Programs

Advocates for Student Voice and Innovation in their communities.

Program Overview​

The Chief Science Officers program is comprised of students grades 6-12 who are elected by their peers to serve as STEM leaders and ambassadors in their schools and communities. During their time as CSOs, students are able to enhance their workforce and employability skills; join a global network of diverse STEM leaders prepared for college, careers, and civic engagement; increase the engagement of community and global STEM professionals; and implement STEM-focused action plans to impact their communities and raise awareness for the STEM causes they champion.

CSOs advocate for communication, interest, and engagement in STEM (“A” including the arts) innovation. They also streamline schools’ connections to local businesses and industry, higher education, and professional organizations, working with these entities to offer their peers and community members hands-on experiences that build STEM awareness and critical workforce skills. Collaboratively, CSOs function as a unified “Cabinet,” engaging in conversations to affect STEM perception at the local, state, and national levels, as well as transform school and community culture and broaden participation for everyone within their sphere of influence.

Previous slide
Next slide

Global Impact

Launched in the fall of 2015, the CSO’s initial cohort included 78 Arizona schools and 138 CSOs. Today, the 2023-2024 cohort consists of over 800 CSOs in 15 U.S. cities, six countries, and counting! Together, they reach more than 200,000 peers and community members, and engage with 300+ mentors and partners.

These CSOs bring with them a variety of rich backgrounds and experiences. In Arizona alone, 73% of CSOs attend Title I schools, with female participants comprising 56%; males 45.5%; non-binary; 13.7 Asian; 3.4%; Black/African American 14.4%; Caucasian 39.9%; Latino 42%; Indian/Middle Eastern 3%; and Indigenous/Native/Pacific Islander at 3.6%

CSO Active Regions

We have participating Chief Science Officers programs in these U.S. states and countries.

Alabama

Arizona

California

Colombia

Esports - NASEF

Florida

Guadalajara,
Mexico

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Kenya

Kuwait

Michigan

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Texas

UAE

Utah

Virginia

NSF Reports
from 2017-2022

NSF Reports
from 2017-2022

Visit the cso website
for more info

Interested in getting involved?

Click below to join the fun today!