On May 4, 56 Latina middle school students came to Fermilab for the fourth Dare to Dream STEM conference hosted at the laboratory.
The free event was a fun and inspiring opportunity to help increase the participation, retention and advancement of the number of young Latinas in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Latina girls and a parent or mentor met with STEM professionals who live and work in their communities and serve as role models at the conference or as possible future mentors.
Fermilab members participated in two panels, sharing details about their careers, answering questions and giving the students a taste of daily life in their workplaces.
The girls and parents were also treated to a tour of the lab. They had fun with hands-on activities at the Lederman Science Education Center, visited science displays and saw some of the accelerator facilities.
Minerba Betancourt, Fermilab scientist, and Spencer Pasero, head of the Fermilab Office of Education and Public Outreach, organized the conference. Members of the laboratory’s Hispanic/Latino Forum also planned and worked at the event. The group advocates for education, vocational and employment opportunities on behalf of Hispanic, Latino and people of Latin or Spanish cultures or origins, regardless of race.
View photos from the event below.
Photo: Reidar Hahn
