Category: Announcements

City Nature Challenge, 4/25-28

From our colleagues at Macaulay Honors College, CUNY:

Learn more about City Nature Challenge

  •  April 25, 2025
     10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Register now!

It’ll be a walk in the park!

Join us as we launch the 2025 City Nature Challenge weekend with a fun, interactive event outdoors at Macaulay Honors College.  Hear a welcome from Macaulay Dean Dara Byrne, PhD and Director of Science Forward, Kelly O’Donnell, PhD, followed by a brief, guided nature walk in nearby Central Park. Participants will receive a free CITY SCIENTIST KIT* containing tools to help make plant and animal observations.

three nature photographys (a bird, leaves with pink flowers, and dandelions in yellow and fluffy white) with text: City Nature Challenge New York City April 25-28, 2025 Kickoff, MHC 4/25 @ 10am Events Links in Bio City Nature Challenge is organized by California Academy of Sciences Natural History Museum Los Angeles County Macaulay Honors College

The event is free, open to all, and will take place rain or shine.

Macaulay Honors College is the official organizer of the 2025 City Nature Challenge for the City of New York, taking place over the weekend of April 25-28, 2025. The college has partnered with dozens of public parks, preservation societies, gardens, and other organizations throughout the five boroughs. And we invite nature lovers of all ages to participate for free.

Along with volunteer student guides, faculty, and local scientists, we’ll use our smartphones to record as many examples of urban wildlife as we can. The information can then be used by scientists and researchers to help improve biodiversity and sustainability in New York City—and beyond.

“City Nature Challenge is not a contest,” explains O’Donnell. “But we all win when we explore nature within our community, have fun, and contribute data that can be used to make New York City greener and healthier for everyone.”

Macaulay Honors College is the NYC organizer of the City Nature Challenge, with generous support from the New York City Council and the office of Council Member Gale Brewer.

* While supplies last.

Thanks to @drlisabrundage for creating CNC:NYC graphics for us!

#citynaturechallenge#cncnyc#nyc#citizensciencemonth#inaturalist

illustrated outdoor scene with information: City Nature Challenge 2025 Kick Off Event April 25, 10am 35 W 67 Street

April 25, 10am

Venue:   Macaulay Lecture Hall

Venue Phone: (212) 729-2900

Venue Website: https://macaulay.cuny.edu

Address: 35 West 67th Street, 1st Floor, New York, New York, 10023, United States

Macaulay Honors College 35 W. 67th Street, New York, NY 10023 ©2025 Macaulay Honors College. All rights reserved.

Co-Working on Thursday

Have an ever-growing to-do list? Come get some of it done while others do the same! OpenLab co-working hours are virtual quiet meet-up sessions for anyone to join to get work done. Breakout rooms are available for conversation or questions. All are held via Zoom, so when it’s time for the session, join and quietly work through your to-do list!

This month, the OpenLab’s co-working session is Thursday, 11/21, 10:00-11:00am [updated time!]. It’s open to all students, faculty, and staff.

And save the date for the next co-working session: Thursday, 12/12, 10:00-11:00am [updated time!]: open to all students, faculty, and staff. Plus you can reach out to the OpenLab Team at OpenLab@CityTech.cuny.edu or via our contact form if you’re interested in requesting an additional co-working session for your group.

Photo credit: “Floating flowers” by Tom Olliver via Flickr under the license CC BY-NC 2.0.

Co-Working March 15th

The weather is getting better, but there’s always more work to do! Let’s get together to work and check things off the to-do lists we all have–or take some time to make to-do lists!

The OpenLab Team is hosting a co-working session on Friday, March 15th, 10:00-11:00AM. Join us to cowork in what we hope is a welcoming space that helps as you focus on accomplishing what you need to finish. Bring whatever you want to work on, OpenLab related or not. We’ll bring bring work, too, plus some good energy for checking things off to-do lists.

You can work silently in the main Zoom room or move into a breakout room to talk with a collaborator or with an OpenLab team member if you have specific questions we can help you with. 

Please share this opportunity with colleagues and students–all are welcome. We hope this co-working session is useful for you–and let us know how else we can help!

