We are honoring the top 10 winners of our Student STEM Writing Contest by publishing their essays. This one is by Siwen Cui.
3-D Bioprinting: A Modern Day Prometheus
This essay, by Logan Ramanathan, 17, from The Nueva School in Los Altos Hills, Calif., is one of the top 10 winners of The Learning Network’s fourth annual STEM Writing Contest, for which we received over 3,000 entries.
You can find all of our student winners here.
3-D Bioprinting: A Modern Day Prometheus
In Greek mythology, Prometheus, the god of fire, was tasked with creating the human — to shape the human body and its organs from mud. Now, through science, a version of Prometheus’s feat may be becoming a reality.
Fourteen hours after entering into surgery, 10-year-old Luke Massella awoke in Boston Children’s Hospital. Luke was born with a condition called spina bifida, a spinal disease that can cause wide-ranging health complications. By 10 years old, he had undergone over a dozen surgeries, and in 2001, a malfunctioning bladder led to kidney failure. Luke needed a new bladder; however, traditionally, this was not possible. Previously, bladder failure meant living with either an ostomy bag that collects urine outside the body or an internal pouch drained with a tube. Additionally, without a healthy bladder, Luke’s kidneys would never be able to heal.
“I was kind of facing the possibility I might have to do dialysis [blood purification via machine] for the rest of my life,” Luke said. “I wouldn’t be able to play sports, and have the normal kid life with my brother.” Dr. Anthony Atala, a pioneering pediatric urologist, had other ideas.
Using specialized 3-D printers and a small piece of Luke’s bladder, Dr. Atala’s team, over two months, was able to grow Luke a new bladder. The transplant surgery was an overwhelming success. To this day, Luke lives without complication; the first-ever case of a 3-D-printed organ transplant. By 2018, nine other patients had received similarly printed organ transplants.
Bioprinters work similarly to traditional 3-D printers; however, instead of depositing layers of plastic, they deliver layers of biomaterial which includes living cells. These living cells are grown from seed cells taken from the patient and cultivated to form a bioink. The printers follow instructions from detailed computer models of organs or other tissues that are often made specifically for a given patient. Thus, through the use of an MRI scan and harvested cells, printers can make a custom organ, providing a perfect match.
In the past decade, the bioprinting industry has rapidly developed to work on even more complicated tissues and organs. A team at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, for example, recently achieved a breakthrough in the printing of human blood vessels.
According to Jennifer Lewis, a professor at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, in less than a decade, almost all organs could be printed, eliminating the need for transplant donors. With 17 Americans dying every day while waiting for organ transplants, bioprinting could become hugely impactful. Through new technology, hundreds of thousands of people would be able to receive lifesaving transplants which would have been otherwise impossible.
Through bioprinting, science is bringing mythology to life. This time, though, instead of titans shaping elements of the human body from mud, researchers and doctors are printing organs using high-tech equipment, ushering us into a healthier future.
Works Cited
Belton, Padraig. “A New Bladder Made From My Cells Gave Me My Life Back.” BBC News, 11 Sept. 2018.
Cartwright, Mark. “Prometheus.” World History Encyclopedia.
Fountain, Henry. “At the Printer, Living Tissue.” The New York Times, 11 Aug. 2013.
Khademhosseini, Ali. “3-D. Technology: Building a Better Blood Vessel Video and Transcript.” Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Lord, Brian. “Bladder Grown From 3-D. Bioprinted Tissue Continued to Function After 14 Years.” 3D Printing Industry, 12 Sept. 2018.
Rabin, Roni Caryn. “Doctors Transplant Ear of Human Cells, Made by 3-D Printer.” The New York Times, 2 June 2022.
Rogers, Kristen. “When We’ll Be Able to 3-D-Print Organs and Who Will Be Able to Afford Them.” CNN, 10 March 2023.
Rosen, Ellen. “A Possible Weapon Against the Pandemic: Printing Human Tissue.” The New York Times, 27 July 2020.
Tang, Jenny. “Organ Regeneration With 3-D Printing, and Future Applications.” Imperial Bioscience Review, 28 Jan. 2022.
What Are Your Thoughts on Uniforms and Strict Dress Codes?
Are uniforms or dress codes a part of your life at school, at work or while playing sports?
