Riccardo Bean

Global Challenge: Improving people's access to food and quality education using technology

Bio:

I am continuing to pursue my B.S. in Computer Science at NYU Tandon, with minors in Mathematics, Astronomy, and Game Engineering. I chose these minors because they complement different aspects of my interests in computer science, from the mathematical foundations of computing to my longstanding interest in space and my interest in interactive technology and game development. Over the past year, I have also become increasingly interested in entrepreneurship and building my own technology projects. I would like my profile to reflect that I am not only interested in learning computer science, but also in applying it to build products and explore new ideas.

At NYU, I have been involved in the GLASS program and have taken on several academic and leadership roles. I served as a Course Assistant for CS-UY 1114, Intro to Programming & Problem Solving, where I taught labs and recitations and created homework, quizzes, and instructional materials. I have also served as an Orientation Leader and an Admissions Ambassador, helping welcome new students, support their transition to NYU, and share my experiences with prospective students and families. These roles have strengthened my communication, teaching, leadership, and interpersonal skills while allowing me to contribute to the NYU community in different ways. In the short term, I hope to gain professional experience in software engineering, AI, or a related technical field after graduation. In the long term, I hope to combine my technical background with entrepreneurship and build technology that has a meaningful impact. My academic and leadership experiences have shown me that I enjoy helping others, communicating complex ideas clearly, and taking responsibility for the success of a group or initiative.

My most significant global experience this past year was studying abroad at NYU Abu Dhabi during the spring semester. I chose Abu Dhabi because I wanted to experience a culture and environment that was very different from what I had previously known while still having the familiarity of being part of the NYU network. Living and studying alongside students from many different countries broadened my perspective and made me more aware of how differently people approach the same academic, professional, and social challenges. Through GLASS, I also attended ETHConf in New York and the WeAreDevelopers World Congress in Berlin, giving me opportunities to engage with international technology communities and learn about developments in software, AI, cybersecurity, and decentralized infrastructure. I also completed a volunteer experience in Barcelona focused on food rescue, where I helped prepare meals using ingredients that would otherwise have been discarded. Together, these experiences helped me become more comfortable working across cultures and gave me a better understanding of how technology and other global challenges extend beyond the environment I am most familiar with.

Being part of GLASS has given me the opportunity to approach my education as more than just a path toward a degree. It has encouraged me to seek experiences outside of my normal academic environment and to think about how my skills can be applied to problems that affect people in different parts of the world. Through my volunteer experience in Barcelona, where I helped prepare meals using ingredients that would otherwise have been discarded, I contributed in part to UN Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero Hunger, by supporting efforts to provide food to people in need and reduce food waste. My academic and professional experiences have also connected to Goal 4, Quality Education, particularly through my work as a Course Assistant for Intro to Programming & Problem Solving, where I taught labs and recitations and helped create instructional materials for students. These experiences have shown me how technology and education can work together to address global challenges. I am also interested in sustainable development and the responsible use of technology and resources, which connects strongly with UN Sustainable Development Goal 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. As a computer science student, I am interested in how new technologies can improve infrastructure, expand access to information and education, and create more efficient and sustainable systems. I hope to apply my skills in software engineering, AI, and data science in international and cross-cultural environments, working with people from different backgrounds to develop technology that addresses problems beyond a single community or country.