Fuel of the Future of Computational Science
A Story of Determination: Meet Isiaha Rodriguez
Some students go to extraordinary lengths to pursue their goals.
Isiaha Rodriguez is one of them.
Growing up in Desert Hot Springs in the Coachella Valley, Isiaha made a bold decision: he enrolled in a high school 15 miles away and took public transit every day because he wanted the strongest education he could access. His dedication earned him a National Merit Hispanic Recognition Program scholarship and a path to Arizona State University (ASU), where he is now a Presidential Graduate Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics.
Through Sustainable Horizons Institute’s Sustainable Research Pathways (SRP) workshop, Isiaha was matched with Dr. Talita Perciano Costa Leite at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Together, they will work on developing new machine learning architectures to accelerate the discovery of catalytic reactions in chemistry—research with the potential to shape the future of scientific innovation.
As Isiaha shared:
“Hearing about all the exciting science being done, especially in machine learning, and getting to work with people at the national labs is incredible.”
His journey reflects exactly why programs like BE matter. Read Isiaha’s full story here!
The BE Program: Nearly Two Decades of Impact
The BE Program was created in 2007 for the Supercomputing (SC) Conference as a way to engage people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In 2015, the program expanded to the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (SIAM CSE15), and later to SIAM CSE17, CSE19, and CSE21.
Its success led SIAM to invite Sustainable Horizons Institute to broaden the program to additional conferences, including the SIAM Mathematics of Data Science (MDS) 2022 and 2024 meetings, as well as the 2025 SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (CSE25) and the 2025 United States Research Software Engineer Association (US-RSE25).
Since 2015, over 300 participants have taken part in the BE Program.
What Participants Experience
During a week-long conference, participants engage in:
- A rich scientific program with interdisciplinary technical sessions
- Plenaries and discussions that deepen knowledge and expand skill sets
- Mentoring and psychosocial support
- Small learning communities called Guided Affinity Groups
- Motivational workshops and activities
- Opportunities to present research and receive coaching
- Travel grants that make attendance possible
Each morning, Guided Affinity Groups meet with a leader who helps participants prepare for the day’s technical sessions, build confidence, and make the most of the conference experience.
This structure helps participants feel connected, supported, and ready to grow as scientists.
Help Send BE Participants to SIAM CSE27
This year, we are raising funds to support BE Program participants attending the SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (CSE27).
CSE27 is one of the most influential gatherings in computational science. For students, attending this conference can be transformative—opening doors to new research ideas, collaborations, and career pathways.
Your support ensures that cost is never a barrier for students who are ready to take this next step.
Why Your Gift Matters
Programs like the BE Program help students prepare for opportunities like SRP, national lab internships, and advanced research careers. Students arrive at these experiences more confident, more capable, and more connected.
Your contribution today:
- Provides travel grants for students to attend CSE27
- Supports mentoring and Guided Affinity Groups
- Gives students access to the full technical program
- Helps emerging researchers present their work
- Strengthens the pipeline of future scientific leaders
Join Us: Empower Tomorrow’s Innovators
Isiaha’s story shows what becomes possible when determination meets opportunity.
Your gift ensures more students can take the next step in their scientific journey.
Donate today. Help send BE Program participants to SIAM CSE27. Shape the future of computational science.
Link to Donation Page: https://shinstitute.org/donate/