NASA scientists with UTEC at EXPOTIC Show 2013

Aracely Quispe, Melissa Soriano, and Rosa Avalos, Peruvian-American scientists working at NASA, visited Peru, thanks to UTEC and the Embassy of the United States in Peru.The scientists participated for the first time in the 2nd International Show of Technology, Information Technology and Communications (EXPOTIC 2013), where NASA, supported by UTEC, raised an impressive stand especially for the occasion. This stand was covered by large LED screens with space travel animations. Additionally, a spacesuit, a scale replica of the Saturn V rocket, and a model of the Curiosity rover (currently investigating Mars), were exhibited. EXPOTIC attendees could also appreciate and get to know interesting information such as the composition of the food that astronauts carry into space, as well as enjoy viewing a replica of a NASA space shuttle.After EXPOTIC, the scientists gave a conference for 200 people, including students and parents from different high schools in Peru.  The reasons that inspired them to choose engineering and science as life careers, the importance of these programs, and their impact on the world, were among the topics covered, as well as their personal experiences of being Peruvian women in a male dominated industry, and how it is possible to challenge the stereotype and get to work at such important institutions as NASA. This talk was held in the Colegio Roosevelt's auditorium.