December 10, 2024
On Saturday, November 16, the University of Chicago Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE UChicago) hosted the SHPE Chicagoland Día de Ciencias at the William Eckhardt Research Center. The STEM outreach event aimed to inspire Hispanic students and their families through hands-on learning, mentorship, and practical resources for academic success.
The event welcomed 126 participants, including 51 middle and high school students and 32 parents. Students participated in interactive sessions designed to develop critical thinking, teamwork, and an understanding of fundamental STEM concepts and engineering design. Led by SHPE student chapters from UChicago, IIT, UIC, and UIUC, and professionals from the SHPE Chicago Professional Chapter, these activities introduced students to physics, robotics, and engineering.
Parents attended workshops on college readiness, scholarships, financial aid, and STEM pathways, as well as a panel discussion featuring STEM professionals. These activities offered parents tools to support their children's journey toward a STEM career.
PSD students Fernanda Correa Horta (Astronomy & Astrophysics), Alice Burington-Luna (Astronomy & Astrophysics), Juan Pablo Gonzalez Aguilera (Physics), and Jose Luis Guerra (Chemistry) were integral to the event’s success.
The event was made possible by financial support from the NSF’s UChicago Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), SHPE Nationals, and the PME Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, as well as the dedication of 43 volunteers.
“Our goal is to empower the Hispanic community in STEM, and therefore, many of our members are grad and undergrad students that identify as Latinx/Hispanic and are pursuing a career in STEM,” said SHPE UChicago President and UChicago PME PhD candidate María Ley Flores, who led the event. “However, everyone who wants to contribute to this mission is welcome regardless of major or ethnicity.”
Read more about the event, join SHPE UChicago’s Slack channel to get in touch with the community, request membership through Blueprint, or email shpe@uchicago.edu if you are interested in leadership or volunteering opportunities.
