San Juan, May 10, 2025 - Some 101 girls achieved their dream by graduating from Ciencia Puerto Rico's (CienciaPR) Semillas de Triunfo 2024-2025 program. The girls completed a cycle of workshops and educational activities designed to bring them closer to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines. The students paraded in the theater of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in Hato Rey, in a white coat investiture ceremony that characterizes professionals in the field of science, with the special participation of the program's godmother, journalist Grenda Rivera.
Of the group of girls, who reside in 32 municipalities in Puerto Rico, some 85 received the distinction of STEM Ambassadors after completing their outreach projects and reaching 19,495 people in their schools and communities. Over the past 10 years, the Seeds of Success program has trained 690 girls from all over Puerto Rico, who in turn have reached more than 118,000 people through these projects.
"In the Semillas de Triunfo Program, we plant the seed of knowledge in each girl who participates, with the vision that they discover in the STEM disciplines a path for their academic and professional growth. Our purpose is for them to become scientific leaders in their communities. Over the past 10 years, Semillas de Triunfo has transformed the lives of hundreds of young people, thanks to the continuous support of a scientific community committed to the educational development of our students," said Dr. Liz Hernández, manager of the Semillas de Triunfo Program and executive of CienciaPR.
The 101 students participated, from August 2024 through May of this year, in a variety of face-to-face and virtual educational activities, including: a workshop where they received training in leadership skills and conducted science experiments; the “Juntas Podemos” series of online chats with Latinas in STEM; the Conversatorio: ¡Conexión Científica Amgen! where students interacted with scientific leaders from the biomanufacturing company; workshops on computer science, self-esteem and mental health; and others offered by the Ecoexploratorio. In addition, the students received mentoring sessions with hundreds of women in STEM and volunteer mentors, both in person and virtually, including a group of 20 alumnae of Semillas de Triunfo.
Some of the outstanding science outreach projects include: “Somos Mariposas”, a project by Amira Figueroa Attiye that addressed anxiety in young people through educational videos, interviews with professionals and interactive activities. Likewise, “Inteligencia Artificial en la Medicina Veterinaria”, a project led by Anna Isabelle Berríos Vélez on the use of artificial intelligence in animal diagnosis and care, including visits to clinics and the development of a case study.
"Semillas de Triunfo is a unique educational platform that identifies, trains, and makes visible new talent in the STEM field. Our STEM Ambassadors stand out as leaders in their schools and communities and join a network that empowers their growth as scientists and leaders. The program gives them the tools to inspire other young women to explore and develop in the sciences," said Dr. Abniel Machín, director of the Science Education Unit at CienciaPR.
The Semillas de Triunfo Program has also reached thousands of middle school children through its school visitation component and its online lectures. The program's reach is thanks in part to the support of a Coalition of Collaborators comprised of different entities including: Amgen Foundation, Abbvie, Boston Scientific, Ford, Fundación Banco Popular de P.R., Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Eaton, Viatris, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez and Humacao Campus, Ponce Health University, Centro de Arte Angel “Lito” Peña Plaza, and Yale University.
