** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SCIENCE INFLUENCERS PROGRAM INTEGRATES RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN STEM AND FANH-RELATED FIELDS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE, INFLUENTIAL COMMUNICATORS OF SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. THE PROGRAM, DRIVEN BY A NEED TO REPAIR THE LEAKY PIPELINE IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS, HAS FOUR OBJECTIVES: 1) CREATE A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM TO INCREASE UNDERGRADUATES' APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCIES TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT STEM- AND FANH-RELATED ISSUES; 2) FORM AN REE ADVISORY BOARD TO SERVE AS MENTORS, ROLE MODELS, AND ADVOCATES FOR UNDERGRADUATES; 3) INSTILL STUDENTS WITH EFFECTIVE AND INFLUENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS THROUGH PLANNED EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES; AND 4) DEVELOP A SCIENCE INFLUENCERS PROGRAM MODEL TO INFLUENCE POSITIVELY PUBLIC OPINION OF STEM AND FANH SCIENCES ISSUES AND SHAPE NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SCIENCE. THE PROGRAM FEATURES CROSS-DISCIPLINARY MENTORS FROM MULTIPLE TEXAS A&AMP;M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM PARTNERS (E.G., TEXAS A&AMP;M UNIVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW A&AMP;M UNIVERSITY, TEXAS A&AMP;M UNIVERSITY KINGSVILLE, TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY, WEST TEXAS A&AMP;M UNIVERSITY, TEXAS A&AMP;M AGRILIFE RESEARCH, TEXAS A&AMP;M AGRILIFE EXTENSION). THIRTY STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM; 15 WILL BE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN INVALUABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES THROUGH A SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS COURSE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, INTERACTIONS WITH STEM AND SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE MENTORS, ONGOING TECHNICAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS ACTIVITIES; SUMMER INTERNSHIPS; A PUBLIC RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM; AND ONE ELECTIVE OUTREACH EXPERIENCE. PROGRAM IMPACTS INCLUDE STUDENTS WHO BECOME SCIENCE INFLUENCERS, WHO INFLUENCE POSITIVELY PUBLIC OPINION OF STEM AND THE FANH SCIENCES, AND WHO INITIATE FACT-BASED DIALOGUE ABOUT SCIENTIFIC ISSUES TO HELP COUNTER A RURAL AMERICA IMAGE MISPERCEPTION.