The inaugural edition of The Brooklyn Tech Journal of Science, Math & Engineering (BTJSME) arrives at a time of rapid technological change. Brooklyn Technical High School, the largest public high school in the United States, has long been a place where ambitious students push the boundaries of science, math, and engineering. This journal reflects that standard, showcasing the impressive work of students in the fields of STEM.
This first edition focuses on artificial intelligence and its rapidly growing role in both science and everyday life. Our generation has witnessed AI evolve from a concept seen in movies into a constant presence in classrooms, workplaces, and homes. Unlike earlier technological shifts, AI is advancing at extraordinary speed, reshaping how people learn and communicate. Because AI is developing so rapidly, it is difficult to try to exactly pinpoint what With AI evolving so quickly, it is challenging to identify which developments or applications will have major growth next. In the near future, AI will move beyond digital assistance into the physical world through robotics and automation. As students preparing for careers that may not yet exist, we are left to consider how this technology will transform the future of jobs and human interaction.
"As students preparing for careers that may not yet exist, we are left to consider how this technology will transform the future of jobs and human interaction."
This issue features three voices who challenge us to think more critically about that future: Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation; former Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar; and Brooklyn Tech Principal David Newman.
Professor Jonathan Haidt asserts that social media negatively impacts young people's attention and mental health. His proposals of delaying social media until age 16 and creating phone-free schools aim to restore focus and protect development. This shift is already visible at Brooklyn Tech, where phones have been banned throughout the school day.
Dr. Leo Varadkar's career reflects the kind of adaptability this moment demands. Though he trained as a physician, he moved into politics and ultimately served twice as Prime Minister of Ireland. His path is a reminder that today's students are likely to navigate careers that evolve or take entirely unexpected turns.
Principal David Newman brings the conversation closer to home. He cautions that overreliance on AI risks weakening students' ability to think and learn independently. As he puts it, "people need to be with people." When technology replaces real interaction, it can lead to isolation.
The consequences of rapidly implemented and unchecked technology are already becoming visible in daily life, particularly seen with the introduction of social media. Conversations are interrupted by notifications, attention spans are shortened, and many people spend more time interacting with screens than with one another. In NYC, people walk into each other on sidewalks, and on the subway, most riders are fixed to their screens. We as society have yet to set safeguards in social media, and now with the introduction of AI, there is an even wider gap to fill in technological regulation. Technology itself is not the problem; the challenge lies in how we choose to use it. If our generation approaches AI thoughtfully, we can preserve the creativity and human connection that technology should support rather than replace.
Welcome to the inaugural edition of BTJSME.