My name is Annette S. Ortiz Miranda, and I am Puerto Rican. I am a chemist specialising in the scientific analysis of cultural heritage in which I have a PhD. In the last fifteen years, I have lived in fourth countries, and in 2021 I moved to Denmark, where I have been living for two years. I moved to Copenhagen because I was offered a position as Conservation Scientist/ Researcher at the Statens Museum for Kunst. I found Denmark an exciting country.

Even when I moved here during the pandemic of COVID-19, I was fortunate because I have a welcoming and kind colleagues and a good work environment. However, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it took a lot of work to get familiar with Danish culture, social life, and the language. Aside from work, I see the scope of my work extending beyond the academic and have invested in engaging with people outside the cultural heritage conservation field. As a black Latina born and raised in Puerto Rico, I aspire to increase equity and the access of underrepresented groups to cultural heritage research and conservation. To this end, I have in the past undertaken outreach activities including STEM career mentoring groups, and as a panel member in science-oriented programs to diverse audiences. In addition, I am the conservator/conservator scientist chair on the Board of Governors from the Centro de Conservación y Restauración de Puerto Rico (CENCOR).

In my social life, I enjoy dancing, travelling, music, and learning about other cultures and new things.

My career does not exist in Puerto Rico as a profession. In addition, my field of work is very closed (or limited) and “white-oriented”. That is why I found myself fortunate to be able to do what I always wanted as a professional. In Puerto Rico, the science careers programs, such as chemistry, are primarily oriented to teaching or the pharmaceutical industry. I knew I wanted to be a chemist while doing my bachelor’s degree, and I knew I did not want to work as a teacher, professor or in any industry. I am trying to prove that it is OK to “break the mould” and follow your instincts. I think my participation in mentoring programs can inspire other Puerto Ricans and Latinas to follow their dreams. The process might be challenging, but ‘There is no victory without sacrifice’. In my case, I left my family and friends behind, but over the years, my family-friend network has grown, and I have brothers and sisters all over the world.