OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP:
1. Scientific Inquiry & Thinking
2. Accessibility in STEM
3. Student Research & Impact
CORE VALUES
INNOVATION
We embrace curiosity-driven experimentation, encouraging students to ask questions and develop their own solutions to scientific problems. By teaching the scientific process of hypothesis, testing, and analysis, we teach students to develop their own ideas and solutions to problems. Our goal is to grow a mindset where challenges become opportunities for invention.
EQUITY
We remove financial and logistical barriers so all students can access hands-on STEM and research guidance. Through free workshops and programs, donation campaigns, giving equipment to under resourced areas, and more, we make sure that geography or background never limit a student’s chance to explore science. Every student deserves the tools and guidance needed to succeed.
IMPACT
We bridge the gap between learning and doing by ensuring our programs align with real-world application and hands-on engineering. Additionally, we make sure that our research guidance is specific, in-depth, and application-focused, backed with examples of what real academic research looks like. Our programs and research opportunities provide students with the practical skills needed to create real impact.
OUR METHOD
We host STEM programs for middle and elementary school students, ensuring that every scientific lesson is followed by an interactive lab. We believe in learning by doing, equipping students with skills to pursue their own ideas.
We provide research guidance to high schoolers through in-depth guides walking through academic research papers, ensuring that students can see how key concepts show up in real research.
Our resource developers have been through the process of finding vague resources without knowing how to use it in their research—we make sure that other students don’t experience the same confusion.
Many students may be daunted by the idea of doing real research and engineering. By offering mentorship, online workshops, and accessible research competitions for both middle and high schoolers, we work to break mental barriers that prevent students stepping deeper into STEM.
We develop educational equity by ensuring that location, background, or financial status doesn’t limit the learning opportunities that a student can get. We do this by donating science materials to under resourced areas and growing digital literacy through online lessons and support, both locally and internationally.
OUR STORY
A NASA study found that 98% of 4-5 year old children possess creative thinking skills at the genius level, but that number dropped to 12% of 15 year old’s and a staggering 2% of adults. In between that, students are restricted by environments that leave no room for innovative thinking. Schools teach perfection, when asking bold questions, building messy prototypes, and pursuing ideas are what should drive students to learn more.
Additionally, in many underserved communities, students may never get a chance to realize their passions or further their ideas due to lack of resources and funding.
Mind to matter exists to reverse this decline, and because knowledge alone doesn’t drive innovation—thinking does. We create spaces and opportunities for experimentation, for inquiry, and for curiosity, while remaining accessible and free no matter where you are.
The Founders
Allison Huang
Allison is a sophomore at East Brunswick High School with an interest in neuroscience, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Outside of academics, she practices taekwondo and archery. With a thoughtful, forward-looking mindset, Allison is committed to supporting Mind to Matter’s mission and contributing meaningfully to its continued success.
Shaurya Gandhi
Shaurya is a sophomore at East Brunswick High School with a focus on computer science, mathematics, and physics. In his free time, he enjoys video games, cooking and baking, and staying connected through social media. His dedication, sharpened through countless hours at hackathons, drives his commitment to helping Mind to Matter fulfill its mission.
Justin Wang
Justin is a sophomore at East Brunswick High School with a strong interest in communication, outreach, and design. Outside of the glorious bounds of school, he likes to play the viola, swim, and sleep. He is currently focused on developing his skills in marketing and is dedicated to helping raise awareness of Mind to Matter’s mission within the scientific community.
Relevant Qualifications
Why should you listen to us?
Allison Huang
- Independent computational neuroscience research
- Presented research at the Global Youth Institute as an NJ Delegate
- Presented synthetic biology research to a panel at Columbia
- Studied bioengineering through a university pre-college program
- 2 years of tutoring experience
- AP Biology 5
- Completed AP Chemistry
- 4 years of Science Olympiad
- Science Bowl competitive team member
- Science League competitive team: AP Chemistry
Shaurya Gandhi
- Independent research in computational neuroscience
- 3 years of First Robotics Competition
- AP Biology 5
- Completed AP Chemistry
- 4 years of Science Olympiad
- Independently taught introductory computer science to young students
- Participated in hackathons
- 4 years of competing in the American Mathematics Competition
- Science Bowl competitive team member
- Science League competitive team: Physics
Justin Wang
- 2 years of tutoring experience
- Participating in Model UN
- Completed high school biology and associated lab work
- Attended Rutgers Business School Summer Program
- Participated in the New Jersey Youth Institute under the World Food Prize to develop solutions to food security
- Outreach officer for a First Robotics Competition team
- Board member at the Locke Key Publication