# 526: Take A Taste Of Engineers

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2026-05-28
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 526
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/526

## Summary

Dr. Victoria Serrano, a professor at the Technological University of Panama and IEEE STEM Champion, discusses her work in STEM outreach and engineering education. She details her PhD research on PID controller tuning for degrading buck converters and explains how she uses low-cost equipment like Arduino Uno boards and motor shields to teach robotics and electronics to students in Panama. Serrano emphasizes the importance of empathy in engineering, citing a project where students designed solutions for people with disabilities, and shares her philosophy on overcoming fear of failure in hardware projects.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers#t=7) Introduction and Background
- [5:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers#t=338) PhD Research on PID Controllers and Buck Converters
- [9:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers#t=593) STEM Outreach Philosophy and Math as a Tool
- [20:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers#t=1202) Engineering Solutions for Disabilities and Empathy
- [30:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers#t=1821) IEEE Award and Profile Building
- [40:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers#t=2434) Teaching Methodology with Arduino and Motor Shields
- [42:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-28-526-take-a-taste-of-engineers#t=2547) Sustainability, YouTube Resources, and Final Advice

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Technological University of Panama (company)
- Arizona State University (company)
- IEEE (company)
- Arduino Uno (product)
- Motor Shield (product)
- CIATEC PANAMA (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Walmart Greeter of Electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-09-18-the-walmart-greeter-of-electronics) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 257: The Hacks and Just the Hacks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-02-14-ep-257-the-hacks-and-just-the-hacks) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [S1E37 Inspiring the Rising Generation of Engineers | Danielle Boyer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-09-18-s1e37-inspiring-the-rising-generation-of-engineers-danielle-boyer) (Being an Engineer)
- [Creative Engineering with Shrouk El-Attar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-07-12-creative-engineering-with-shrouk-el-attar) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 117: Chiptunes in an RCA Plug, an Arduino Floppy Drive, $50 CNC, and Wireless Switches](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-05-07-ep-117-chiptunes-in-an-rca-plug-an-arduino-floppy-drive-50-cnc-and-wireless-swit) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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