About CSSP

Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier (Director WHOSTP) and Dr. Lucinda Johnson (CSSP Board member)

The Council of Scientific Society Presidents (CSSP) is a unique organization representing the breadth of science and engineering research disciplines through its member societies and federations. CSSP member societies are represented by their presidents, presidents-elect, and recent past presidents of leading scientific societies and federations whose combined membership is over one million.

Founded in 1973, CSSP has served as a center for national science leadership development, a strong voice in support of science, and the premier forum for national science policy development and open, substantive exchanges on current issues (PDF) encompassing the full spectrum of science, engineering, and mathematics. CSSP is committed to “Advancing Leadership in Science and Technology” and to establishing policies and programs that will ensure a bright future for 21st century science.

CSSP provides its members ready access to the top research and education leadership nationwide. The organization’s nimble structure provides for a high degree of involvement and participation by its members in debates, task forces, committees, publications, and projects. CSSP seeks its members’ spectrum of views and consensus on major issues affecting its constituent communities. National leaders from government, universities, industry, nongovernmental organizations, and the media also seek CSSP’s views.

The CSSP meetings are a transformative opportunity (PDF) for current and rising leaders in scientific and professional societies to hear and learn from scientific pioneers, top political and thought leaders, and leadership experts, as well as exchange information about best practices in scientific societies with their peers. Only CSSP brings together leaders from the full gamut of scientific and engineering research disciplines with outstanding thinkers and visionaries.

In the area of advocacy, CSSP continues its long-standing collaboration with other science and technology societies and coalitions in advocacy. Many of CSSP’s societies have benefited from these collaborations on important issues such as Federal R&D and STEM funding; societies will now benefit more from CSSP’s advocacy activities on Capitol Hill, ensuring even greater access to new Congressional leaders.

CSSP is supported by dues and contributions from the supporting societies and contributions from Institutional Affiliates.

For more on the background and history of CSSP, please read CSSP The Early Years.