Advancing Equity in Science

Faculty and students are broadening diversity and inclusion in the pursuit of scientific excellence

By Sara Timmons

What happens in the brain of an English-Spanish bilingual child or adult when they start a math problem? Does bilingualism impact how the brain performs arithmetic? Vanessa Cerda is investigating these questions in Nicole Wicha’s lab. Cerda, a fifth-year student pursuing a Ph.D., recently won the NIH Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) award for her research in bilingualism. Cerda and her fellow researchers are studying how children and adults learn multiplication in both English and Spanish. Their research will potentially allow over 11 million bilingual children in the U.S. to improve their math articulation skills.

The important research in Wicha’s lab is just one example of the College of Science’s contributions to equity in science. So, what exactly is equity? To achieve equity, each individual must have equal access to excellence. UTSA’s mission is to ensure equity for all faculty and students in the pursuit of new scientific frontiers. The university celebrates the faculty, students and programs that advance equity and bring UTSA’s mission to fruition.

A Rising Tide of Diversity in Research

Saugata Datta is a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the director of the Institute for Water Research, Sustainability and Policy (IWRSP), an organization that addresses issues related to public water resources and research in South Texas. Since the institute’s beginning in the summer of 2021, Datta has been the faculty lead of the South Texas Interdisciplinary Research for Undergraduate Programs (STIR-UP). The vision of STIR-UP is to maximize diversity and inclusion in research by offering underrepresented undergraduates a funded 10-week summer program that includes education in graduate programs, career opportunities, and the multidisciplinary field of water research, sustainability and policy. These students will also get research experience and professional development by engaging in UTSA lab rotations with distinguished faculty. The overarching theme of water economy, technology and ethics “binds the campus together,” Datta said. STIR-UP’s goal is to engage underrepresented students in career development and help them learn about the research at UTSA. “This is the most successful program I have ever seen,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from or who you are—you can succeed here. You just have to be willing to put in the work.”

COMFORT OLORUNLERO Computer Science M.S. student “From lab mates to classmates, great people from all sorts of backgrounds came here at the same time as me, and I am so grateful to have coincided with them.”

ANA NARRO Chemistry Ph.D. student

Offering Easily Accessible Support

Exceptional faculty, students and programs are not all that UTSA has to offer. The College of Sciences Student Success Center is a support service committed to the success of all science students. The center’s mission is to give students the tools they need to stay on track to graduate as well as to achieve professional and personal growth. Students can make an appointment with staff from the Tomás Rivera Center for academic coaching to devise a custom plan for studying and learning. They can also benefit from meeting with a science mentor about campus engagement and general well-being. “First-generation students have amazing resources at our fingertips,” says science mentor Mariavictoria Moreno. As a first-generation sophomore, Moreno has not always had a straight path at UTSA. She now has the opportunity to help students reach their full potential while on the path of discovering her own. Learn more about the Student Success Center on page 24.

The Tomás Rivera Center

UTSA’s Tomás Rivera Center hosts supplemental instruction and tutoring services. Supplemental instruction consists of in-person and online study sessions led by students who were previously successful in the course. These collaborative sessions help students improve studying habits and prepare for tests. Students can also receive more tutoring by attending drop-in tutoring online or making a one-on-one appointment through the online portal.

Setting Students Up for a Promising Future

UTSA’s Bold Promise is a new, tuition-free program that is breaking down barriers to higher education for low-income students. Recent Texas high school graduates entering the program can now have a family income of up to $70,000, increased from $50,500, for students enrolling in Fall 2022 or later. Eligible freshmen will have 100% of their tuition and fees funded by Bold Promise for four years, allowing more students to pursue higher education and dream careers with fewer financial barriers. Instead of attending university as a part-time student, more students can attend UTSA full time and obtain their degrees faster.

Leading by Example

Hector Aguilar is a professor of instruction in the Department of Chemistry and has been a fellow in the University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers since April 2021. Additionally, Aguilar is the assistant director at UTSA for the NIH-funded Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) program, which serves underrepresented and firstgeneration college students. Aguilar is also a member of the Honors College Advisory Council and the Instructional Advisory Board and is a faculty mentor in UTSA’s First-Generation STEM Scholars program. His dedication to student growth, especially among underrepresented students, is what he believes to be the essence of equity. You’ll often hear him say “con ganas” to inspire his students to develop a passion for learning. Technology, Engineering and Math Educational Diversity) program, which aims to increase the number of underrepresented students in science. Antopia partnered with the Millennium Fellowship to introduce the RAYS (Research Awareness for Young Scholars) program in Fall 2021. The goal of the RAYS program is to bring biomedical research to the attention of high school students interested in STEM. “The program enables participating students to explore their scientific passions,” Antopia said.

Empowering Future Leaders

In the College of Sciences, students can create and lead new programs. Mariah Antopia, a senior majoring in biology, is a member of UTSA’s NIH-sponsored ESTEEMED (Enhancing Science,

First-Generation STEM Scholars Program

Sponsored by USAA, UTSA’s First-Generation STEM Scholars program is more than just a scholarship. In addition to financial aid, undergraduate STEM students are provided mentorship from peers and faculty, personal and professional networking opportunities, and career insight through the Roadrunner Network. “This award has made a significant difference in my education,” says Sarai Castro, a STEM Scholars recipient. Castro, a first-generation junior, is majoring in biology and on the pre-med track.