Grace Church School

PROJECTS 2026

MicroShield+

The BDC Prize for DNA Futures (supported by Twist Bioscience)

Henri Fiszel, Bear Ruxin-Cohn, Brayden Poole, Audrey Willscher, Niko Imm, Alec Chuchen, Isabel Agin, Jade Cho, Oluwanifemi Alabi, Juniper Kessler, Siena Green, Aran Goldfinger

MicroShield+ is a bio-based “living paint” designed to prevent mold growth in buildings. It incorporates Bacillus subtilis, a beneficial bacterium that naturally produces antifungal compounds effective against molds such as Aspergillus niger. Developed in response to community health concerns, the project replaces conventional chemical fungicides with a biologically driven alternative. By combining scientific research, human-centered design, and environmental responsibility, MicroShield+ offers a sustainable building material that actively protects indoor spaces while reducing ecological impact.

Instructors 2026

Chrissy Dilley is the Science Department Chair and a veteran high school science teacher at Grace Church School in Manhattan. She has taught biology, chemistry, and environmental science throughout her career, and in recent years has focused her work on BioDesign. Since first participating in the Biodesign Challenge in 2019, she has woven design thinking into her science curriculum as both a framework for course design and a tool to empower student learning. Under her leadership, Grace students have participated in the Biodesign Challenge each year since 2019 and earned the Outstanding High School Prize in 2024. Chrissy encourages her students to think as designers and to creatively apply their scientific knowledge to complex real world problems. Her work emphasizes rigorous science, empathy, systems thinking, and imaginative problem solving to help students envision responsible and innovative biological futures.