Word of the Day: treacherous
This word has appeared in 213 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Page, Stage and Screen: Can You Guess This Award-Winning Poet?
How African Restaurant Baobab Fare Found Success in Detroit
He also had a big dream: to bring the food of their home country to Detroit. He competed in a local entrepreneurship program in 2017, and the couple won the $50,000 prize to help them get their restaurant started. They finally opened the doors to their airy restaurant, Baobab Fare, in early 2021 — in the throes of the pandemic.
The accolades have rolled in. In February, the couple were named for the second time as semifinalists for best chef in the James Beard awards, and in March, Mr. Mamba won an episode of “Chopped,” a cooking competition on the Food Network, and with it, $10,000. Now they are donating that prize money to Freedom House Detroit, the nonprofit that helped Ms. Nijimbere, and other asylum seekers like her, escape persecution.
“Mamba is what you want the rest of humanity to be like,” said Elizabeth Orozco-Vasquez, the chief executive of Freedom House Detroit.
Growing up in Burundi in East Africa, Mr. Mamba, 42, learned to cook traditional regional flavors from his mother, who owned a restaurant. She taught him to cook with his senses, not just by recipes, which gave him an advantage on “Chopped” when he was confronted with proteins unfamiliar to him, like ostrich and scallops. But, he said the culinary skills that landed him on the show don’t compare to his wife’s talent.
“The best cook is not even me, it’s Nadia,” he said.
Ms. Nijimbere, 41, is not one for the limelight, though, and didn’t want to go on national television. Mr. Mamba nearly turned down the “Chopped” producers, but decided to compete himself because he felt it was important to share their food and the story of how two refugees became small-business owners.
An Awakening of a Geological Giant: The Next Deadly Eruption of Mount Baekdu
On the border between China and North Korea lies an active volcano called Mount Baekdu, also known as Changbai in China, that undergoes a major eruption every 1,000 years. The last such eruption occurred in 946 when 45 megatons of sulfur dioxide were released into the atmosphere — 1.5 times the amount put out by the Tambora eruption. And as the date suggests, a millennium eruption is now overdue.
Scientists who have been monitoring the status of this sleeping giant detected around 3,000 earthquakes between the years 2002 to 2005; however, since 2006, seismic activity has dramatically decreased — a key signal that a volcanic eruption is imminent. Furthermore, a Russian satellite noticed a remarkable increase in surface temperature around the mountain, while the concentration of hydrogen and helium emissions also rose tenfold in 2006. “Mount Baekdu is almost like the calm before a storm right now,” said Yun Sung-Ho, a professor of earth science education at Busan National University.
The National Institute of Environmental Research of Korea has analyzed the potential power of Mount Baekdu and suggested that the global impact may be as devastating as the Mount Tambora explosion. Volcanic ash and gas could dim the sun, lowering the temperature in East Asia by 2 degrees for two months. Not only can the fallout of volcanic ash leave an indelible imprint on our skin, but it has far-reaching secondary damages on the economy and livelihoods, as witnessed in 1816.
Scientists state that cooperation among the international community is urgently needed to prepare for all possible outcomes. They suggest that an evacuation plan must be developed, and a close monitoring system must continue. In the face of this herculean giant’s unpredictable fury and destructive force, it reminds humans that studying volcanoes is not just a matter of scientific curiosity but a crucial discipline that holds the key to protecting our planet.
Works Cited
D’Arcy Wood, Gillen. “The Volcano That Changed the Course of History.” Slate, 9 April 2014.
Evans, Robert. “Blast From the Past.” Smithsonian Magazine, July 2002.
Jeong-Won, Heo. “North’s Analysts Worry About Paektu Eruption.” Korea JoongAng Daily, 6 June 2019.
Munger, Michael. “1816: ‘The Mighty Operations of Nature’: An Environmental History of the Year Without a Summer.” University of Oregon, 2012.
Oppenheimer, Clive. “Climatic, Environmental and Human Consequences of the Largest Known Historic Eruption: Tambora Volcano (Indonesia) 1815.” Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, June 2003.
Park, Chang-Seok. “Mt. Baekdu Eruption’s Impact on North East Asia (25).” The Korea Times, 3 May 2012.
Park, Dae-gi. “If Mt. Baekdu Erupts, the Temperature in East Asia Will Drop by 2 Degrees.” KBS News, 31 Jan. 2011.
