Queens College K-12 Science Education Program GLOBE NY Metro Receives over $1 Million in Funding to Train Nearly 200 NYC and Nassau County Teachers
—Will enable students to participate in the scientific process and data collection—
Flushing, NY, March 17—The Queens College GLOBE NY Metro program will receive $1,031,000 in federal funding to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in New York City and Nassau County elementary and secondary schools, secured by U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens).
GLOBE, an acronym for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, is an international science and education program that provides K-12 students and the public with the opportunity to participate in the scientific process and data collection. It is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NY Metro is the local GLOBE partner for Southern New York State.
“We are grateful to Congressman Meeks for this tremendous support and for recognizing the college’s indispensable role in educating teachers in the New York metropolitan area,” said Queens College President Frank H. Wu. “This funding significantly enhances the critically important hands-on science opportunities made possible through the GLOBE NY Metro program, which we are so deeply proud to offer New York City and Long Island students.”
In this new federally funded initiative, GLOBE NY Metro, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, will run nine three-day GLOBE certification workshops in late summer 2026, for 100 elementary school teachers and 80 secondary teachers in the New York City metropolitan area; priority will be given to teachers in NYC districts 27, 28, 29, and in the Nassau County districts of Sewanhaka, Lawrence, and Valley Stream. Any spots that remain open will be allocated to NYC teachers outside those districts. In addition to training, each participating teacher will receive books and equipment to enable them to implement the newly acquired strategies and techniques in their home schools.
“STEM skills are critical for today’s career fields, and the Queens College GLOBE NY Metro program will open doors to future careers for students in New York’s 5th District while advancing hands-on learning that connects classrooms to real scientific research,” said Meeks. “The secured federal funding provides teachers with the resources to inspire and spark students’ interest in STEM like never before. I am proud to deliver this investment to help empower the next generation of innovators and problem solvers who will lead us into the future.”
Teachers participating in the elementary school workshops will receive a collection of seven GLOBE story books developed by NASA focusing on weather, climate, and the earth system. Teachers participating in the secondary school workshops will receive basic laboratory equipment to aid in the development of a student research program in their school, as well as a set of classroom equipment to enable an entire class to participate in a research project. The set will include IR (infrared) thermometers for studying “heat island” effects, drying ovens for preparing soil samples, tools for collecting water samples, and test kits.
Additional offerings include a three-day training session on creating a research-oriented elective course for high school students; four half-day community science workshops for parents and students in the priority districts; and 60 days of in-school support. Teachers can also receive assistance with lessons, demo lessons, close guidance and/or technical support for implementing the new STEM strategies, and other workshop activities. Participants will also be invited to show their students’ work at the New York Hall of Science’s STEM Career Expo 2026 in May.
Queens College enjoys a national reputation for its liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional programs. With more than 60 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate degree and certificate and honors programs, and research and internship opportunities, the college helps its students realize their potential in countless ways, assisted by an accessible, award-winning faculty. Located on a beautiful, 80-acre campus in Flushing, New York, the college has been cited by Princeton Review as one of America’s Best Value Colleges, as well as being ranked eighth as a Forbes College with the Highest Return on Investment for Graduates Nationwide, and sixth as a Wall Street Journal Best Value College Nationwide, thanks to its outstanding academics, generous financial aid packages, and relatively low costs. Princeton Review has designated QC a Best College for 34 consecutive years—since the guide’s inception. Forbes Magazine, Money Magazine, Princeton Review, and U.S. News and World Report recognize it as an overall top northeastern public college. Visit our homepage to learn more.
In its 20-year history, GLOBE NY Metro has conducted training programs in over 1,000 schools, parks, and nature/science centers for nearly 2,000 teachers and informal educators in the New York metropolitan area. The program is led by Peter Schmidt, who provided environmental education experiences to 5,000 New York City schoolchildren annually as director of the college’s residential environmental education center at Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve for 25 years. GLOBE NY Metro is funded through private and governmental grants, including New York City Consolidated Edison, NASA, NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and New York City Department of Education contracts.
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