BOP pace university billion oyster project

Pace University just received a $ million grant from the National Science Foundation, to expand the Billion Oyster Project. The Billion Oyster Project also involves the collaboration of New York city restaurants, which donate their oyster shells to students each week. Students then grow new oysters on those shells, while also wading and working in New York Harbor with a team of scientists. The goal of the Billion Oyster Project (BOP) is the promotion of STEM education in New York City schools. An ancillary goal of the project is to restore oyster populations to New York City Harbor.

“Pace is so proud to be a partner to the project,” Billion Oyster Project participant and science major Rose Yamaguchi said. “And what better way to learn about science and the environment than by eating oysters?” Assistant professor of STEM education at Pace, Lauren Birney, also hailed the collaborative project for being “a direct response to the persistent call for 21st century workforce development,” (“Pace University Expands on Work with New York City Department of Education” 1). The BOP also specifically works with the most disadvantaged schools in the New York City Public School system, ones that have underdeveloped STEM programs. Therefore, the Billion Oyster Project achieves both environmental and social justice objectives.

According to its website, the Billion Oyster Project “is an ecosystem restoration and education project designed to restore one billion live oysters to New York Harbor,” but one that also promotes STEM education among underrepresented groups (1). The BOP maintains a digital platform where participants can monitor progress, as well as collaborate with scientists, researchers, and volunteers from around the world. Through the BOP, students participate in field studies with mentors, collect data on oyster growth and water quality, and even learn how to prepare official scientific data reports.

In addition to Pace University and the Billion Oyster Project, other community participants from both public and private sector are helping to restore New York City Harbor by leveraging community relationships and coalitions. According to Birney, Pace University’s School of Education has been partnering with the New York City Department of Education to help strategize feasible means of offering more STEM opportunities to disadvantaged youth. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has also expressed support for the Billion Oyster Project and hails the National Science Foundation grant as being an “exciting” opportunity (“Pace University Expands on Work with New York City Department of Education” 1).