We gained new perspectives on space and exploration with a Portal during Kids Week at The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. The Intrepid\_Portal connected young explorers of all ages with NASA researchers, environmental adventurers and spacecraft designers. Intrepid Portalers connected with Nic Scott, a researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, for an out-of-this-world discussion on exoplanets and the Solar System. We then connected with Tim Jarvis, acclaimed explorer and environmental activist, who spoke about recreating Shackleton’s journey and his record-setting trek – on foot – to the South Pole. Then, we connected with scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in Los Angeles, where two researchers spoke about space and the atmosphere. We rounded out our planetary week by beaming into the Orion mock-up at Johnson Space Center, where rocket engineers described the process of building a crew module which will eventually carry astronauts to the moon and to Mars. They even shared their favorite types of space food (pro-tip: stock up on the mac and cheese)!

After the earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico, in February 2018, students at Marymount School worked with engineers and students in Mexico City to design earthquake resistant structures out of popsicle sticks. Students were able to collaborate across distance and culture and see the real-world impact of their STEM classes.

The first ever Portal connection between art galleries in Tehran and New York City connected more than 500 participants in intimate conversations and hosted a dozen artist collaborations. The Lu Magnus gallery hosted our inaugural Portal in its space in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The gallery connected with the Sazmanab Center for Contemporary Art in Tehran, Iran. Participants in both countries were invited to engage in intimate conversations around the prompt: "What would make today a good day for you." Artists such as Titus Kaphar and Yousha Bashir collaborated with one another by cutting up print's of one another's work and pasting them back together at the direction of the other artist -- creating multinational, co-owned pieces. Film directors including Doug Liman and Morgan Spurlock talked about creating work with counterparts in Tehran. Actor Josh Radnor engaged acting students in Tehran. Choreographers Jonah Bokaer and James Koroni created a dance piece for James' family in Tehran. In addition, artist Tania Bruguera spoke to artists in Tehran, and DJ Spooky talked about his work.

The Portal at Grand Central was part of a global activation over 12 days connecting 20,000 people across 40 sites.

The Global Poetry Consortium and Birch Wathen Lenox Schools partnered with us to launch a Global Poetry Festival. Each morning, Shared Studios connected global poets with K-12 students at BWL for a virtual poetry experience that helped students learn about the power of poetry, interdisciplinary thought and writing.

Our Portal in the Primary co-working space in Manhattan connects colleagues to counterparts in San Francisco.

The Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum engaged portals for its Kids Week, connecting astronauts and rocket scientists to school children in New York City. World-renowned scientists sparked imagination and a passion for science in this generation of future space explorers.