Academic & Community Outreach

More than 250 people attended the inaugural “Quebrando Barreras: Breaking Barriers in STEM Conference,” a two-day event on UCLA campus that drew attendees from across the United States, Canada, and México, representing 52 universities.

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The April 17-18 gathering, hosted by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC), the Latina Futures 2050 Lab, and the UCLA Physical Sciences Division, offered attendees three tracks with nine concurrent sessions that dug deep into chemistry, other STEM fields, and personal journeys of perseverance and success.

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“I had been dreaming of this event for years. The intention was to not only create a space where expert researchers could share their discoveries, but also establish a network for mentorship opportunities,” said Gutierrez, who also serves as the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) inaugural Senior STEM Faculty Director. “Ultimately, we want postdoctoral scholars and early-career faculty to walk away with career roadmaps, and undergraduate students to feel inspired. I know ‘Quebrando Barreras’ achieved both.”

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The conference received additional support from the UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Latina Futures 2050 Lab, the California NanoSystems Institute, and the University of California – Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative (UC-HIS DDI).

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Gutierrez’s role as STEM faculty director at the CSRC deepens the CSRC’s connections in STEM as the center continues to expand its multidisciplinary reach, said Veronica Terriquez, CSRC director and Latina Futures 2050 Lab cofounder.

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By Sandra Baltazar Martínez