St. Fleur, Nicholas. “Only a Rumbling Volcano Could Make North Korea and the West Play Nice.” The New York Times, 9 Dec. 2016.
Volcano Hazards Program. “Be Ready for the Next Volcanic Event.” U.S. Geological Survey.
Voosen, Paul. “North Korea’s ‘Millennium Eruption’ Flooded the Skies With Sulfur, but Left Little Climate Trace.” Science, 30 Nov. 2016.
Wayman, Erin. “‘Tambora’ Links Volcano to the ‘Year Without a Summer.’” Science News, 13 July 2014.
Witze, Alexandra. “North Korea Lets Scientists Peer Inside Dangerous Volcano.” Nature, April 2016.
What Can We Learn From Older Adults?
Do you have any older adults in your life? If so, what valuable perspectives and lessons have you gained from them?
Do you think as a society we value the wisdom and experiences of people over the age of 65?
In “What Happened to America? We Asked 12 People in Their 70s and 80s,” The Times invited older adults to talk about the promise of aging, the perils of ageism and their views on American society. Here are some excerpts from the conversation:
Which decade of life would you say was or is your favorite?
Elna, 71, Illinois, Latina, Democrat, employed part time
In my 20s, there was so much to do — roller-skating, dancing, just hanging out with friends and going bike riding. And it was simpler. It was easier then.
Ray, 76, New Jersey, Black, Democrat, retired
I got excited when I heard this question. I knew immediately I’d have to say the ’60s. Growing up in North Carolina, I was a part of the civil rights movement, and that activism helped shape my thinking for the rest of my life. I was in the middle of a revolution that I didn’t even know I was a part of.What would you say are the best things about getting older?
Elizabeth, 82, Kansas, white, Republican, retired
Wisdom does come with age. It’s the little things in life that really do matter. You shouldn’t stress about so much in this world. It’s easier to just enjoy life and do what you can for others.
Pat, 74, Tennessee, Black, Democrat, retired
I’m enjoying being retired, enjoying being — as my kids and nieces call us — the Old Lady Gang. We’re always going to things, and I don’t have to worry about hitting the clock every day or going into work. So I’m enjoying being old.
Eugene, 80, California, white, Republican, retired
Freedom from worry, struggle — this is the best decade of my life. I’ve never had it so good. I get to go on cruises. I get to meet other people. I have interests that make me wonder how I ever found time to work.What are some of the changes that have happened over the course of your lifetime that you’d say are for the better?
Eugene, 80, California, white, Republican, retired
Running water, compared to a sod house on the prairie of South Dakota.Ray, 76, New Jersey, Black, Democrat, retired
For me, it’s medical advances. My father died at 59, but now most of us look forward to living into our 80s. Technology has made everything convenient, but it’s handicapping the human. It amazes me to walk down the street or drive down the street and watch how many people never see me because their faces never leave their cellphones.Any other changes that have happened over your lifetime that you think are for the worse?
Alan, 80, North Carolina, white, independent, retired
I don’t think people want to serve the country anymore. Once we got rid of the draft in 1973, fewer and fewer people want to serve. If you have a strong military, you’re going to have a strong country.
Elaine, 83, Massachusetts, white, independent, retired
We’ve forgotten how to be our brother’s keeper. And the homelessness is totally out of control. The 1 percent — I hate to repeat a cliché, but the 1 percent has all the money and the rest of us are struggling.I want you to think about the generation that comes after Generation Z, people born in the last 15 years. What things do you hope will be better for them than they were for your generation?
Barbara, 71, Oregon, white, Democrat, retired
I want to see the next generation be more concerned about taking care of this planet and each other as human beings. I want to see more tolerance.Eugene, 80, California, white, Republican, retired
I pray that they have more physical and emotional security.
Students, read the entire discussion and then tell us:
What can young people learn from the lives and experiences of older people? Have you had a meaningful relationship with an older person — a neighbor, teacher, coach or relative? If so, what life lessons or unique perspectives have you gained from that person? Share a vivid story or memory, if you have one.
What stands out from The Times’s moderated discussion with seniors? Were there any surprises? Did anything challenge what you know or thought you knew? Did the conversation change the way you think about growing older?
