Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute offers CTLE eligible professional development opportunities for NYC middle and high school teachers the first Thursday each June. Although topics vary each year, BrainSTEM In Action brings a BrainSTEM Resource lesson plan to life.
BrainSTEM In Action allows teachers to see research spaces firsthand, participate in hands-on demos, discuss cutting-edge neuroscience research, and tailor lesson plans to their own classroom. Our 2025 workshop focused on the "Neuroscience of Anxiety: STEM learning to promote social-emotional growth."
2027 Program
On Thursday, June 3, 2027, the Zuckerman Institute will host a day of professional development for New York City middle and high school educators. This includes teachers and teaching assistants/paraprofessionals, as well as any education professional who works directly with middle or high school students in a school setting. The sign-up form and topic will be announced in early 2027. This workshop is FREE to attend.
Eligibility
This professional development opportunity is open to all classroom educational staff who work directly with middle and high school students in the New York City area including all teachers and teaching assistants/paraprofessionals. This workshop is FREE to attend.
Due to Zuckerman’s Institute commitment to achieving the goal of helping to reduce socioeconomic disparities in STEM, preference will be given to educators who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Upper Manhattan/South Bronx schools
- Title 1 Eligible School
- Educators who see themselves directly using this material in their classroom
- Educators in STEM subjects and/or STEM-focused schools
Selection for the program will be determined first by these preference criteria and then by lottery.
Testimonials from past participants
"I am going to integrate the anxiety reducing interventions into my classroom - immediately. [...] The information was helpful, useful, and applicable, and the tour was cool and interesting."
"The whole workshop was amazing and I think it was great talking with everyone. I am going to give these materials to my teachers for them to use ASAP!"
"I enjoyed that we got to discuss and brainstorm with our colleagues and the practical strategies for integrating SEL into any living environment class."
"I learned so much about MRIs and got to connect with lovely educators. [I'll be] using the [anxiety] interventions with students before the Regents."