The new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recognizes that racism has produced systemic barriers that limit full participation in science and medicine and offers concrete actions to break them down, thus promoting justice and inclusion. Puerto Rican scientist Dr. Giovanna Guerrero Medina, was chosen for her expertise and leadership as executive director of the organization Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR) to be a member of the committee that issued the document.

#2022NDiSTEM was an opportunity not only to connect with current and new members of CienciaPR but also to show the world what makes #CienciaBoricua unique and special.

Hurricane Fiona impacted the lives, well-being, and livelihood of many college students throughout Puerto Rico. Many have had to contend with family emergencies and additional expenses, food insecurity, interruptions to their education, and spent weeks without water or electricity. Some are still dealing with these challenges. 

On Sunday, September 18, 2022, Hurricane Fiona made landfall in southwestern Puerto Rico, the same area most impacted by the 2020 earthquakes. Fiona has left a catastrophic amount of rain and damage across the archipelago. Most people are without power and many are without water. All this, just days before the five-year anniversary of Hurricane María today, on September 20th. Puerto Rico has barely recovered from the man-made disaster that followed that storm, the legacies of which are still physically and emotionally present. 

A group of health professionals, scientists and physicians questioned the lack of action by the local Department of Health in the face of the high number of COVID-19 infections in Puerto Rico and offered specific recommendations to improve the public health response at this point in the pandemic. The statements were made during a press conference organized by the NGO and scientific collective Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR, www.cienciapr.org). A recording of the conference (in Spanish) can be accessed on Ciencia Puerto Rico's YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/jk8Qq2bpb4Q).