As the world turns its attention this summer to Dallas, Texas, and other North American cities for the Soccer World Cupthose who visit the FIFA Fan Festival Dallasin Fair Park, will be greeted by 26 statues that remind us that the future of sports depends not only on the athletes on the field of play, but also on the leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEMin English) that are transforming the sport from behind the scenes. Among these women, two represented are from Puerto Rico.
The initiative IF/THEN of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and the FIFA World Cup North Texas Organizing Committee announced the names of the 26 women selected for #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changersa public installation comprised of life-size, 3D-printed lime green statues representing women working in a wide variety of professions that drive the global sports industry in organizations such as Nike, Pepsi, WNBA, NASCAR, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys, US Women’s National Soccer Team and various universities in the United States.
By revealing the science behind sports, exhibit highlights opportunities that exist at the intersection of disciplines and STEMand invites new generations to imagine themselves occupying these roles.
The Puerto Rican Alba Colon Rodríguez is a mechanical engineer specializing in performance and motorsports who contributes to the design and development of championship racing cars in NASCAR. She led Chevrolet’s NASCAR program, helping it to hundreds of wins and multiple championships before becoming director of Chevrolet Technical Alliances. Hendrick Motorsports. Today, in addition to driving innovation and performance on the slopes, it works to open opportunities to more women and students from historically underrepresented groups in engineering.
On the other hand, the Puerto Rican Amanda Alvarez Dieppa is a neuroscientist and science communication consultant who helps translate complex concepts into clear, applicable knowledge. She is also the founder of LaBori Boxinga nonprofit gym in Dallas that uses the boxing to support the mental healthstrengthen personal confidence and foster a strong sense of community.
The exhibition, free and open to the public, will be available until Sunday, July 19. Its goal is to inspire new generations to see themselves reflected in STEM careers by disseminating real stories of women who drive innovation in one of the most influential industries in the world. Several of the honorees have already visited the FIFA Fan Festival Dallas during the tournament to share with the public and talk with young people interested in STEM careers.
“We are excited to celebrate this extraordinary group of notable women at #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changers and present their stories to a global audience”expressed Nicole Smallexecutive director of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and co-founder of IF/THEN, via press release.
“Sport captivates young people around the world. By highlighting women thriving in STEM careers linked to the sports industry during one of the largest sporting events on the planet, We hope that young visitors discover the multiple opportunities available for their future and recognize that they also belong in these spaces.”he added.
A historical continuation
#IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit: Game Changers is the second exhibition promoted by IF/THEN, following the historic debut of #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibitwhich presented 120 statues of contemporary women in STEM, including Puerto Rican women and allies of the program Seeds of Triumph of Science Puerto Rico, Greetchen Díaz Muñoz, Roselin Rosario Melendez, Bea Mendez Gandica, Ana Porras and Minerva Cordero Braña. These five statues are currently on display at the Bayamón Science Park.
The first exhibit set a record as the largest collection of statues of real women displayed simultaneously and toured 10 locations, including the Central Park Zoo, Kendall Square in Cambridge, Dallas Love Field Airport, NorthPark Center in Dallas, and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, reaching more than five million visitors. The new exhibition expands the reach of the initiative to the sports world, one of the most influential cultural platforms on the planet.
Each statue is connected to a digital story that includes photographs and videos about the personal and professional career of the honoree, which can be consulted through QR codes installed on each statue and also on the exhibition web pages and in the digital library. IF/THEN Collectionthe largest free resource of its kind.
“We are honored to present these statues during the FIFA Fan Festival Dallas,” he said. Monica Paulpresident of the Organizing Committee of the FIFA World Cup North Texas. “These works celebrate the powerful influence that each of these women has exerted throughout their lives.and we are excited that fans around the world will be able to see first-hand his impact during this summer’s tournament.”
Located along the pedestrian promenade at the southwest entrance of the FIFA Fan Festival Dallas, the statues welcome those who visit the event daily.
