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, you 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.
Register your school today for 2021-22!
Register your school today for 2021-22!Some things to look forward to:
- Weekly, virtual office hours to support all advisors and CSOs
- Quarterly meetings led by our Texas CSOs (all virtual, except our leadership training institute event)
- Mentorship by our Alamo STEM Ecosystem
- Internship and volunteer opportunities
- Exclusive access to local and national STEM events
- Leadership opportunities with partner organizations
- Possible summer travel opportunity to Arizona State University
- Opportunities to collaborate with CSOs from across the globe
To register: Have each campus administrator and/or advisor (teacher sponsor) complete the site intent form. Note: No invoices will be sent to your school. Membership is free this year!
Once your school is set, your Chief Science Officer student will need to complete their own CSO student registration form by August 31 (for returning sites) and in early September for new sites.
We hope to kick off our in-person, annual leadership training institute on September 25 from 9 am – 3 pm. That gives you the full month of August to prepare and get all things in order and then the month of September to prepare your CSOs in time for our kick-off, training event!
If you have any questions, contact Dr. Stephanie Garcia, IDRA Texas CSO Director.
See the Texas CSO program flier (pdf).
Watch our webinar: How the Chief Science Officers Program Engages Students in STEM
COVD-19 Adjustments
We have adapted the Texas CSO program for virtual implementation this year! Our CSOs will create action plans to enrich a STEM culture in their schools and communities but will adjust them for virtual settings. We already have CSOs creating opportunities to mentor younger students in STEM, and some signed up to participate and serve as representatives in civic projects and committees in their cities. Our Leadership Training Institute is taking place virtually through a series of webinar sessions rather than a two-day in-person event.
Hear CSOs describe how they adjusted after school closures this spring: Chief Science Officer Students Determined to Promote STEM Despite School Closures
Stay tuned, because our CSOs will continue to make an impact, no matter the distance!
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