The talk around science and scientists too often centers around two very distinct aspects:
1. Stories about Noble prize winners who are doing things the average person cannot understand, such as vaccines rooted in mRNA, or;
2. Visits to science museums that bring cool things to life in creative ways — whether it be solving a Rubik’s Cube, explaining an eclipse or bringing an understanding to why and how a historic event happened, such as the sinking of the Titanic.
It’s all good. Any talk of science is beneficial. But these aspects often miss the most important part of discovery, innovation and advancement: It’s ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It’s basic research and observation leading to huge advancements.
Fortunately for those in New Jersey, the always impressive Genius Gala at the Liberty Science Center brings this third aspect to light.
The 2025 Genius Gala, held Wednesday night, was no exception.
Consider honoree Edgar McGregor, a meteorologist and environmentalist in Southern California.
In 2022, McGregor noted the distinct difference in the weather in Eaton Canyon, how it could be dramatically different in the hills and the valleys (up to 20 degrees difference). He began providing hyperlocal forecasts for residents, simply as a way to help plan their day.
Earlier this year, he noticed something more.
McGregor saw incredible amounts of uncleared brush — the perfect kindling for a fire, especially one during the area’s famed Santa Ana winds. His calls for clearing went unanswered.
When the area became a center point for the recent fires, McGregor took to his Facebook page and began warning — urging … demanding — residents to evacuate, long before local authorities made similar calls.
His efforts likely saved hundreds of lives.
McGregor was an ordinary person using science to have an extraordinary impact on daily life. And while you would hope McGregor’s actions would spur more action toward science, the opposite unfortunately is true.
Recent cuts to the National Weather Service will lead to staffing shortages — which likely will lead to concerns about the accuracy of future forecasts, making people such as McGregor all the more important.
Of course, the situation around weather forecasts is nothing compared to the situation around another 2025 honoree, Roya Mahboob.
Mahboob was not honored simply for being the founder of the Afghan Dreamers, an all-female robotics team from Afghanistan, which found success competing against all-male teams. Their efforts were captured in a heart-warming film, Rule Breakers. The story, however, does not have a Hollywood ending.
While Mahboob, 38, was able to earn a degree in computer science, the generation of girls growing up in Afghanistan today no longer have such a clear path.
The withdraw of the U.S. in 2021 — and the return to power of the Taliban — has brought a return of rules that limit the education of females to the sixth grade.
Mahboob and others are working to create secret programs that will allow girls to learn more. For doing so, she was presented with the first ‘Courage in STEM’ award.
Mahboob told the audience the fight is worth the struggle.
She described the current situation in her home country “gender apartheid” — and she vowed to do all she can to help young girls find a better future through education.
“Terrorism and extremists are diseases that are caused by poor education and poverty and not having opportunities,” she said. “What we are doing today is giving access to information and education, because we cannot allow this next generation to be brainwashed by extremists.”
To be sure, the 2025 Genius Gala also honored those leading the more traditional examples of scientific advancement.
Jennifer Doudna, a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, was honored for her work as the co-inventor of CRISPER technology, a hard-to-understand concept around genome engineering technology that allows researchers to edit DNA.
Doudna’s efforts have created a powerful tool will a number of applications that could have far-reaching applications. Her work, combined with that of McGregor and Mahboob, offers a path for the future.
But only if we fight for it as a society.
Gov. Phil Murphy, noting how the state has long been a leader in invention and innovation, said New Jersey cannot stop now.
“At a time right now where a lot of folks are turning their back on science, turning their back on innovation, cutting loose long standing alliances and support, not just in America but around the world, I think it’s incumbent upon all of us to push back on that a bit, double down on science — on innovation,” he told the crowd during the opening address of the evening.
Paul Hoffman, the CEO of the Liberty Science Center, was equally as profound in his closing remarks.
“Basic research is so important,” he said. “You don’t know where it’s going to lead, but that’s how science works. That’s how American competitiveness in the world has worked.
“We need to keep that up. It’s really important.”
