Stanley Manne Institute™
We are delighted to announce that on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, the Bronx High School of Science broke ground on the Stanley Manne Institute™, a state-of-the-art research building on campus that aims to foster the curiosity and drive of Bronx Science students and our neighbors. The new building, which is scheduled to be completed in Fall 2022, will feature more than 10,000 square feet of dedicated space for professional-grade science labs, including three multidisciplinary labs and a full complement of auxiliary spaces such as a cold room, tissue culture room, microscopy room, sterilization room and animal room.
This incredible addition to our campus has been made possible thanks to an exceedingly generous gift from alumnus Stanley Manne ’52. This represents the largest gift ever to Bronx Science and to our knowledge to any public school in New York City (and possibly the country. Mr. Manne earned a chemical engineering degree from Columbia University and an MBA from The University of Chicago before rising to eventually own Brawny Plastics. He then shared his professional success through his philanthropy, by establishing both the Manne Family Foundation and the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Inspired by his late brother Louis Manne and motivated to provide opportunities for students in his hometown, Mr. Manne recently turned his philanthropic attention back to his roots at Bronx Science to found The Institute.
The mission of The Manne Institute is to equip young great scientific minds with the resources they need to excel. That worthy mission will be carried out in several ways.
The Stanley Manne Institute™ will provide Bronx Science students – who are already renowned for their commitment to high-level research – with laboratory facilities that will rival those of top research universities in the nation, where they can explore their own scientific inquiries and deepen their understanding and love of the sciences. The Manne Institute will enable our school to offer our students additional advanced research opportunities, including Summer Institutes, new mentorship programs and a variety of specialty courses such as Microbiology, Animal Behavior and Genetics.
Bronx Science will launch the Manne Scholars program, which will honor seniors who have exhibited exceptional dedication to their research, academics and career. Manne Scholars will present their research findings at an annual Senior Showcase, attend a series of professional development workshops, meet annually with the Manne family, tour leading research facilities and attend scientific conferences. Being selected as a Manne Scholar will be one of the highest academic honors at Bronx Science.
The Stanley Manne Institute will expand scientific literacy and awareness for students and educators throughout the city, through partnerships with neighboring schools DeWitt Clinton High School, High School for American Studies, Marie Curie School and on the Walton Campus: High School for Teaching and the Professions, Discovery High School and International School for Liberal Arts as well as local middle school PS/MS 95, which will provide their students with access to hands-on research programs in the Institute and opportunities to hear leading scientists speak. The Institute will support teachers as well, through an annual professional development day open to all New York City teachers interested in learning more about how to best develop science research opportunities for their students.
The construction of The Stanley Manne Institute represents a true watershed moment in Bronx Science’s history, one that will cement the school’s place as a nationwide center of student scientific research. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Manne for making this remarkable expansion of our campus and program possible, and we look forward to welcoming students, alumni and Bronx neighbors alike into the new space upon its completion next year.
In the meantime, we invite alumni and friends to learn more about ways that they can support this incredible initiative.