San Juan, Puerto Rico – April 28, 2026 —Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR) was one of the organizations honored in the fifth edition of Lexus Design with Purpose, an initiative that recognizes innovative proposals with social and environmental impact in Puerto Rico, highlighting projects focused on sustainability, accessibility, and inclusion.
The recognition was awarded to the project Universal Design and Co-Creation for Inclusive Climate Education in Puerto Rico, a proposal led by Dr. Mónica Feliú-Mójer and her team from the Public Engagement with Science Unit. The project will develop accessible visual tools —such as pictograms, illustrations, and adapted educational materials— aimed primarily at the Deaf community, with the purpose of strengthening education on risks associated with climate change, including extreme heat, floods, hurricanes, and other climate events that affect the archipelago's most vulnerable communities.
“This recognition validates the importance of designing climate solutions that center inclusion and community engagement. When we create accessible tools so that all people can understand, prepare for, and act upon climate risks, we are not only educating, we are strengthening Puerto Rico's resilience from an equity perspective,” stated Dr. Mónica Feliú-Mójer, project leader at Ciencia Puerto Rico.
On the other hand, Dr. Greetchen Díaz, executive director of CienciaPR, stated: “Climate education cannot leave anyone behind, and this project precisely represents our commitment to inclusion, equity, and climate justice”.
The awards ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Architecture Foundation, as part of the Arquibazar event, where Lexus highlighted the power of design as a transformative tool to address contemporary social challenges.
In addition to CienciaPR, two other Puerto Rican projects were also recognized for their innovation and potential impact. Among them, Ubaguani, developed by designer Victoria Vargas, a proposal that transforms sargassum —one of the main environmental challenges in the Caribbean— into a 3D-printed shoe sole using a sustainable additive, also promoting a possible local manufacturing micro-industry.
Also awarded was Vision in Motion, from the organization Ciegos con Visión, an initiative that proposes to convert San Juan's urban core into a more accessible space for blind or low-vision people through NFC technology integrated with mobile applications, facilitating independent and safe mobility.
“At Lexus, we deeply believe in the power of design and innovation to go beyond the product and generate a real impact on society,” said Saskia Gómez, public relations executive for Lexus Puerto Rico, highlighting that the initiative seeks to promote ideas that transform communities and foster a more inclusive future.
The projects were evaluated for their ability to anticipate social challenges and offer functional, sustainable solutions with a practical component that generates real value for communities.
With this recognition, CienciaPR continues to strengthen its leadership in developing initiatives that connect science, education, and community participation to build a more resilient, inclusive, and prepared Puerto Rico for the climate challenges of the present and the future.