Institute of the Americas 2021 Annual Report

Other Programs

We also organized professional STEAM focus teacher training programs in Argentina, Mexico, and Peru.

Hemisphere in Transition

STEAM

Over the past year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic brought forth socio-economic disruptions of historic proportions globally with countries across the Americas among the hardest hit. The pan demic also coincided with a period of political transition across many

In 2021, the Institute’s STEAM program marked its 13th year. Over the past year, the Institute expanded its pre-college STEAM educational offerings with its popular STEAM Lab benefiting over 200 middle school students in Argentina, Mexico and Peru. This included a specialized STEAM Lab focused on Climate Change for Peruvian students and a customized STEAM enrichment program in collaboration with Tijuana based Fundación Tú más Yo to provide 23 students with STEAM enrichment including laptops for 20 youth without computer access at home.

countries of the region. To better assess these changes with a view to solutions for the future, during 2021 the Institute of the Americas launched its Hemisphere in Transition webinar series with the generous support of the Burnham Foundation and in partnership with University of California Television. A series of seven programs were organized as part of the series focusing on China’s growing energy ambitions in Latin America; Mexican economy policy; U.S-Cuba Bilateral Relations Under the Biden Administration; Challenges and Opportunities in Central America’s Northern Triangle Region; U.S-Ecuador Bilateral Relations; and Build Back Better Together: the Canada-United States Bilateral Relations as well as a special keynote address by former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson entitled “Renewing U.S. Hemispheric Engagement in a Changing World.” Collectively the webinars featured leading subject experts; were attended by over 1,500 participants and as of November 15, 2021 had over 15,780 Youtube views.

Additionally the Institute organized a special International Day of Women & Girls in Science First Annual Webinar with the participation of 66 girls from Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

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