Enter the Nation’s First Student Chief Science Officers

Graphical Abstract

Students vote for one of their peers to become a STEM advocate in their school. These Chief Science Officers select and promote STEM programming, connect with STEM organizations to bring STEM programming to their communities, or participate in local and state conversations on education and the workforce.

Abstract

Hard. Boring. Uncool. How many times have students thought of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) this way? The answer is too often. Unfortunately, these stereotypes reduce student interest in STEM. When it comes to impacting the STEM landscape, some questions we should be asking include: How often do students champion STEM opportunities in schools and how often are students involved with educators, scientists, and policy makers in discussions about combating negative STEM stereotypes or impacting the jobs of the future? The answer is too rarely.

Keywords:

• Informal Education

Supplemental Material

Author Contributions

Jeremy Babendure ([email protected]) is executive director at the Arizona SciTech Festival at the Arizona Technology Council Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona, and assistant research professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Nagib Balfakih ([email protected]) is associate professor of science education at the Arizona Technology Council Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.

Susan Farretta ([email protected]) is director of educational initiatives at the Arizona Technology Council Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.

Becky Hughes ([email protected]) is an evaluator at Southwest Education Consulting Associates in Phoenix, Arizona.

Notes

1 SciTech Jedi are STEM professionals that work with CSOs to provide real-world insights into STEM skills and careers and validate the importance of the CSO position.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeremy Babendure

Jeremy Babendure ([email protected]) is executive director at the Arizona SciTech Festival at the Arizona Technology Council Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona, and assistant research professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Nagib Balfakih

Nagib Balfakih ([email protected]) is associate professor of science education at the Arizona Technology Council Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.

Susan Farretta

Susan Farretta ([email protected]) is director of educational initiatives at the Arizona Technology Council Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona.

Becky Hughes

Becky Hughes ([email protected]) is an evaluator at Southwest Education Consulting Associates in Phoenix, Arizona.