Texas Chief Science Officers Program

Elevating the voices of students in STEM

CSOs are students in grades 6-12 elected by their peers to be liaisons for STEM in their schools and communities. They learn leadership skills to implement on-campus projects and advocate for student voice in STEM.

With CSOs, schools can…

• Create a pipeline of diverse STEM leaders
• Increase communication and collaboration among CSOs
• Enrich school STEM culture and career awareness
• Increase student voice in STEM conversations in the community

Every CSO gets to experience…

• Leadership Training Institute teaches networking, leadership development, verbal and written communication, and team building.
• Cabinet Meetings and Community Events guide collaboration with business and civic leaders to address community challenges, improve communication and confidence, and share common experiences.
• Mentorship training opportunities with STEM professionals – vetted regional leaders who help CSOs implement their ideas on campus and express their voice in the community.

IDRA managed the expansion of the CSO program into Texas through 2021-23.

See the Texas CSO program flier (pdf).

Watch webinar: How the Chief Science Officers Program Engages Students in STEM