Systems Thinkers in STEM Ambassadorship (STiSA)

The Systems Thinkers in STEM Ambassadorship (STiSA) is a free program from the Baliga Systems Education Experiences team at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) in Seattle, built for 10th and 11th graders who want to learn systems thinking in STEM. Ambassadors choose whether to take part in each offering. The program is a mix of online micro-courses, workgroups, and in-person events, all at no cost. Ambassadors join based on their interests and schedule, starting as early as mid-June. Most meetings happen online, with some in-person options for students in the Seattle area. The core starting point is Systems Are Everywhere, a two-hour workshop on systems, models, and how STEM professionals use systems thinking. Other micro-courses cover systems medicine, environmental systems and sustainability, community action projects, and building a professional web presence, plus talks by scientists. Ambassadors stay connected with staff and peers on Slack and sign up for each offering there. Students may do STiSA alongside an internship or DREAM-High if selected.

For the 2026-2027 cycle, current 10th and 11th graders were eligible to apply. Every applicant who finished the full application was accepted. The next application is expected to reopen in mid-January 2027.