About UA
About UA
Learning science by doing science
Our core components
Family Engagement Opportunities
Partnership with Science-Rich NYC Culture Institutions
Professional Learning (PL) for Teachers and Administrators
Teacher Leader Development
Classroom Materials Orders
Evaluation of Program Effectiveness
What we do
Parent Coordinator workshops, family and student events at institutions, and partner attendance at school events.
Why we do it
UA’s Family Engagement initiative creates events for families to explore, learn about, and make memories at partner institutions. UA holds annual PC workshops to help plan and execute school community trips and to help PCs gain valuable professional learning experience. Partners also attend school events to support learning and expand access to the whole school community.
Effect on students
Students participate in Scientific Exploration with their families. Students who learned in UA-participating schools have consistently been prompted to seek intergenerational knowledge, to ask curiosity questions, and to make connections, all practices that support solid science practice and family engagement.
Research & Evaluation
UA R&E Brief FY25 FINAL
Author: MacPherson et al

Memories of Water - "Live from Flushing: Teen Voices on Climate"
Author: Queens Memory Podcast

Museums, Zoos, and Gardens: How Formal-Informal Partnerships Can Impact Urban Students’ Performance in Science
Author: Weinstein et al.

What does it take to sustain a productive partnership in education?
Author: Hammerness et al.

Staying Put: Positive Spillovers on Teacher Retention From a Middle School Science Initiative
Author: Shiferaw et al.

Videos
UA in the news
How do kids learn best? An old truth states that kids do better in school when their families and communities are involved in their education.
Urban Advantage’s middle school science program pairs students and teachers with some of the top cultural institutions in the city to help them delve into research projects.
In the dimly lit Hall of Mammals in the American Museum of Natural History here, small clusters of teachers scrutinized dioramas of animal habitats from around the world, filling in sheets of field observations
The tricks and treats of the season come to life this Saturday, 10/18 at @nybg with plentiful pumpkins, gourds, and fall flowers! 🍁
🎃Join us from 10 am - 1 pm for all sorts of fun-filled activities for Urban Advantage families to celebrate the season of frights and foliage!🍂
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Our Family Science Days begin this month! You`ll want to plan out your weekends because this year you will receive a special passport to collect stamps in. If you attend four or more of these special family events, you`ll receive a prize!! Don`t miss out on all the science fun. #UAFamilyScience
🌻🦍🌝🚀🌿🐯🍂🐧
#urbanadvantage
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Check out Science happening in your community! Lots of people in NYC do sciency things for fun! Including observing the universe! Join the Amateur Astronomers Association in Central Park on October 11th. The Rings of Saturn will blow your mind! #NatureNearMeUA ...
Do you remember your UA New Teacher Orientation or” Cycle 1” as we used to call it? SEED DISPERSAL! What a phenomenon! All about us this season! What local phenomena will you explore this year? #localpheomena #NatureNearMeUA #localphenomenaNYC ...
Offshore wind energy is coming to NYC and the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in 2026. Construction is currently underway! Swipe to learn more about this new industry in NYC. #windenergy #turbines #sciencenews ...
Happy World Oceans Day! Swipe to learn more about the historic work that the New York Aquarium is doing right off of our shores here in New York City. A story 100 years in the making! 🌊💙 #worldoceansday #NYA #urbanadvantage ...
#UAEXPO2025 opening remarks! ...
Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Saturday, May 10 for our Family Science Day. This year`s theme is A Community in Bloom and we`ll have plenty of fun, engaging, science activities around the grounds! You`ll be able to check out what we have blooming right now (swipe for pics) as well as interact with our special guests: Prospect Park Zoo, Prospect Park Alliance, Dept of Environmental Conservation, Green City Force, and iamCaribBeing. ...
Use your Student +3 voucher to visit QBG this Spring Break!! #urbanadvantage #springbreak ...
It`s spring break! A perfect time to use your Student +3 vouchers at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Don`t miss out! #cherryblossom #urbanadvantage #springbreak ...

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