Mary Burke Executive Director Academy of Science of St. Louis mburke@academyofsciencestl.org

Mary Burke has been the Executive Director of the Academy of Science of St. Louis since September 2004. As such, Ms. Burke works with STEM professionals from public, private and academic sectors; leads science educator initiatives; and directs the following education and outreach efforts:

• Greater St. Louis Science Fair—impacting teachers, families and more than 50,000 students. Largest regional fair in the country.

• Speakers for Science—utilizing more than 900 professionals from science, medicine and technology for presentations to classrooms and organizations in the Greater St. Louis region. This all-volunteer program impacts more than 20,000 students and citizens annually. Partnerships with public, private and academic sectors enable free public science seminars throughout the region. Future Trek program brings groups of middle school students to rotating STEM career exploration sessions, followed by a science scavenger hunt.

• Gateway to Science Collaborative—originally a charter project of AAAS, a collaboration of major informal science organizations under the umbrella of the Academy. Organizations include the internationally recognized Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis ZOO and the St. Louis Science Center.

• BioBlitz—highly collaborative 24 hour snapshot of the biodiversity of one of the country’s largest urban parks, Forest Park in St. Louis. Scientist-led teams of citizens collect and share data.

• Recognition of Scientists—prestigious Academy Fellows organization and annual Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards.

Ms. Burke has more than 20 years of professional experience in the marketing of education and science programs and organizations, including the Public Broadcasting System and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In addition to expertise in coalition forming, strategic planning and science/education advocacy, she has received national and regional awards for her creative work—including Emmy's, Telly's and IABC Communicator awards. Burke is on the board of the Council for Educational Advancement; is a member of the AAAS section committee for General Science and Technology; was selected for Math and Science Teacher Leadership Academy of Missouri; is a member of Science Teachers of Missouri and the Science and the St. Louis Science Leaders Network.


A lifelong learner, Ms. Burke is a graduate of Webster University's Management and Leadership graduate program and is an adjunct professor in Webster’s School of Business and Technology.