NASA scientists visit UTEC and meet professors and students

Peruvian-American NASA scientists Aracely Quispe, Melissa Soriano, and Rosa Ávalos, visited our University to exchange ideas with UTEC researchers about education in science and engineering. The meeting was attended by Research Director Hernán Montes, PhD, and professors Emir Vela, PhD, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, PhD, Julien Noel, PhD, and Víctor Murray, PhD.Among the issues discussed at the meeting, were the importance of student participation in research groups , from their freshman year, the importance of reading and analysis of publications by students, and the importance of the English language and mathematics which are the 'universal languages' in science and engineering.  Another relevant topic was exploring the possibilities for UTEC students to enter contests funded by NASA.Furthermore, the scientists had the opportunity to interact with about 200 students from UTEC in a scheduled conference where they shared their experience and discussed the opportunities offered by NASA to develop a career in Science.The Academic Director of UTEC, Alberto Bejarano, stated that the NASA scientists are an example for Peruvian youth. "The students, like our guests, have discovered a passion for research and engineering.  At UTEC, we seek to foster in our students the same interest in science careers and demonstrate that if a person is persistent, he or she can fulfill his or her dreams as they (the scientists) do now, working at NASA," he added.Without a doubt, the visit from the scientists was an unforgettable experience, not only for the pride of knowing they are Peruvian, but because they are young people who leave an example of effort and love of science that students can follow.