EDI Panel

Raquel Heredia is a Sustainable Development Engineer with a focus on Nuclear Energy for the ITESM Campus Santa Fe in Mexico. She also holds a master’s in arts in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies in the UK. Currently, she works as Programme Manager of the World Nuclear University (WNU), a global network committed to enhancing international education and training in leadership and peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. The WNU programs intend to address the main challenges facing the world today.

Raquel has a transdisciplinary professional background, having worked for private companies in the energy and construction sectors, NGOs, and research institutions. She has also undertaken entrepreneurial, consulting and advocacy activities. Through these various roles, she has developed comprehensive skills in nuclear communications, project management, development and leadership.

She is the founder and president of the Women in Nuclear Mexico Chapter, the regional representative for Mexico in the North America Youth Generation Network (NAYGN), the Communications Lead of the WiN Global Young Generation Group and an active member of the WiN Global Communications. Additionally, she is the co-chair of the Voices of Nuclear international development and Promotional Lead for the Nuclear for Climate COP27 Delivery Team.

R. Sekhar Chivukula is a Distinguished Professor of Physics in the UC San Diego Department of Physics. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1987. Subsequently, he was a postdoctoral fellow and then a faculty member at Boston University. He moved to Michigan State University in 2003, where he served as Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. He joined the UC San Diego Physics Department in 2018.

Chivukula’s research focuses on the theory of electroweak symmetry breaking and on the phenomenological implications of theories beyond the standard model of particle physics. He teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and he is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all students and to incorporating active learning in all of his classes. He has served on (and as Chair) of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees of the UCSD Physics Department and the Division of Physical Sciences. He currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Division of Particles and Fields of the American Physical Society.

Has a PhD in astrophysics by the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He was a postdoctoral scholar, instructor and science engager at the University of California, as well as coordinator and director of the NASA science education project called FIELDS at the same institution.

In the Mexican National Council of Sciences he was appointed Director of the National System of Researchers and Scientific Vocations. He currently heads the Directorship on Communication of Knowledge at the Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico.

His research and peer-review publications are on the subjects of: astrophysics, informal methods of science education and science for underrepresented communities, especially the deaf, justice involved youth and economically vulnerable groups.