Our Mission & CSSP Value TO SOCIETIES

CSSP Mission

  • To continually enhance leadership skill development in the community of scientific societies
  • To cultivate an enduring network of national leaders in all areas of science and technology, united in support of all science, and working to improve the nation’s science and technology policy
  • To provide a forum for the open exchange of information about science and science policy
  • To be a resource for government and industry on emerging and pressing science and science education issues of national importance

CSSP Value Proposition

For the Member Society

  • Access to the leading resource supporting scientific society leadership development across all scientific disciplines
  • Invited participation in twice annual Leadership Workshops in Washington, D.C.
  • Best Practices for Societies session at each Leadership Workshop
  • Collaborating with and receiving useful advice from collegial and experienced peer-presidents
  • Ability to influence the national dialogue on issues relevant to their society members
  • Support of a respected voice of science across and among our nation’s diverse top leaders and most impactful influencers
  • Opportunity to generate CSSP-backed public policy positions on issues of importance to their societies
  • CSSP assists in arranging congressional visits, taking advantage of the reputation of an organization that has historically represented nearly a million scientists, thus enhancing the opportunity to meet with high ranking staff or congress-people
  • Live stream of the Frontiers of Science lectures to all members of member societies
  • Ability to nominate members of your home society, or other members of the science community, for CSSP awards
  • DC office support to enhance non-partisan science advocacy

For the Individual President

  • Leadership development and executive peer-coaching during twice annual workshops
  • Professional growth, networking, and honor
  • Peer-coaching on effective advocacy processes when visiting the hill
  • Networking across the full spectrum of scientific and technological disciplines
  • CSSP Chats – Live interactive collaborative conversations with peers on leadership and society best practices 
  • Real time advice on societal issues (e.g., hiring executive directors, sexual harassment policies, etc.) as they arise, helping to ensure a successful presidency

CSSP’s History: Founded in 1973, the Council of Scientific Society Presidents (CSSP) has served as a center for national science leadership development, a strong voice in support of science in the nation’s capital, and the premier forum for national science policy development through open, substantive exchanges on current issues encompassing the full spectrum of science, engineering, and mathematics. A unique organization, CSSP represents 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 past-presidents with combined membership that has historically approached nearly a million scientists.

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 is the Leader in Leadership Development in Science.