For some children, science is interesting and fascinating since they are little. That natural curiosity in them and their desire to learn, motivate them to continue discovering and knowing about the world around them and to create or invent things that help others.
This is the case of Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López, who with only eight years, is the first girl in all of Mexico to receive the “ICN Recognition for women”, awarded by the Institute of Nuclear Science of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Originally from a rural area in the Altos de Chiapas area in the south of the country, since he was four years old Xóchitl showed interest in science, and since that age he has participated in the UNAM initiative, although he had not won recognition until this year.
According to information from El Universal, Xóchitl obtained it for demonstrating outstanding aptitudes for scientific dissemination work, although it is not the first prize the little girl receives. The coordinator of the Adopt a Talent Program (PAUTA) of the UNAM, Jesús Iradier Santiago, comments that she has also won other awards at different fairs in which she has participated, thanks to her projects of high social impact.
Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López, from #PAUTAChiapas, wins first place in Expo Ciencias 2017 with his project “Baño Calientito”. pic.twitter.com/VA2DN1Sjcj
- PAUTA (@PAUTAAC) October 24, 2017
Among these projects, there is a solar water heater that he installed in his own house, and that he helped build with his father's help, since there were certain stages that required the support of someone stronger and to climb on the roof to install it.
Xóchitl comments that the heater he invented It is made of recycled materials, so it does not harm the environment and with it would help people with low incomes, since they cannot buy traditional heaters, so they resort to felling trees and burn wood, which ends up affecting global warming.
For her next project, the little one plans to build a larger heater that works with solar panels, but needs the support of universities and researchers.
Congratulations to little Xóchitl for her recognition, hopefully more and more children will have access to these programs, to continue supporting them in their studies and projects, as well as for their parents to help them learn science from home.
