Dr. Charles Vela, known throughout the world for being the father of the STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics) educational concept to increase the number of Latinos in the sciences in the United States, was recognized by the City of Los Angeles during a ceremony at the Angelino Council.
Raúl Claros, commissioner of the City of Los Angeles and president of the El Corredor Salvadoreño Association of Los Angeles promoted the recognition of the City of Los Angeles for Dr. Vela, through Councilman Curren Price.
In an interview with The opinionDr. Vela remembered his roots: He was born in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, but his family is from the municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima in the Department of La Unión.
However, he considers himself Latin American, because Mexican, Guatemalan and Salvadoran blood runs through his veins.
“I arrived at 14 years old in San Francisco, where I went to Junior High School; I studied electrical engineering focused on the area of systems and control, I did a master’s degree in control, and my doctorate in mathematical optimization.”
He details that his main specialization is the solution of complex problems.
“When there were water problems in California, I developed algorithms for the storage, distribution, production and import of water in California. Before everything was left to nature. I developed mathematical and computer models to determine the best strategies for water use.”
He then worked on the creation of mathematical models for the generation of electrical energy, which could also be hydraulic.
“I developed models for the use of technology in brain mapping.”
In his career, he is proud to have worked with the father of the internet, Vinton Cerf, and a team of medical neuroscientists who came from the technological area.
“I worked on the modernization of telecommunications and the treasury. I was chief scientist, the highest position in the United States for a research center funded by the federal government to create the system e-file for the tax return that collects three trillion dollars without any error in time.”
He also worked on the system to respond to a terrorist attack in Washington, and guarantee the proper functioning of the strategic defense aircraft that determine if a nuclear attack is coming.
“I also worked for the integration of navy, army and air force medicine. “It was a very important project for the United States.”
When the pandemic hit, he shares that the government had a strategy of vaccinating by sector that required people to register online, have health insurance, and travel by car to a vaccination center.
“This was not how the pandemic was fought, but rather you had to go where the neighborhoods were. “In Los Angeles there were Latino neighborhoods where no one was getting vaccinated.”
Faced with this problem, Dr. Vela developed a form of vaccination on the streets that did not involve meeting all the requirements that were demanded.
“We managed to vaccinate the same number of people in half the time and with the same resources. I demonstrated that the problem of lack of vaccination was one of poor management. Later they opened the doors for them to be vaccinated in places that were not health centers. This method that I helped create spread to the rest of the world.”
Something that Dr. Vela feels most satisfied and proud of is being the father of the STEM educational system.
But how did that successful idea come about?
“When I was young and working at the Academy of Sciences, on brain mapping, there were only three of us Latinos. It occurred to us to see the president and complain to him. Furthermore, there was only one Asian and no African-Americans.”
It was then that instead of complaining, he began to develop a method through which young Latinos, African Americans, and more women could go to the Academy of Sciences.
“I studied the different forms of contributions of scientists with whom I would have liked to work, such as Einstein’s theory of relativity and general relativity, to people who make mathematical models, to those who collect data, to those who use artificial intelligence; and I produced a compendium of the main characteristics of the great scientists.”
Based on that, he developed a methodology and a curriculum (a study plan) for how to teach.
“Between 1989 and 1991 I met with many people, wrote a lot. In 1992 I founded the STEM institute. I did it against all the thinking at that time, I invited many young people and families in need, I took them to the Catholic University and taught them all that, and the project was a success.”.
As a result, the newspaper Washington Post He released an editorial where he talks about his work.
“NASA called me and gave me a lot of money, and thus began what would eventually be called STEM. It took almost 10 years for the National Science Foundation to accept it.”
He comments that all the young people he worked with, about 3,000, went to university; while 75% obtained advanced degrees in master’s and doctoral degrees.
“Now they teach STEM all over the world, and even in Africa they recognize my contribution to that.”
He adds that in China, the academic plan from 21 to 35 will apply its entire STEM methodology to catch up with the United States; and this country took it as national government policy since 2001.
Dr. Vela says that many do not know that he is the father of STEM.
“When Latino children find out, they become happy.”
The renowned scientist was delighted to receive the recognition granted by the City of Los Angeles because his work has also focused on social struggle.
“I have had different successes in helping the community, when the War was in El Salvador, I was part of a group that I organized, so that people returned as intact communities, not as individuals to their places of origin. This was a great contribution because it was applied in Kosovo.”
Where does your vocation for science come from?
“I think on my mother’s side, they were academics. My great-grandfather had three doctorates. He was a surgeon, lawyer and sociologist; another was a lawyer and general; My grandfather was a port engineer and participated in the organization of Mexican ports.
“My grandfather was Mexican and also organized one of the ports in Guatemala. There he met his grandmother. My father was born in Guatemala, and when they went to El Salvador, he met my mother, and that was where I was born.”
Among his plans, Dr. Vela announces that he wants to develop a new STEM system.
“I’m working on launching a new STEM project in Los Angeles, better than what I already did. I am also on a project on how to make small Latino businesses powerful”,
The doctor, who currently lives between Washington and Atlanta, attributes his successes to always looking for ways to help others.
“I take everything with passion, I try to teach children, everything depends on the passion with which one takes life, and there is nothing more satisfying than helping the community.”