71 students from public and private schools in Puerto Rico, as well as students from Chile and Peru, presented their scientific research projects.
Bayamón, Puerto Rico – April 28, 2026 — On April 23 and 24, 2026, the "Foro Internacional Ciencia en Puerto Rico" (FICEP), an initiative of the Young Scientists for Puerto Rico (JCPR) organization, in collaboration with Ciencia Puerto Rico, held a new edition at the Hyatt Place hotel in Bayamón, consolidating its position as one of the main scientific exhibition spaces for high school students in Puerto Rico and strengthening its mission to promote innovation, research, and academic excellence.
In this edition, 71 students from public and private schools in Puerto Rico, as well as students from Chile and Peru, presented their scientific research projects before a distinguished panel of volunteer judges composed of experts in various disciplines who evaluated the rigor, creativity, and impact of each proposal.
Members of the CienciaPR team served as judges in various categories.
“FICEP has become a space where young people not only present projects but also discover that they can be protagonists of the global future. Each year we see more talent, more vision, and more commitment to transforming through science,” stated Enerys Pagán Olaguibel, founder of FICEP and president of JCPR.
During the awards ceremony, the top three projects in each of the four competition categories (energy, environment, engineering, medicine, and health) were recognized, in addition to the Grand Prize being awarded to the five most outstanding scores of the forum. The students honored with this highest distinction were Samuel Ralph Vélez and Wilberto Rodríguez Conaway, from Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola; Matteo Casaretto Bollo and Paolo Casaretto Bollo, from Colegio Cristo Rey; Gustavo Quiñones Blanco, from Escuela Alianza Especializada en Matemáticas, Ciencias y Tecnología de San Juan; Jesús Giovan Santiago Santiago, from Escuela Superior Padre Aníbal Reyes Belén; and Daymara Lausell Marcano, from Centro Residencial de Oportunidades Educativas de Villalba (CROEV).
Furthermore, FICEP granted multiple accreditations for international science fairs, thanks to its global collaboration alliances, and recognized the educational institution with the highest participation. These opportunities allow Puerto Rican students to represent the archipelago in important scientific events in various countries, reaffirming FICEP's value as a unique platform for international exposure for our youth.
International students had the opportunity to visit Old San Juan.
"This international forum positions Puerto Rico among a distinguished group of countries that offer high-level scientific forums for young people, which is also a great opportunity for local students to be exposed to other cultures and experiences,” highlighted Dr. Greetchen Díaz, executive director of Ciencia Puerto Rico.