Staten Island native Sadie Burke (left) and Cherie Qu, of Bayside, at the 6th Annual Student Research
Colloquium of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium, where they presented research
describing two new species o fburrowing anemonesunder the guidance of American Museum of Natural
Historybiologists Drs. Luciana C. Gusmão and Estefania Rodriguez Photo courtesy of AMNH/M. Shanley
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.2 COM | FEB. 27-MARCH 5, 2020
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Queens veterans got a lot
of love this Valentine’s Day
following record-breaking
donations to a yearly gift
drive.
Organizers of the 24th
Annual Valentines for Vets
Gift Drive, including Assemblyman
Edward Braunstein,
the Law Offices of
Ann-Margaret Carrozza
and Community Board
11, collected thousands of
handwritten cards, candy,
new clothing items, playing
cards, puzzles and toiletries
in honor of hospitalized veterans.
This year, 40 schools,
civic organizations, libraries,
Girl Scout troops and
residents across northeast
Queens donated gifts for the
cause.
On Valentine’s Day,
Braunstein, his staff and
students and faculty from
Benjamin N. Cardozo High
School brought the gifts
to the men and women at
St. Albans VA Community
Living Center and the New
York State Veterans’ Home
at St. Albans.
“I would like to thank
everyone who participated,
especially our local schools,
for their overwhelming
support for this year’s Valentines
for Vets Gift Drive.
These donations, which
were the most received in
the 24-year history of our
community’s Valentines
for Vets program, helped
to brighten the day of hundreds
of veterans by showing
that we care about
them and appreciate their
sacrifices,” said Braunstein.
“Additionally, I want
to thank Community Board
11 for its participation in
the gift drive.”
As the gift drive’s founder,
Carrozza started the
yearly event as a college student
to show more appreciation
for the sacrifices veterans
make for their country.
The former assemblywoman
continued and expanded
upon the gift drive during
her time in office.
“For the 24th year, we
asked the residents of
Northeast Queens to consider
making a hospitalized
veteran their Valentine, and
they answered that appeal
once again by generously
donating thousands of items
to our hospitalized heroes,”
Carrozza said.
Visit qns.com to see a list
of schools and community
organizations that contributed
to this year’s drive.
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A high school student
from Bayside participated
in the discovery of two new
species of marine animals
as part of a mentorship program
with the American
Museum of Natural History
(AMNH).
Earlier in February, Bard
High School Early College senior
Cherie Qu and Reed College
freshman Sadie Burke
were featured co-authors
on a study in the American
Museum Novitates, detailing
their collaborative efforts
with AMNH scientists
in discovering two species of
deep-sea anemones.
The study describes the
Scolanthus shrimp and Scolanthus
celticus, two types
of burrowing anemones
measuring around 1.5 centimeters
long. These species
exist along the Whittard
Canyon, a deep-sea valley off
the coast of Ireland.
Through the Science Research
Mentoring Program
(SRMP), Qu and Burke aided
AMNH biologists Drs. Luciana
C. Gusmão and Estefania
Rodriguez on the research
last year. SRMP is a
museum initiative, where
New York City-based high
school students conduct “authentic
scientific research”
with scientists as mentors.
According to the SRMP
website, the program’s main
purpose is to “increase access
to science fields and
careers for NYC high school
students.” Students can
choose to conduct research
in several fields including
cultural and biological anthropology,
genetics and genomics,
taxonomy and astrophysics.
Dr. Gusmão and the students
analyzed the morphology
and genetics of both organisms
in order to identify
the anemones as new species.
Following the discoveries,
the team chose to name
the Scolanthus shrimp in
honor of the SRMP program
and the participating students,
informally known as
“srmpers.” They named the
Scholanthus celticus after
the Celtic Explorer research
vessel, which collected the
anemone specimens using
a remote operated vehicle
(ROV) in over 3,000-foot
depths.
The study said that scientists
have discovered 14
“valid” species of Scolanthus
anemone worldwide but
only four species have been
recorded in waters deeper
than 100 meters (328 feet).
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone at (718)
260-2583.
Courtesy of Braunstein’s offi ce
Queens veterans
receive gifts at
annual Valentine’s
Day gift drive
NEW DISCOVERY
Bayside high school student part of team that
discovered two new deep-sea anemone species
Scolanthus celticus
Photo courtesy of
Dr. Luciana C. Gusmão
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