Storming the Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, One Latinx Student at a Time

Hurricanes María and Fiona are among the recent devastating extreme weather events that citizens in Puerto Rico frequently experience. These phenomena require a deep understanding of the intricacies of Earth System Sciences. However, there is a lack of Meteorologists, and Atmospheric and Weather scientists who are of Puerto Rican or Latinx descent. This may be due to lack of resources, limited mentorship opportunities and general obstacles preventing Latinx students from accessing these fields. One of the main goals of the Elevating and empowering Hispanic/Latinx voices through video: Reducing barriers in academia and building an ecosystem for success in the Earth System sciences project was to provide spaces where Latinx students in Earth System Sciences could amplify their voices and share their stories navigating these disciplines using thoughtful storytelling. In this presentation, we will show a small documentary created that addresses how a Puerto Rican student was inspired by his surroundings and lived experiences to start a career in Atmospheric Sciences. It will show how he was able to overcome roadblocks despite the lack of resources available and how his teachers, friends, mentors and, most importantly, the support of his family have given him the tools where he can feel comfortable in a field where people who look like him are rare. It will also address the importance of reaching out to mentors and his goal to create spaces where Latinx and other Hispanic students can feel welcome, seen and heard.