Christofer Nelson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), a global network of science and technology centers, museums, and allied organizations that engage more than 110 million people annually across North America and 40 countries. ASTC is committed to fostering a deeper understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people.
As President and CEO, Christofer has set a bold strategic direction for ASTC, securing more government and private sector grants than ever before in the organization's history. He has focused on advancing equity and inclusion, supporting ASTC members in promoting equity and justice within their communities. Christofer's leadership of ASTC's Community Science Initiative exemplifies his commitment to building science engagement organzations' capacities to address significant scientific issues collaboratively at a local and global scale. He also lead the launch of Seeding Action, a signature initiative leveraging ASTC's network of science centers and museums to foster a culture of action for improving planetary health.
Christofer also serves on the Board of Directors of the Digital Harbor Foundation and the leadership board of the National Science Policy Network. He is an advisor to multiple national and international organizations and projects, including several National Science Foundation-funded research projects and initiatives.
Before joining ASTC, Christofer served as the Assistant Director for Open Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). In this role, he helped federal agencies tap into the knowledge and creativity of the American public to advance scientific research, develop new technologies, improve service delivery, and solve complex challenges. He scaled the use of incentive prizes, crowdsourcing, citizen science, and Grand Challenges across federal agencies, addressing national priorities from clean energy development to humanitarian aid delivery.
Christofer previously served as served as Program Director and a member of the research faculty at Georgetown University's Program on Science in the Public Interest. He has been involved in the leadership team of the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. and has consulted with organizations like Bloomberg Philanthopies and Bloomberg Associates, the X-PRIZE Foundation, and the NASA Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation.
From 2009 to 2011, Christofer implemented the Obama Administration's Presidential Appointee Leadership Program, that onboarded and supported Senate-confirmed appointees in effectively collaborating to advance the Administration's priorities. He facilitated leadership, strategy, and professional development programs for appointees at various federal agencies, including the U.S. Small Buinsess Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and others. supported innovation initiatives within city and state governments globally.
As Director of Programs for The Impact Center, Christofer designed and developed programs to inspire and empower emerging leaders with the knowledge skills and network they need to have a greater societal impact. Part of this work including directing a Gender Intelligence initiative and a premier annual Fellowship program for high-impact women leaders. Earlier in his career, Christofer worked for a consulting firm in the Seattle area, providing executive coaching, team building, and strategic growth consulting to small- and mid-sized businesses.
Christofer's extensive experience and commitment to public engagement with science, innovation, and technology have made significant contributions to ASTC's mission and the broader science and technology community.
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