Déborah Berebichez Keynote Speaker

Déborah Berebichez is the first Mexican woman to obtain a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University. Her passion is to empower young people to learn science and to improve the state of STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) in the world. Her education and background help her to make science accessible to a wide range of audiences.

She is the Lead Scientist in Microelectronics and Quantum Computing at one of Europe’s leading research institutes, VTT, where she sets the research agenda for the quantum computer and its quantum-adjacent technologies. Collaborating with the businesses who use VTT’s quantum facilities, she drives product innovation.

Prior to this, Dr. Berebichez was Chief Data Scientist at Metis, where she lead the creation and growth of exceptional data science and artificial intelligence training opportunities. She was responsible for ensuring the quality of the Metis’ corporate training, professional development and online programs. She also formerly worked as Vice President of Risk Analytics at MSCI, where she used her quantitative skills to advise top tier banks and hedge funds on managing portfolio risk.

She is Co-Host of Discovery Channel’s ‘Outrageous Acts of Science’ television show, where she uses her knowledge of physics to explain the science behind extraordinary engineering feats, and she regularly makes television appearances as a science expert, including on the Travel Channel, NOVA, CNN, FOX, MSNBC and several international media outlets. Previously, she helped to run ‘Technovation Challenge’ which teaches hundreds of high school girls from under-served communities how to code science-based mobile apps.

She actively contributes to the national data science ecosystem and frequently engages with the data science community as a keynote speaker or panellist at data science conferences. Déborah was the keynote speaker at Oprah Winfrey’s National Women in Leadership Conference and has presented for TED, Bank of America, Pfizer, The New York Times, WIRED, University of Cambridge amongst others.

Déborah Berebichez completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Columbia University’s Applied Math and Physics Department and at NYU’s Courant Institute for Mathematical Sciences where she researched acoustic waves. As part of her research, she invented a highly effective technique in the fields of wireless communications to focus signals at a targeted location.

Déborah’s work in science education has been recognised worldwide, including by the WSJ, Oprah, Dr Oz, CNN, TED, DLD, WIRED and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

She was recently made an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador for her dedicated work in empowering young women to learn science and to improve STEM education worldwide. She is a John C. Whitehead Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association, a winner of the Society of SHPE’s STAR Award and a recipient for Top Latina Tech Blogger by the Association of Latinos in Social Media LATISM.

Speaking Topics:

• The Quantum Leap of Quantum Computing
• Changing the World One Equation at a Time
• How to Empower Your Business Through Data Literacy
• Things about the Future and the Future of Things
• Everything You Wanted to Know about Data Science but Were Afraid to Ask
• Statistics and the Art of Deception

Testimonials:

“I finally saw your Nova performance about the crystals on TV. I was so impressed. You made something dull and boring come alive! This ability is a key talent essential for making the world turn, as I myself have found out that hard way. You’ve got this talent in abundance. Also, your TV personality is exactly the same as your real one, which is very neat.” – Robert Betts Laughlin, 1998 Nobel Prize in physics

“Charismatic, engaging, thoughtful, inspiring, heartfelt and smart! These words describe only a fraction of the pure enthusiasm and positive energy that Dr. Berebichez possesses and elicits in others. She connected so favorably with our Project FibonacciÒ STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) scholars and staff when it came to telling her personal stories of overcoming barriers to women in STEM professions and her life pursuits. I look forward to having her back again and inspiring our future classes of STEAM scholars entering the workforce. An A++ experience!” – Andrew Drozd, President, The Fibonacci Foundation

“She is an extraordinarily warm and approachable person, a wonderful ambassador for science and reason.” – Becky Strickland, PhACT

“Debbie, the girls loooooved you! What an inspiration for girls with a STEM interest. Thank you, thank you!! Let’s definitely make this an annual event!” – Ann Dachs, Senior Admissions Officer, Barnard College