Dayton Chief Science Officers Earn Top Honors at Regional FlexFactor Competition
The Dayton Chief Science Officers are celebrating a major accomplishment after team “Keep It Cool” earned 3rd place overall at the 2026 Regional FlexFactor Competition. Team members Isaiah and Jeff developed an innovative cooling vest designed to support active-duty military personnel in the field. Using flexible hybrid electronics, the vest is intended to sense body […]
Turning Play into Confidence: CSO Saanvi’s Teddy Bear Clinic
By CSO Saanvi, Pennsylvania What if a trip to the doctor felt less intimidating—and a lot more like play? Through the Chief Science Officer (CSO) program, CSO Saanvi in Pennsylvania brought that idea to life with her Action Plan: the Teddy Bear Clinic. “Through the CSO program, I organized and hosted a Teddy Bear Clinic […]
Ready and Set: This Spring, Avondale’s Chief Science Officers are On the Go
If you’ve spent any time around Avondale Elementary School District’s Chief Science Officers this year, you know one thing is true: these students are busy, and they mean business. From marching in the Billy Moore Day Parade in August to refining engineering prototypes this spring, AESD CSOs have packed this school year with meaningful STEM […]
Arizona Chief Science Officer Launches Game Development Program to Inspire Future STEM Leaders
Have you ever wanted to build your own video game or even your own computer? One Arizona student is working to make that possible for kids across the state. My name is Samir Villalva, and I am a freshman at ASU Prep Casa Grande and a Chief Science Officer (CSO). As part of my CSO […]
Student Voices at the Center: CSOs Shine at 2025 SLECoP Convening
When a group of student leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. for the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) 2025 Convening, they didn’t just attend — they led. These students, known as Chief Science Officers (CSOs), represented the next generation of STEM thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators through involvement in event sessions […]
Bridging STEM Ecosystems: A Journey from Arizona to Kenya
By Arizona STEM Ecosystem Director Claire Conway and Chief Science Officers International Program Director Eileen Healy Two SciTech Institute STEM leaders, one incredible journey. This past September, Arizona STEM Ecosystem Director Claire Conway and CSO International Program Director Eileen Healy traveled to Kenya to meet with educators, students, and community partners from the Kenya National […]
Blue Origin: Pioneering the Future of Space Exploration
By Sarah Cundiff, Chief Science Officer Program Manager, SciTech Institute Did you know the Sun is so big that one million Earths could fit inside it — and it’s still only considered an average star? Space is full of amazing facts like this, and scientists and astronauts are discovering more about our universe every day. […]
Youth Leading Youth: Great Lakes Bay CSOs Host Leadership Training Institute
On July 29–30, the Great Lakes Bay Region East Chief Science Officers (CSOs) gathered at Saginaw Valley State University for the 2025–2026 Leadership Training Institute (LTI). This year’s sessions focused on action planning, networking with STEM professionals, sharing their CSO vision, telling their story, and exploring the new Moodle platform. A highlight of the training […]
Let’s Grow Clayton: Planting Seeds of Change in Metro Atlanta
By CSO Jasmin, Metro Atlanta Region, Georgia Hi! I’m CSO Jasmin, and I proudly serve as the Chief Science Officer for the Metro Atlanta Region in Georgia. Being part of the CSO program has given me the tools, confidence, and platform to lead with purpose, and my action plan, Let’s Grow Clayton (LGC), is the […]
Voices for the Future: My Mission for a Sustainable Arizona through SWISE
By AZ CSO Mays – Chief Science Officer | Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE) Ambassador | ASU Preparatory Academy – Downtown Phoenix My name is Mays, and I’m currently an early grad high school junior at ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix. I was first introduced to the SWSIE through the Chief Science Officers program. In 2024, […]