11/04/2025
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the NDiSTEM conference for the first time in Columbus, Ohio, along with faculty advisors and members of the UH SACNAS chapter. Before attending, I had no real expectations for what I would get out of this event or for its impact on my academic career. Now that I have experienced the familial love SACNAS has for its chapters and members, it's clear that the impact it has had on me extends beyond my academics. During the Chapter Officer Leadership October Retreat (COLOR), I connected and bonded with many chapter officers from schools all over the country. Their determination to cultivate professional and welcoming chapters for their members was inspiring and telling of just how amazing every one of them are. During the expo hall and research presentations, I was able to network with many undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in the field who were passionate about their research and openly willing to help me find the right grad school program or other faculty to connect with for information. Most impactful of all for me were the keynote speakers who preached resilience, perseverance, and boldness in the face of those who seek to silence and oppress us underrepresented scientists in STEM. Their emotional talks resonated with me and are engraved in my heart. All of these experiences were factors in the realization that I am not alone in this field and that the many beautiful Indigenous and Latin American voices in STEM all fight for the same mission: To uplift one another and make our voices heard.
- Bryan Salinas, UH SACNAS Officer & COLOR participant