Photo credit: “Three is a charm (26/365)” by Chung Ho Leung via Flickr is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Deed

Androids, Spirits and Chatbots: Historicizing AI Writing

March 14, 2024 | 4:30pm | MA in Digital Humanities Lounge Rm 5307 & online

“Androids, Spirits and Chatbots: Historicizing AI Writing”

Annette Vee, Associate Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh

Poster for Annette Vee, "Androids, Spirits and Chatpots: Historicizing AI Writing"

Generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT have suddenly thrust the automation of writing into the public spotlight. The machine learning techniques behind Large Language Models such as the GPT series may be new; however, for centuries, humans have attempted to automate writing using mechanical, spiritual, and logical means. The automation of writing parallels a longer history of automation, yet with a twist: each of these attempts to automate writing also implicated a kind of artificial human intelligence. Writing is uniquely human, and as such, it has served as a touchstone for scientific and literary imaginations focused on replicating human intelligence. This presentation puts current conversations about AI writing in historical context with 18th century androids, 19th century spiritualism, and 20th century computer scientists to probe both what writing meant in previous eras as well as dominant assumptions of what it meant to be human in these eras. Attendees of the talk will come away with an understanding of: current Large Language Models driving generative AI writing plus how they do and don’t replicate human intelligence; historical contexts for the attempts to automate writing; and open research questions and pedagogical challenges and opportunities surrounding writing in the age of generative AI.

Co-Sponsored by the MA Program in Digital Humanities, the Teaching and Learning Center, and the Ph.D. Program in English

Online registration: http://cuny.is/annettevee

Co-Working December 7th

As the semester winds down, let’s work together to check things off the to-do lists we all have–or take some time to make to-do lists!

The OpenLab Team is hosting a co-working session On Thursday, December 7th, 2:30-3:30PM. Join us in what we hope is a welcoming space that helps as you focus on accomplishing everything you need to finish. Bring whatever you want to work on, whether it be OpenLab related or not. We’ll bring bring work, too, plus some good energy for checking things off your to-do list.

You can work silently in the main Zoom room or move into a breakout room to talk with a collaborator or with one of our team members if you have specific questions we can help you with. 

Please share this opportunity with colleagues and students–all are welcome. And save the date for our next co-working session, on Friday, December 15th at

We hope this co-working session is useful for you–and let us know how else we can help!

Photo credit: “Working together again” by Nick via Flickr is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Co-Working August 18

“Triplets” by JillyAnnaJoy via Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

Fall semester begins on August 25th. One week before, on Friday, August 18th from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 PM, join us join us for a pre-semester co-working session. We’re hoping this welcoming space helps as you focus on accomplishing everything you need to prepare for the start of the semester. Bring whatever you want to work on, whether it be OpenLab related like course prep or getting your portfolio in order, or other work-related tasks like reading through all the emails, filling out forms, or completing a required training . We’ll bring bring work, too, plus some good energy for checking things off your to-do list.

You can work silently in the main Zoom room or move into a breakout room to talk with a collaborator or with one of our team members if you have specific questions we can help you with. 

We hope this co-working session is useful for you–and let us know how else we can help!

Co-Working May 23

“Twins” by Todd Petit via Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

On Tuesday, May 23rd from 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 PM, join us join us for the final co-working session of the Spring. We’re hoping this welcoming space helps as you focus on finishing everything for the end of the semester. If you’re teaching, bring your grading! Or invite a student to join so you can co-work as they finish their project or study for that last exam. You bring the work, we’ll bring the friendly presence in the Zoom session (plus we’ll bring work, too).

You can work silently in the main Zoom room or move into a breakout room to talk with a collaborator or with one of our team members if you have specific questions we can help you with. 

Finals end on Tuesday, May 23, and grades are due Friday, May 26th. We hope this co-working session is useful for you–and let us know how else we can help!

More Co-Working Sessions!

“springtime” by willi_bremen via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The OpenLab team, under the umbrella of Open Pedagogy on the OpenLab, is hosting co-working sessions each Tuesday through the end of the semester.

This week, like last week’s, is open to anyone: students, staff, and faculty. Join the co-working session via Zoom anytime in the 1:30-3:30 co-working hours. We will work together silently, and can open breakout rooms for conversations or questions.

Next week’s session, on Tuesday, May 16, 1:30-3:30, is focused on students, in anticipation of finals week beginning. Please spread the word!

In the final week, faculty are invited to join for some time to work on responding to student work, grading, and finishing the work of the semester.

