The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a grant of $ 300 thousand to doctors Nayda G. Santiago Santiago, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Mayagüez Campus (RUM) and Yuanrui Sang, from the University of Texas, in El Paso (UTEP), for a project that seeks to develop a distributed decision-making mechanism during natural disasters to improve the resilience of energy systems. The professors, along with a group of students from both institutions, would use the technology called blockchain, to measure the status of an electrical network.

You can read the full story in the Spanish version of this post.

Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR), in collaboration with the Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE), the Puerto Rico Astronomy Society, and Dr. Wanda Díaz Merced of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), held a series of workshops from February 15-18, 2019. The purpose of these free courses was to train educators to promote the teaching and active learning of astronomy in schools, through models and observation of phenomena. The courses were held at the Metropolitan University in Bayamón, and were led by Dr. Beatriz García, vice president of NASE and Ángela Pérez. Thirty-two (32) Puerto Rican educators participated, in turn, they are expected to impact around 1000 students.

EarthEcho International, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping youth with resources to act now for a sustainable future, has selected Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico student Nashalie Irizarry as one of 20 young environmental leaders from across the United States who will help tackle the global water crisis starting in their local communities. As part of the inaugural EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors initiative, Nashalie Irizarry will increase knowledge of local water resources throughout  the Municipality of Ponce by monitoring local water quality and engaging their peers in water quality monitoring and conservation events.