Elaine, 83, said that most politicians looked at voters in their 70s and 80s as “irrelevant.” Do you agree? More generally, do you think that most Americans ignore the lives and needs of seniors? If so, why do you think that is?
What question would you want to ask one of the older people interviewed in the article?
In the discussion, Elizabeth, 82, said that “wisdom does come with age,” and Francis, 83, said that “people should look forward to the future.” Do their words make you more optimistic about growing older? Does reading the article make you want to seek out older people more often?
Say ‘I Do’ to a Career as a Wedding Planner
Ah yes. The white princess ballgown dress. The suit. Bridal party. Flowers. Décor. The theme and colour scheme for the day. And of course, the cake. For months, the bride (and groom) make decisions about what they want, their absolute must-haves, and ensure that their day goes off without a hitch. But before they seal it with a kiss, a lot of planning and coordination goes into creating the perfect day. This is where you, as the fairy godmother (wedding planner) come in. Let’s discover all there is to know about wedding planning as a career.
What is a wedding planner?
A wedding planner is someone who plans a wedding. They are the individual the couple has hired to help them plan, organise, and manage their wedding. You are responsible for choreographing the event and ensuring you have arranged everything in place for the smooth running of the day.
What does a wedding planner do?
As a wedding planner, you can either provide:
- Full wedding planning services – taking care of all details and arrangements for the wedding day
- Semi-wedding planning services – this means you take care of some of the arrangements and the clients organise the rest
- On-the-day services – here, all you do is provide support on the wedding day
Each service you provide your clients comes with its own set of tasks and responsibilities. Some couples want small weddings, and others want a large, grand, and lavish affair. It’s very important for you to be clear from the outset about what services you’ll be providing so that no overlapping and miscommunication happens leading up to the big day or on the day itself.
Wedding planning is the culmination of seeing the bride, groom, and their friends and family happily taking in the day is worth the months of hard work, tears, (yours and the bride’s), late-night panic calls, and fixing messes. But before they say, ‘I do’, you need to sign your first client.
Basics to start your career as a wedding planner
Most wedding planners are self-employed or in other instances, work for established events and planning companies before branching off on their own.
- Create a business and marketing plan. Decide what kind of wedding planning services you want to offer, your company structure (will you outsource staff for on the day), your strategy, financial plan, and more. You are offering a service but are also running a business.
- Develop your brand profile and image. Take time to create an attractive website, social media profiles, and a blog. These tell people who you are, and what you do. As your business grows, update this with client testimonials of weddings you have planned.
- Get experience. If you’re new to the industry, the first thing you need to do is land a job to get some experience. You could work for a catering company, in a bridal boutique, for a florist, or in hospitality. Wherever you get your foot in the door, soak up the knowledge, and ask questions.
- Grow your network. Your network is more than the clients you’ll sign, although this is important too. Growing your network includes building relationships with venues, suppliers, vendors, photographers, and other wedding planners. Here, you share resources and can hear about upcoming weddings that you can pitch for.
- Arm yourself with knowledge. Learn. Learn. Learn. It’s one thing to be interested in the idea of a career but to make it, you need information about the industry to help you on your journey down the aisle.
Alison also offers a range of courses you can sign up for to prepare you for your career:
It takes years to build up a strong reputation and reliable network, but if you put in the hours, focus on making your clients happy, and put on a beautiful event, regardless of the size or budget, you will have a long and fruitful career.
Skills needed to succeed as a wedding planner
The wedding day is all about the bride and keeping her happy. You need a magic box of skills and traits to not only manage her but be a successful wedding planner. Here are some key skills you need to make it happily ever after as a wedding planner:
- Time management
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- Creative
- Driven to succeed
- Entrepreneurial spirit
- Planning and organisation
- Good negotiation skills
- Communication and empathetic
- Administrative skills to manage your accounts and promote your services
Being a wedding planner is not just you working closely with the bride and groom. It also involves dealing with and managing vendors, suppliers, venues, and other players to ensure you get the best of everything for your client. You need to be able to juggle all these balls and these skills will help you get things done efficiently and on top of it.
Does wedding and event planning run through your blood? Do you want to know if you have what it takes to make the cut? You can learn more about wedding planning at Alison’s dedicated hub.
Take our workplace personality assessment below to find out if you are every bride’s dream come true.
