STEM-Focused Collaboration with German Foundation Established!

We are thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration that will benefit GISNY students as well as students across all North American German Schools Abroad. The BioThera-Roland Mertelsmann Stiftung and the German International School New York have launched two pilot initiatives in 2026 designed to foster young talent in the United States, strengthen international bridges to Germany, and expand German-language and scientific competencies — with a particular focus on STEM, medicine, and artificial intelligence.

Building on GISNY’s established Shadow Week program, the BioThera-Roland Mertelsmann Stiftung will support selected students who wish to complete their internships in the fields of medicine or artificial intelligence in Germany with a stipend of €2,500. This new funding enhances our already impactful program by expanding access to Germany and deepening engagement in high-demand scientific fields. We already were able to support our first awardee this spring: Lilli (pictured), who completed her internship at the St. Marienhospital in Bonn.

Starting in October 2026, the foundation will also award stipends for travel and accommodations, as well as cash prizes, totaling €27,000 for finalists in the “Jugend debattiert” competition organized by German Schools Abroad in North America, promoting debate culture, critical thinking, and engagement with topics such as AI, biomedicine, and public health. The first finals supported by the program will be held in Toronto this fall.

Together, these initiatives broaden access to high-impact STEM opportunities for students across the network, while reinforcing a shared commitment to academic excellence and global citizenship. 

We are tremendously grateful to the BioThera-Roland Mertelsmann Foundation for supporting these programs.

Learn more about the foundation here.