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CSO Shares STEM Program in Latin America

by CSO Valentina Lopez, Querétaro, Mexico

My name is Valentina and I started my journey as a CSO back in middle school—I am now a rising senior studying high school in Querétaro, Mexico. Starting out at 13 years old, I knew I was passionate about the sciences and about making a difference in my community, but I didn’t quite know how to do so…not to mention I was pretty timid! After completing the Leadership Training Institute (LTI) with the program, I felt more equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to be successful. I learned how to network, design an action plan, and more importantly, I learned about the value of the student voice after seeing my peers lead the training sessions. That’s when I felt inspired to take my journey to the next level, so I applied for the leadership council.

I am currently a member of the International Leadership Council and throughout my experience, I’ve had the honor to work with all sorts of amazing people from mentors and fellow youth to educators and STEM professionals! What is incredible is that no matter what background, we all share a common goal: to transform our network through the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Some of the projects I’ve worked on in the past are hosting school STEM nights, teaching coding basics through clubs using the platforms SkillStruck and Scratch, and raising awareness on wildlife conservation with the Arizona Trout in the Classroom (TIC) initiative. Moving here to Mexico, I have taught the engineering and design process at a local elementary school with donated National Inventor’s Hall of Fame (NIHF) kits. I don’t plan on stopping there though! I am working on hosting a STEM career day at my school, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and on expanding the program’s presence in Latin America.

Are you interested in joining the CSO program? To find out how you or your school can get involved, contact Sarah@chiefscienceofficers.org