STSSI is an interdisciplinary institute spanning multiple departments, including The Department of Physics & Astronomy, The School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, and The School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences. We are committed to forging connections within the wider space science community as well as with institutional and regional partners to facilitate the exchange of ideas and practical knowledge, and to equip our students with the skills necessary for success in STEM-related fields. We instill curiosity in the space sciences in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond through workshops, research-focused visitors' programs, and public outreach events.