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I hope the past week was easier for you than it was for me. Without going into detail, one of my exhibits was very sick and in the hospital far away. Forty-six blood tests, several MRIs, 2 COVID-19 swab tests, at least one x-ray, and other assorted diagnostic tools were deployed to figure out the malady causing my child to suffer. She was both so brave and so alone. Every time I thought I’d fly out to help take care of her, someone would smartly talk me out of it. Needless to say, it only took me a few seconds to remember that going to the airport and getting on a plane are dangerous things to do, and would require me to quarantine alone somewhere where my exhibit would not be.

Our family’s prayers were answered, and my daughter is now out of the hospital, mending from we’re not sure what. That made Mother’s Day all the more poignant for me.

Listen friends. I believe that our prayers made us all feel better and that we all had a hand in her healing. And perhaps they even helped in some cosmic way. Nevertheless, I’m here to tell you I believe deeply in science. As a child, I don’t know which class I disliked more: science or math. Oh wait, it was math, but I didn’t care much for whatever science I was forced to absorb, and I didn’t absorb much after learning about human reproduction. Now I’m fascinated by and a bit in awe of science. So many great thinkers over the centuries have figured out how the body works and can be fixed when it is broken. The marvel that is an itsy bitsy pill that can regulate someone’s metabolism, or nervous system, or blood pressure, or fix an ache, or take down a fever. The science that saw climate change decades ago and tried to alert us all to prevent it, or at least slow it down. The work of scientists and researchers amazes me, and for that I am so grateful.

Guest Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science & the Public, Publisher, Science News and host Lisa Birnbach

My guest this week Maya Ajmera is the President and CEO of Society for Science & the Public and publisher of its award-winning magazine, Science News. She started reading Science News as a student, and now not only does she run it, she runs the Regeneron Science Talent Search, né the Westinghouse Talent Search. Spreading scientific literacy has been one of her life’s goals, and I wish I’d had a teacher like her in my young life.

Lisa’s 5 Things:

My daughter’s return to health
My daughter’s return to health
My daughter’s return to health

4. Mother’s Day with #ExhibitC.

5. Red wine

Maya Ajmera’s 5 (6) Things:

1. The ability to pivot quickly and be entrepreneurial in a time of great challenges. Let me give you an example. This year, we were going to have the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the largest pre-collegiate STEM competition in the world in Anaheim, bringing together 2,000 kids from 80 countries, regions and territories to compete for $5 million in awards and prizes. We had to cancel ISEF due to COVID-19, but we pivoted to create the first-ever Regeneron Virtual International Science and Engineering Fair. This shift has helped us to include young people who wouldn't have originally been able to participate in the fair from anywhere in the world and will hear from top scientists, engineers and frontline COVID-19 researchers. This is an open forum and that gives me great pride.

2. Leading a newsroom that’s providing critical coverage of COVID-19. As Publisher of Science News, it’s been gratifying to make sure that our newsroom has the resources and support they need to report on the COVID-19 crisis. We are providing evidence-based, factual news stories on the new coronavirus that isn't hyped or sensationalistic. Also, we are providing our COVID-19 reporting for free to local newsrooms, which are being decimated right now, across the United States. Communities rely on their local news outlets and we’re hoping we can help fill in some gaps.

3. Having meals as a family every day. During these seven weeks, I have cherished having breakfast, lunch and dinner with my family every day. That just didn't happen before because my husband and I have two full-time jobs that require meetings and working late sometimes. This has been a really treasured time with my seven-year-old daughter—we can have every meal together. I feel very fortunate.

4. I am thankful for telemedicine. My mother is going through chemotherapy and she and my dad have been isolated, but now our doctor gets online and has phone calls with my mother. We have family conference calls with the doctor which has been very comforting. You would usually go to your doctor's office, but now you have the option of protecting yourself through telemedicine.

5. Delivery Services. I am really thankful for delivery services like Instacart, Doordash and Caviar, where we order food from our favorite restaurants on Saturday nights. I salute the people who are helping with shopping and delivering groceries during this uncertain time.

6. During this time of enormous disruption, giving of time, treasure and talent to those in need is meaningful to me. I feel incredibly blessed to have resources and work to make sure that we do more for those who don't. Faith plays a large part of this. I serve on several boards. We are making donations. Public service has never been more important than right now.