Pace professor links STEM training with environmental science

Dr. Lauren Birney, a distinguished professor at Pace University and executive director of The STEM Collaboratory NYC, is using teacher preparation, mentorship and community-based science projects to expand access to STEM education. Her work centers on hands-on environmental restoration in New York Harbor and on helping educators and students build real-world learning pathways.

Why it matters: - Dr. Lauren Birney’s work connects classroom STEM instruction with hands-on environmental science, giving students and teachers real-world experience in restoration and research. - Her focus on mentorship and equitable access comes as schools face teacher shortages, burnout and retention challenges. - The model also highlights how university-led partnerships can extend science learning into communities.

What happened: - Birney is a Distinguished Professor of STEM Education at Pace University and executive director of The STEM Collaboratory NYC®. - She was spotlighted by Influential Women for her work in STEM education, environmental science and educational equity. - Birney has more than three decades of experience across K–12 and higher education. - Before Pace, she spent 18 years as a biology teacher and science internship coordinator in the San Diego Unified School District. - Her earlier work included programs that linked students to experiential, project-based STEM learning.

The details: - Birney leads graduate teacher preparation programs at Pace University. - She serves as principal investigator for the NSF-funded Curriculum + Community Enterprise for Restoration Science, or CCERS, project. - CCERS engages teachers and students in hands-on environmental science and restoration efforts throughout New York Harbor. - Her academic background includes an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, an M.A. in Counseling from Point Loma Nazarene University, an independent study in Liberal Arts from St. Clare’s, Oxford, and a B.A. in Biology and Chemistry from the University of San Diego. - Birney holds California credentials and certifications in science education, counseling, administration and language development. - She also serves on the executive board of Earth Codes Observatory and previously chaired the advisory board for the Biomimicry Institute. - Pace University has named Birney a Distinguished Professor.

Between the lines: - Birney’s career reflects a belief that STEM education works best when it is tied to community engagement and environmental problem-solving. - Her emphasis on networking, follow-through and resilience suggests a professional approach built around relationships as much as credentials. - The repeated focus on women’s advancement points to a broader push for more support in fields where leadership gaps remain. - The teacher shortage gives programs like Birney’s added importance because they can help bring new educators into the pipeline while improving retention.

What's next: - Birney is expected to continue expanding STEM education efforts through Pace University, The STEM Collaboratory NYC and CCERS. - Her ongoing mentoring work is likely to remain centered on helping young women and emerging educators build professional networks and create opportunities. - Environmental restoration projects in New York Harbor appear positioned to stay a core part of her applied learning model.

The bottom line: - Birney’s work shows how STEM education can move beyond the classroom when universities, teachers and community partners align around hands-on science and equitable access.