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Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, PhD

she/her/ella

Ciencia Puerto Rico | Yale University

2030STEM Salon #8

#CienciaBoricua

Culture & Identity in Science as a Matter of Social Justice

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Eddie Hausner/The New York Times

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Hank Walker/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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@edgo3finger

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Eddie Hausner/The New York Times

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LACK OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MEDIA COVERAGE RELEVANT TO PUERTO RICO

LACK OF ROLE MODELS AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT SCIENCE EDUCATION

18 Years Ago…

AN INVISIBLE, DISCONNECTED, AND GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

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Ciencia Puerto Rico

>16K scientists, students, educators and allies who understand science can empower individuals with the knowledge, capacity, and agency to improve their lives and society.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SCICOMM & ENGAGEMENT

ADVOCACY

K-12 EDUCATION

Our membership is our super power.

We have sought to give a voice to scientists in the public media and improve the way we engage the public with science, through culturally relevant content. Over the years we have helped publish >800 science articles in online and print media in Puerto Rico.

We have connected scientists with K-12 students, teachers and classrooms in our STEM education projects to help them see a path in science

We have also helped young people interested in science careers move into these training paths by giving them access to information abour hidden curriculum, connecting them with role models and mentors, and providing leadership training so they can be change agents in their communities

Finally, we have leveraged our membership to promote science policy and advocacy particularly around the evidence-based decision making and defending scientific institutions

And we have developed this concept of #CienciaBoricua, BoricuaScience, a term that fuses those two identities in an inextricable way because there is no one without the other. For me and my colleagues to give voice, visibility, and to empower this community is a radical act, and act of social justice.

If anyone would like to learn more about these initiatives, I encourage you to peruse our publications on the Salon Google Drive.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SCICOMM & ENGAGEMENT

ADVOCACY

K-12 EDUCATION

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Seeds of Success: STEM Girl Ambassadors

Gives middle school girls throughout PR opportunity to experience the excitement of STEM through workshops, connect with Latina STEM mentors, and be guided to complete a STEM Ambassador project.

565 girls (5 cohorts)
294 Latina STEM Mentors
> 60K people reached through Ambassador projects
Improved science identity + STEM attitudes
95% declare intention to continue in STEM

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New Resources for Girls in STEM!

Largest digital collection of Latinas in STEM

Webinar series with inspiring role models

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Help Us Reach Our Goal!

Eng.SembrandoSemillasPR.org

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SCICOMM & ENGAGEMENT

ADVOCACY

K-12 EDUCATION

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COVID-19

Published >100 COVID-19 related articles and op-eds in newspapers, written by >60 science and public health experts.

Facilitated >70 local and international media interviews.

The Cuídate Cuídame campaign connected scientists with influencers

With support from the Simons Foundation, Aquí Nos Cuidamos uses participatory strategies to reach vulnerable communities

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In 2022, we launched Ciencia CoLab, to support local communities and their leaders leverage science to create and implement sustainable projects, systems, and processes, created from their needs and priorities.

Engaging with Local Communities

New book highlights stories of community leaders and how they use science to address priorities of their communities.

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Lessons Learned

Integrating social and science identities is empowering, dismantles stereotypes, and counters deficit model
Culturally-relevant engagement leads to effective engagement
Community is a source of support, solutions, mentoring, opportunities, hidden curriculum, and on-ramps

So what have I learned from my work with CienciaPR?

Identity is a strength and representation matters. By acknowledging and celebrating our multiple identities in science we dismantle the notion that scientists are supposed to look a certain way, talk like or think like. We open paths for others who come from similar backgrounds who might have not considered a career in science otherwise. And we also begin to dismantle the deficit model.
Community is source of support and solutions. The act of connecting people who would otherwise not be connected, of creating community, is also a source of strength, pride, and support. It’s not only an important signal but by connecting people much more can be achieved
And for many in our communities access to science education, to research training, to information about how to make your way in science is a critical step in leveling the playing field. And through our own access we can bring others along.

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Sustaining X in STEM

Use networking and social media platforms strategically
Engage membership in meaningful ways that fulfill their drives
Empower members to use spheres of influence
Partner with professional societies, funders & institutions – THEY NEED US! They should value us

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giovanna.guerrero@cienciapr.org

@Sefini, @CienciaPR

FB.com/CienciaPR @ciencia.pr

www.cienciapr.org

Thank you!