San Antonio STEM educator Giselle De Leon will join a mission to map and study unexplored marine environments around the Marshall Islands.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio STEM educator is embarking on a groundbreaking journey, sailing across the Pacific Ocean to inspire local students through science.
Giselle De Leon, the lead STEM educator at the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT), has been selected from applicants worldwide to join an elite science team aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus.
This summer, she will participate in a mission to map and study unexplored marine environments around the Marshall Islands.
“Ever since I can remember, from the earliest memory I have, I’ve always loved STEM and science,” De Leon said.
Her passion, fostered during childhood on San Antonio’s south side, endured despite significant personal challenges, notably the loss of both her parents to COVID-19 in 2021.
“They supported me every step of the way,” she shared. “Losing them during that time was a very dark year for me.”
The expedition will use underwater robots, advanced seafloor mapping technology and live-stream educational sessions to bring discoveries directly to classrooms.
De Leon expressed excitement about exploring potentially undiscovered marine species, emphasizing the critical importance of identifying and protecting them.
“These habitats are lush and vibrant and there are perhaps species we have never seen before,” she explained. “If we can’t identify those species, we’re not able to protect those species.”
De Leon’s involvement also symbolizes a powerful representation of San Antonio and particularly her own neighborhoods of Thompson and Quintana, underscoring her role as a leading woman in STEM.
“It’s an incredible honor to be able to not only represent San Antonio but my community,” De Leon stated. “To be able to show all our students that, ‘Hey, you can do it too.’”
Currently training with scientists and engineers in Guam, she hopes her experience particularly inspires young girls and students from underrepresented communities in San Antonio.
“You belong in science, technology, engineering and math,” De Leon encouraged. “We need you to keep going. We are here and we are cheering you on.”
Her journey begins this summer, with live updates and real-time streams available for public viewing online.