Renowned author and former TAMIU professor Norma Cantu along with four Chicana scientists, mathematicians, and engineers held a reading and book-signing for their newly published book, “Flor y ciencia: Chicanas in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering,” at the Student Center Auditorium Monday, Oct. 30.
“The project began 3 years ago to bring together mathematicians and engineers to talk to college-level math, science, and engineering majors. Out of that was born the book Flor y Ciencia,” Cantu, editor of the book, stated.
The book chronicles the lives of nine Chicana scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, four of which were present at the book signing.
Elma Gonzalez, Elsa Ruiz, Elvia Niebla, and Diana Marinez-who all hold doctorates-told of the obstacles they faced growing up as inquisitive Chicanas amidst language barriers and among sometimes non-supportive parents.
Elma Gonzalez, professor for the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA, spoke of her summers spent as a young migrant worker and the “exceedingly primitive, unsanitary, overcrowded, and sometimes disgusting living conditions” migrant labor entailed.
“The good places had roofs that did not leak, indoor water, and more or less hygienic, well-maintained outhouses,” Gonzalez said.
When the topic of discrimination was brought up, Gonzalez advised people to deflect it with humor. She recalled her first appearance at UCLA when she was hired but not provided a lab in which to conduct her class.
“I went to the chair’s office and said, ‘I’ve come about my wardrobe,’ and he said ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Well, I think you hired me to look pretty, and for that I need a wardrobe because you haven’t given me a lab; I can’t work without a lab.’ He laughed, but he got it,” Gonzalez said.
Elsa Ruiz, district testing coordinator for LISD, discussed her struggles with English in early school.
“I wanted to learn English, but when I got to school I wanted to speak Spanish and was not allowed to; then I would want to speak English but did not know how,” Ruiz told the audience. “How was I to learn English without using my Spanish?” she asked.
Former National Coordinator for USDA Forest Service Global Change Research Programs Elvia Niebla talked about her curiosity as a child and her suspicion of class segregation at her elementary school.
“The students in Class A were mostly Anglo, English speaking, and wealthier,” Niebla explained. “In contrast, the students in Class B were usually Chicano children, who spoke English as a second language and tended to be poor,” she said.
She also spoke of her triumphs in class competitions.
“Sometimes I would be the sole student answering questions against fifteen or twenty students from Class A. I felt my classmates cheering me on, hoping I would win; it was their victory too,” Niebla proclaimed.
Diana Marinez, native Laredoan and professor of biochemistry at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, was educated at Ursuline Academy and a “tomboy” growing up, she said.
“I hated wearing dresses, and my family did everything they could to entice me to be feminine, but I looked like a beanpole in the plaid uniform [worn at Ursuline Academy],” Marinez said.
She possessed “outspoken” and assertive characteristics, but even her stern father never tried to change that, Marinez added.
Among the strong gathering, Mario Martinez, English senior, was astounded by the resilience of the four women.
“They really did have amazing stories-like (Elma Gonzalez) who came from a migrant family. When you hear that kind of thing, you don’t assume she became a doctor,” Martinez said. “Even though they came from poor backgrounds, they found the strength to succeed at an academic place.”