Are you a middle school educator in New York City who wants to incorporate more neuroscience into your classroom, or who finds your students seeking scientific evidence as they discuss current events?
If so, join the Teacher Institute for Neuroscience and Society at Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute! Applications are open for our Fall 2026 program, and they are due July 1, 2026. The link to apply is on our program webpage. Applications received after the deadline will be considered as space allows. The Teacher Institute for Neuroscience and Society is free, and Fellows who complete all program requirements will earn a stipend of $400 and up to 16 CTLE credit hours. Food will be provided.
Topic: Neuroscience and Climate Change
We invite middle school teachers to examine the dual systems by which climate change can affect the brain and how the brain can also impact climate change. How might increased heat, drought, and pollution impact brain development? And what are the neural or cognitive processes that give rise to behaviors that protect or harm the environment? By understanding the links between neuroscience and climate, we will explore how the brain processes complex global challenges. Teachers will create lessons that strengthen students’ critical thinking and sense of agency around climate change, as well as communication skills transferable to other multi-faceted topics.
Workshop Dates:
Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026; 4:30-7pm
Summit: Teacher Institute Fellows reconvene 10am-4pm on Saturday, December 5, 2026 to present lesson plans, share experiences from classroom implementation, and showcase student work.
Location: In person, at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute (Jerome L. Greene Science Center, 3227 Broadway, New York, NY 10027)
Eligibility: This professional development opportunity is open to all classroom educational staff who work directly with middle school students (grades 6-8) in a New York City school.
Email [email protected] with any questions.
