To strengthen the impact that space exploration is having on South Texas, UTRGV recently created the South Texas Space Science Institute (STSSI) to meet the academic and economic challenges facing our communities. Our aim is to expand access to diverse and inclusive STEM career opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley.

The primary educational goal of STSSI is to increase the number of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degree recipients in STEM-related fields, especially for under-represented groups. Uniting institutional and community partners expands the STEM eco-system beyond the classroom: we immerse students in cutting-edge research and have them engage with peers and mentors through meaningful outreach initiatives.

This will attract more students to UTRGV to study the space sciences, keep those students who are already in our programs, and strengthen the local workforce by producing trained graduates who can work for any of the space technology development companies in the region and beyond.