentations. This project will be evaluated using a mixed-methods approach tailored to understanding the impact of program participation on all individuals. Leveraging participatory research, this program is structured to assess the feasibility of large-scale studies at the urban human–bird interface as well as the impact it has on shaping the students’ long-term STEM career aspirations.