Posted by Kevin Hernandez, Developer Relations Neighborhood Supervisor

Henry Ruiz, Machine Studying GDE, initially had aspirations of turning into a soccer participant in his residence nation of Colombia, however when his brother obtained injured he knew that he needed to have a backup plan. With a love for video video games, Henry determined to pursue an schooling in improvement and finally found the world of laptop science.

In the present day, Henry is a Laptop Scientist, working as a Analysis Specialist (Knowledge Scientist) at Texas A&M AgriLife Analysis and ending his Ph.D. in Engineering at Texas A&M College.

Henry, who barely spoke English earlier than immigrating to the US, has now progressed to the purpose of making ready to defend his PhD, due to the help of the Hispanic group.

As a first-generation faculty pupil in the US, Henry was on the lookout for a group the place he might really feel linked. He acquired loads of assist from worldwide college students and mentions that he all the time acquired a heat welcome particularly from the Hispanic group. Becoming a member of completely different golf equipment on campus, Henry linked with others by means of meals and shared experiences and so they served as a assist system for each other by creating research teams. By these connections, he started to note the impression of builders from Latin America which deeply impressed him. Henry displays, “We’re thought of a minority and don’t all the time have the identical alternatives that developed international locations have. So we’ve got to be inventive and put in an additional effort. So to see these tales of minority builders making an impression on the world could be very important to me.” Henry views Hispanic Heritage Month as a celebration of what Hispanic folks have completed and it drives him in his work.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the laborious work, the resilience, and the work that folks in the neighborhood have completed,” 

– Henry Ruiz, Machine Studying GDE

Henry has seen progress being made in recognizing Hispanic contributions within the tech business. “Massive firms have been conscious of the challenges that we’ve got as minorities and so they began creating completely different packages to get group members extra concerned in tech firms,” he explains. Effectively-known firms have hosted conferences for the Hispanic group and Google particularly, offers out scholarships such because the Era Google Scholarship. This makes him really feel seen and provides the group visibility within the business. When he sees Hispanics in management positions, it exhibits him what may be completed, which fuels his work.

In the present day, Henry has labored on generative AI initiatives and leverages Google applied sciences (Cloud, TensorFlow, Kubernetes) to deal with challenges within the agricultural business. Particularly, he’s engaged on a mission to detect illnesses and pests in bananas. With the robust basis of his group, Henry is actively serving to communities along with his analysis. On his recommendation to the Hispanic group, Henry imparts the next phrases of knowledge, “Though some won’t have entry to the identical instruments and applied sciences as others, we’ve got to do not forget that we’re resilient, inventive, and are drawback solvers. Simply proceed shifting ahead.”

You will discover Henry on LinkedIn, GitHub, and through his GDE Developer Profile.

The Google Developer Specialists (GDE) program is a worldwide community of extremely skilled expertise consultants, influencers, and thought leaders who actively assist builders, firms, and tech communities by talking at occasions and publishing content material.