Scientific vocation programs: Case of a minor from Mulchechén, Kanasín, Yucatán

Abstract

There are various programs in Mexico that promote scientific careers at an early age. However, during the educational development process, many of these childhoods are lost due to the high dropout rate, especially at the undergraduate and graduate levels, where only 22% of the country's population achieves this [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 2024)]. Hence, the need to introduce more girls to these programs, foster diversity, and generate new perspectives. Furthermore, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2023), the participation of women in science is less than 30% of researchers worldwide, and in Latin America this figure reaches 45%. For this reason, the objective of this work is to describe the reasons why children (specifically girls) might be interested in participating in scientific career programs. The methodology was qualitative, using a case study. The techniques used included semi-structured interviews, document review, and observation. Among the results was the importance of fostering scientific vocations among children, especially in marginalized areas, as they can contribute to a more just and equitable society.