Bridging Talents and Opportunities Forum connects high school and college students with STEAM leaders and resources

Bridging Talents and Opportunities (BTO) held its second annual forum at the Stratton Student Center at MIT Oct. 11-12. The two-day event gathered over 500 participants, including high school students and their families, undergraduate students, professors, and leaders across STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) fields.

The forum sought to empower talented students from across the United States and Latin America to dream big and pursue higher education, demonstrating that access to prestigious institutions like MIT is possible regardless of socioeconomic barriers. The event featured inspirational talks from world-renowned scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, social leaders, and major figures in entertainment — from Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum to musician and producer Emilio Estefan, and more.

“Our initiative is committed to building meaningful connections among talented young individuals, their families, foundations, and leaders in science, art, mathematics, and technology,” says Ronald Garcia Ruiz, the Thomas A. Frank Career Development Assistant Professor of Physics at MIT and an organizer of the forum. “Recognizing that talent is universal but opportunities are often confined to select sectors of society, we are dedicated to bridging this gap. BTO provides a platform for sharing inspiring stories and offering support to promising young talents, empowering them to seize the diverse opportunities that await them.”

During their talks and panel discussions, speakers shared their insight into topics such as access to STEAM education, overcoming challenges and socioeconomic barriers, and strategies for fostering inclusion in STEAM fields. Students also had the opportunity to network with industry leaders and professionals, building connections to foster future collaborations.

Attendees also participated in hands-on scientific demonstrations, interaction with robots, and tours of MIT labs, providing a view of cutting-edge scientific research. The event also included musical performances from Latin American students from Berklee College of Music.

“I was thrilled to see the enthusiasm of young people and their parents and to be inspired by the great life stories of accomplished scientists and individuals from other fields making a positive impact in the real world,” says Edwin Pedrozo Peñafiel, assistant professor of physics at the University of Florida and an organizer. “This is why I strongly believe that representation matters.”

Welcoming a Nobel laureate

The first day of the forum opened with the welcoming words from Nergis Mavalvala, dean of the School of Science, and Boleslaw Wyslouch, director of the Laboratory for Nuclear Science and the MIT Bates Research and Engineering Center, and concluded with a keynote address by human rights activist Rigoberta Menchú Tum, 1992 Nobel Peace laureate and founder of the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation. Reflecting upon Indigenous perspectives on science, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a humanistic perspective in scientific discovery. “My struggle has been one of constructing a humanistic perspective … that science, technology … are products of the strength of human beings,” Menchú remarked. She also shared her extraordinary story, encouraging students to persevere no matter the obstacles.

Diana Grass, a PhD Student in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program and organizer, shares, “As a woman in science and a first-generation student, I’ve experienced firsthand the impact of breaking barriers and the importance of representation. At Bridging Talents and Opportunities (BTO), we are shaping a future where opportunities are available to all. Seeing students from disadvantaged backgrounds, along with their parents, engage with some of today’s most influential scientists and leaders — who shared their own stories of resilience — was both inspiring and transformative. It ignited crucial conversations about how interdisciplinary collaboration in STEAM, grounded in humanity, is essential for tackling the critical challenges of our era.”

Power of the Arts

The second day concluded with a panel on “The Power of the Arts,” featuring actor, singer, and songwriter Carlos Ponce, as well as musician and producer Emilio Estefan. They were joined by journalist and author Luz María Doria, who moderated the discussion. Throughout the panel, the speakers recounted their inspiring journeys toward success in the entertainment industry. “This forum reaffirmed our commitment to bridging talent with opportunity,” says Ponce. “The energy and engagement from students, families, and speakers were incredible, fostering a space of learning, empowerment, and possibility.”

During the forum, a two-hour workshop was held that brought together scientists, nonprofit foundations, and business leaders to discuss concrete proposals for creating opportunities for young talents. In this workshop, they had the opportunity to share their ideas with one another. Key ideas and final takeaways from the workshop included developing strategic programs to match talented young students with mentors from diverse backgrounds who can serve as role models, better utilization of existing programs supporting underserved populations, dissemination of information about such programs, ideas to improve financial support for students pursuing education, and fostering extended collaborations between the three groups involved in the workshop.

Maria Angélica Cuellar, CEO of Incontact Group and a BTO organizer, says, “The event was absolutely spectacular and exceeded our expectations. We not only brought together leaders making a global impact in STEAM and business, but also secured financial commitments to support young talents. Through media coverage and streaming, our message reached every corner of the world, especially Latin America and the U.S. I’m deeply grateful for the commitment of each speaker and for the path now open to turn this dream of connecting stakeholders into tangible results and actions. An exciting challenge lies ahead, driving us to work even harder to create opportunities for these talented young people.”

“Bridging Talents and Opportunities was a unique event that brought together students, parents, professors, and leaders in different fields in a relatable and inspiring environment,” says Sebastián Ruiz Lopera, a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and an organizer. “Every speaker, panelist, and participant shared a story of resilience and passion that will motivate the next generation of young talents from disadvantaged backgrounds to become the new leaders and stakeholders.”

The 2024 BTO forum was made possible with the support of the Latinx Graduate Student Association at MIT, Laboratory of Nuclear Science, MIT MLK Scholars Program, Institute Community and Equity Office, the School of Science, the U.S. Department of Energy, University of Florida, CHN, JGMA Architects, Berklee College of Music, and the Harvard Colombian Student Society.