Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. – Since 2002, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Trustee Kristina Perkin Davison has hosted the annual Women’s Partnership for Science Lecture and Luncheon at the Davison family estate on Peacock Point in Lattingtown. This year’s event, on June 22, brought together 150 women from the surrounding community, New York City, and Greenwich, Connecticut to promote and support women pursuing careers in biomedical research.

“This annual event is a wonderful way for women to support other women as they strive to enter and succeed in the biomedical research field,” explained Davison. “It is something that I am passionate about and with a jewel like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in our own backyard, it is the perfect beneficiary for our support.”  

“Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is grateful to be the recipient of the proceeds raised through this delightful event. Women have traditionally been a minority in the science community, but we can serve as a catalyst for change. Through support like this we are able to attract and support more women entering the arena of biomedical research,” said CSHL president, Bruce Stillman, Ph.D.  

The ladies in attendance were not only treated to a delicious lunch but also to a very informative lecture on organic and genetically modified foods by two young educators from CSHL’s Dolan DNA Learning Center (DNALC) located in Cold Spring Harbor.  

Erin McKechnie, a plant and soil specialist, described her early interest in science and her experience working on organic farms in Vermont. She not only shared her personal experiences working on the farms but also discussed at length the particulars surrounding organic foods and the social concerns about genetically modified foods.

Elna Gottlieb, an earth science specialist from the DNALC, told the audience a story about her childhood trip to the American Museum of Natural History and how that experience cemented her passion for science. Erin then led the entire group in an experiment and extracted a sample of actual DNA from banana baby food.

And if the lunch and lecture were not enough, fashion designer Allegra Hicks featured some of her latest designs and joined Banfi Vintners; Ben’s Garden; CJ Laing; Tory Burch; Hatch; Jennifer Miller Bangles; Mar Casaseca Slocum; Village Couture; White Pepper Ltd.; and Gordon Wetmore & Portraits, Inc., by donating wonderful items for the afternoon’s raffle drawing.

The luncheon raised more than $75,000 and was co-chaired by Anastasia Coleman, Kristina Perkin Davison, Blair Husain, Simone Mailman, Louise Parent, Mary Snow and Nancy Tilghman.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, nonprofit research and education institution dedicated to exploring molecular biology and genetics to advance the understanding and ability to diagnose and treat cancers, neurological diseases and other causes of human suffering.