Ciencia Es Muy Importante: UA Science Dean Hosts Radio Show in Spanish

UA News Services
April 7, 2004


UA College of Science Dean Joaquin Ruiz hopes that more Hispanics in Tucson will get turned on to science by turning on his new Spanish language radio show, "Science and Our Society."

The 25-minute program airs on KUAZ 89.1 FM and 1550 AM on Sundays at 2:30 p.m., and is part of Radio Universidad, a 22-year-old show that focuses on the culture and issues of the Hispanic community.

"We need to better connect with our Hispanic community and try to attract more Hispanic children to science," Ruiz said. "I believe this could be an affective medium to promote science to Spanish speakers in southern Arizona."

The format is flexible and allows for interviews, discussions and guest commentators. Topics include water, Mars, science policy, what it's like to be a scientist and science careers of the future.

Ruiz launched the show in October 2003 with Radio Universidad host and producer, Ana Romo-Lucero.

"We live in a scientific world and it is important for the Hispanic community to understand the scientific issues that surround that world," said Romo-Lucero. "I tell my daughter, 'When you eat,you are experiencing science and when you travel you are experiencing science. Science is all around you and it is important to understand that it is part of your world right now.'"

"Every bill argued at the state and national level has some scientific component to it. If we can encourage people to study science and become scientists, we are helping to benefit the community by contributing to a better educated citizenry," Ruiz said.

Ruiz and Romo-Lucero invite community members who are fluent in Spanish and work inscience or high-technology arenas to contribute to the show.

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Joaquin Ruiz
dean of the UA College of Science
520-621-4090
jruiz@geo.arizona.edu
Ana Romo-Lucero
Radio Universidad
520-621-1669