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 science and technology professions 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 600 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.

• 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.

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

• Public Policy—symposium entitled Shaping Public Policy: A Stem Cell Case Study, for '06 AAAS international meeting. Co-sponsoring Science and Technology Seminar Series' with the Skandalaris Entrepreneurial Center at Washington University and the Science Leadership graduate program at Webster University.

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 candidate in Webster University's Management and Leadership graduate program. She and her husband, Stephen Kessler, have three teenage children and live in St. Louis, Missouri.