I’ve participated in a BAT (Brown Adipose Tissue) study since 2/9/23 by Dr. Stephanie Levy of the Hunter College Department of Anthropology. After having my weight, fat distribution, blood sample values taken, I wore a body suit with tubes attached over all parts of the suit so that cool water runs through. This was so Dr. Levy could see how the body reacts to the cool temperature, which would facilitate answers as to how BAT is affected, if it is, by cold temperatures.

“This research will enhance our understanding of how environmental factors influence variation in metabolism and the relationship between BAT and disease risk. BAT is a special form of fat found primarily in the neck and shoulders and it converts the energy stored in fat into heat when the body feels cold… In this study, we will investigate whether differences in exposure to winter temperature during childhood and components of the diet influence BAT heat production.”

I’ve also volunteered in the activities as listed:

10/19/19: Coney Island beach cleanup by the Academy of American Studies- held in honor of one of our science teachers, who passed away that year. It involved carrying a large trash bag while wearing gloves to toss trash of varying size. We ended up carrying about 30-35 lbs of trash at the end of this 2 hour journey.

02/05/20-present: I’ve donated whole blood and plasma to the NY Blood Center multiple times to people in dire need. Recently, I became a platelet donor to help vulnerable patients, including cancer patients, trauma victims, newborns and individuals undergoing surgery. Here’s the list of dates I’ve donated:

-Dr. Stephanie Levy