Latinos in Science panel series

On Wednesday, March 18, the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Initiative presented a "Latinos in Science" panel discussion for interested members of NEIU's community.

The main objective of this academic program's series of panel discussions is to help foster education and promotion within the fields of science, thereby presenting these fields as more accessible to the Latino population. The demographic focus is geared specifically towards informing NEIU Latino undergraduate and graduate students of the inherent need for Latino representation within the many sectors of the sciences. The ongoing "Latinos in Science" panel series seeks to bring successful NEIU science professionals out to speak to students, along with professionals from other parts of Chicago as well.

During this panel series, a small roomful of mostly Hispanic students turned out during activity hour in room SU 218 to ask questions and take notes. Answering student's questions and providing useful information based on personal experiences were two scientific scholars; NEIU's Dr. Ana Fraiman, and visiting professor/scientist Dr. Vladimiro Mujica of Northwestern University.

The discussion was steered by Dr. Ana Gil-Garcia, ELAD faculty and co-director of this ongoing project of panel series.

Fraiman began by speaking about her upbringing and the challenges faced in her pursuit of a scientific education, focusing on the added challenge of being a Latino female within the context of an already under-represented segment of the population, the scientific realm. Fraiman belongs to NEIU's organic chemistry department.. She related how Latinos within the sciences are an under-represented group, even by today's standards. She went on to speak about her educational history and travels, while mentioning her interest in providing "a lot of mentoring" to interested parties. Fraiman is involved in research and other projects in order to help peak the interest in scientific learning within the Chicago Latino community.

On that same note, Mujica next opened up about his personal experiences, starting with the fact that he was born in Venezuela. He has traveled much abroad in his quest to pursue his education in science, specifically chemistry. Mujica expressed how this natural science is very high up on the abstraction ladder, as compared to language per se. He, like Fraiman, spoke on some of the rewards and frustrations found in the practicing/studying of the sciences, such as found in scientific research. Mujica also noted (just as Fraiman) how the rewards for Latinos in the sciences are apparent, but how the reality is that it is harder for a non-U.S. born person to adjust to another culture while pursuing upper-level learning.

In general, it was interesting to note how both Fraiman and Mujica have found many successes and satisfaction within their respective fields, while facing and overcoming challenges faced along the way.

With poor workforce representation within the sciences regarding the Hispanic population (only 3.2 percent according to the National Science Foundation) the "Latinos in Science" panel series strives to interest budding Latino scientists and other professionals to reach for their goals. By providing access to information through open discussion, the panel seeks to build further interest and representation in the scientific community for the Latino population.