"When I can finally see the planet earth, I realize something that if before the trip I already understood that this was no longer mine, after the trip and during the trip, I saw something more important. That not only this was no longer mine, that I was no longer mine either, I was already yours."
Dr. Katia Celeste Echazarreta González
ZAPOPAN, Jalisco; July 25, 2023.- The Universidad Panamericana Campus Guadalajara, through the School of Pedagogy and Psychologyin conjunction with the School of Engineering, received the distinguished guest lecturer, Dr. Katia Celeste Echazarreta Gonzalez, Mexican electronics engineer and science communicator. Dr. Echazarreta has an outstanding career in the space industry, being the first Mexican woman to travel to outer space as part of the Blue Origins and Twenty-One mission, aboard a New Shepard spacecraft in June 2022.
First Mexican astronaut
The conference began with a warm welcome from the university community and aerospace camp collaborators. Dr. shared anecdotes from her childhood, revealing her passion for science and technology from an early age. "I was always a very curious child. In fact, my first word was 'why.' My mom would get so stressed out with me because I had questions about everything," she expressed.
Trajectory
Throughout her life, Katia, as her friends call her, held firm to her dream of traveling into space. She faced challenges and difficulties, especially after the separation of her parents, which led her to work hard to finance her education in the United States. Through hard work and dedication, she earned two full scholarships and made her way to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), one of the best educational institutions in the country.
Breaking stereotypes
She also shared with those present how she faced discrimination and skepticism from some professors and peers on her path to the space industry. However, her determination and belief in herself led her to achieve her dreams. "Believing in myself is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and it's the hardest thing you're going to do in life," she said during the lecture.
She also stressed the importance of providing support and opportunities to young people interested in pursuing careers in science and technology. Dr. Echazarreta mentioned the creation of the first space foundation in Latin America, which aims to support talented Mexicans interested in working in the space industry in their own country.
"If I'm going to tell them to dream, I have to give them the opportunities to get there. How are we going to tell young people to keep dreaming, to dream big? You dream, what's the point? If we are not working at the same time to create the opportunities necessary for them to achieve those dreams," he emphasized.
During the conference, Dr. Echazarreta also highlighted the importance of breaking gender stereotypes in the space industry and encouraged young women to follow their passions regardless of the social barriers imposed.
Questions and answers
The talk concluded with a round of questions and answers, in which he shared more details about his experience at NASA, his current projects and his vision for the future of the space industry in Mexico.
It should be noted that the campus is the site of the aerospace camp sponsored by Dr. Echazarreta and whose call was issued by the SEP and the SEJ.
The Universidad Panamericana appreciates the inspirational participation of the speaker and values her dedication to fostering interest in science and technology among young Mexicans.
