Welcome to the 3rd edition of the Diversity in Science Blog Carnival! This Carnival was created by D.N. Lee of the Urban Science Adventures! blog with additional impetus from acmegirl of the Thesis- With Children blog. In early 2009 D.N. Lee issued a call for the new blog carnival and hosted the inaugural edition. The Diversity in Science Carnival #2 was hosted at Thus Spake Zuska under the theme Women Achievers in STEM – Past and Present. This will be the third edition of the Carnival and it was proposed by Your Humble Narrator as a celebration of Hispanic individuals within the STEM disciplines.
The US National Hispanic Heritage Month [Wikipedia] runs from 15 Sep to 15 Oct every year. The purpose is to celebrate:
…the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
In contemplating the theme for this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month (“Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now!”), Isis the Scientist reflected:
Most of the previous years’ themes highlight how the Hispanic can integrate into American society and strengthen their community. 2007’s theme especially was targeted at how the Hispanic can offer something to society– is this year’s theme a message that perhaps it is time for the Hispanic people to refuse to continue to be marginalized as a source of cheap labor? That it is time for them to host a revolt of their own and not be concerned about whether they are thought to be “blow[ing] off steam.” Is this theme telling us that the Hispanic people need to follow in the footsteps of their African American brethren and begin a civil rights movement of their own? Dare I say, “orale güey?”
DrugMonkey 