052 // Hispanic Heritage Month and What it Means to be a Latino in STEM

Engineering our Future: Helping Engineers Succeed In Career and Life

Sep 15 2021 • 29 mins

📌 Full show notes at https://www.luisfelipeduque.com/052

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Today, September 15th, marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the culture, stories, and contributions of Latin-American citizens. Even though there’s a lot to celebrate, we still have a long way to go as hispanics are still underrepresented in many different areas, including STEM.

According to a report by the Student Research Foundation, hispanics are only 25% of the US student population. However, when you look at careers in STEM specifically, they represent no more than 8% of the people in these fields. Therefore, this episode is an introduction to a series dedicated to Latinos and Latinas in STEM, talking about how difficult―but rewarding―it can be, as well as what we can do to improve diversity in such fields.

What You’ll Learn:

What is the Hispanic Heritage Month?
Why Does It Take Place Between 09/15 and 10/15 of Every Year?
Hispanics' Struggles as They Come Into the US
An Honest Opinion About a Life in STEM from a Latina Engineer Herself
The Unutilized Hispanic Talent Pool―Both Men and Women
Why Hispanics Have One of The Highest Dropout Rates From STEM Fields
Four Main Factors Explaining Why Hispanics are Underrepresented in STEM
Is Hispanic Representation Expected to Improve?
Are Hispanics Still Interested in a Career in STEM, Regardless of the Disparities?
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers―An Organization for Hispanics
How Girls in Civil is Empowering Latinas in STEM
What Can We Do to Pave the Way for Future Hispanic Generations?