September 27, 2021 - 16:32
This Hispanic Heritage Month, as we continue to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Latinx people in America, we’re thrilled to be able to highlight some incredible individuals doing amazing work in a field we don’t hear nearly enough about. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics aka STEM! People of Latin American descent continue to be under-represented in STEM and it’s clear there’s still a lot of work that needs to happen. According to a recent PEW study, Latinos make up 17 percent of the workforce in this country, but only 8 percent of all STEM workers, and that number has only increased by one percent since 2016. That’s in keeping with the increase observed in the workforce as a whole, but what it indicates, is that very few Latinx people are choosing to obtain degrees in STEM fields.
We think that needs to change. But so many of us grew up not knowing that things like engineering and computer programming were even options, that it’s inevitably going to take a while. But, as is the case with most things, representation can make a huge difference. The more we see people with similar backgrounds to our own doing things, the more likely we are to believe we—and our kids—can do them too. So here, we’re sharing some of the most inspiring and hardworking Latinas in STEM, so you can support them, and learn about the incredible work they’re all doing in their fields and for their communities.wp_*posts