Like the idea of coworking and the related idea of body doubling but can’t make it on a Tuesday? Suggest a date and time for other sessions by adding a comment on this post or by reaching out via email to OpenLab@citytech.cuny.edu.

Updated! Job Opportunity: Digital Pedagogy Fellow for City Tech’s OpenLab

Application deadline extended to Wednesday, June 22!

“Bubblicious XIII” by Anthony Ross via Flickr CC0

The OpenLab is hiring! Please help us to spread the word. 

The OpenLab team seeks to add a Digital Pedagogy Fellow to our enthusiastic team.

City Tech’s OpenLab (https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/) is an innovative, open digital platform for students, faculty, and staff at New York City College of Technology, CUNY (http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/). Built using the open source blogging and social networking software WordPress and BuddyPress, the OpenLab supports teaching and learning, enables connection and collaboration, and strengthens the intellectual and social life of the college. The project is driven by a community and access-focused ethos, flexible infrastructure, and commitment to openness, and is proud to partner with many initiatives across campus (e.g., First Year Learning Communities, General Education, Open Education Resources) and across CUNY. Since its launch in Fall 2011, the OpenLab has helped to foster openness and experimentation, supporting a growing community, now 39,000+ members strong.

Fellows will join a creative, collaborative Community Team invested in fostering community through open pedagogy and open digital technologies. Team members gain experience in curriculum development, teaching, professional development, the implementation of a variety of digital tools, testing and functionality, and help-documentation creation. Fellows have used the experiences gained as Digital Pedagogy Fellows to successfully apply for full-time faculty and alt-ac positions.

Digital Pedagogy Fellow responsibilities include providingprofessional development, supporting the OpenLab community, and project development. Weekly responsibilities include OpenLab team meetings and email and open-hour support for faculty, staff, and student members with varied experience with technology. Fellows develop and lead workshops, seminars, and class visits, and create help documentation. They also teach OpenLab members about best practices for developing OpenLab content, how to incorporate technology in the classroom, and what it means to have an online presence. Fellows maintain an active presence on the platform, test new features and fixes, and provide feedback on OpenLab functionality. Fellows also have the opportunity to represent the OpenLab team in campus and external venues. 

Ideal candidates will possess the following qualifications:

  • familiarity with the OpenLab or other WordPress/BuddyPress installations (e.g., the BMCC OpenLab, CUNY Academic Commons, Macaulay ePortfolios, and Blogs@Baruch)
  • teaching experience, including expertise in digital pedagogy
  • experience with developing and leading workshops for a variety of users
  • strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • willingness to work collaboratively with a team
  • communications skills for responding to support requests with speed, empathy, and creativity
  • good understanding of socially networked online spaces and a variety of digital tools
  • knowledge of information architecture, usability, and the user experience
  • the ability to create visually attractive, informative, and well-written blog posts, help documentation, and screencasts
  • graduate degree or enrollment in a graduate program

Hours and Pay: This is a year-round position, 12-15 hours/week. The starting rate is 37.74/hour with annual increases.

Start Date: Fellows will begin the position with limited hours for training in August 2022, and shift to 12-15 hours/week for the start of the Fall 2022 semester. Currently work will be done remotely, with in-person responsibilities anticipated in the future to align with the needs of the college community.

Application: To apply, submit a cover letter, CV, and representative samples of your digital work to OpenLab Co-Directors Jonas Reitz (jreitz@citytech.cuny.edu) and Jody R. Rosen (jrrosen@citytech.cuny.edu). Please note any other employment within the CUNY system or for the Research Foundation of CUNY for August 2022 and the 2022-23 academic year. Applications should be submitted by Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Please reach out with questions to the email addresses above.

Calling Hispanic/Latinx faculty & staff: City Tech HSI wants to highlight you!

A message from the Hispanic Serving Institution Committee and the Faculty Commons:

Dear City Tech Community,
 
The Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Committee is preparing for the celebration of HSI Week (September 12-18) and City Tech’s 25th anniversary as an HSI this fall.
 
We are seeking Hispanic/Latinx faculty and staff to be highlighted in a series digital posters during these events. The digital posters will be displayed across the college and on the HSI OpenLab site.
 
If you are interested in being featured on a poster, please fill out this google form by June 10, 2022.
 
Questions can be directed to Melanie Villatoro (MVillatoro @ citytech . cuny . edu) 

Sincerely,
HSI Steering Committee and Faculty Commons

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