The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, hosted the event, which had the support of the Tourism Company, the Department of Education, and local private foundations.
San Juan, Puerto Rico – With the aim of connecting, making visible, and strengthening spaces dedicated to public education and participation in science and technology in Puerto Rico, Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR) and the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust today announce the official launch of the Network of Science and Technology Museums and Centers of Puerto Rico (ReCiTe PR).
ReCiTe PR emerges as a collaborative platform that seeks to visualize and promote the resources, programs, and events of science and technology museums and centers, facilitate strategic alliances, strengthen capacities, exchange best practices, and boost scientific and cultural tourism through equitable access to science and technology learning experiences for people of all ages in Puerto Rico. The initiative was presented after a dialogue process between co-founding organizations committed to public education and participation in science and technology, who laid the groundwork for a common agenda.
“Puerto Rico has extraordinary institutions that inspire curiosity and turn science into an accessible and relevant experience for our communities. With ReCiTe PR, we are creating a collective structure to amplify that impact, for organizations to learn from each other, and to ensure that more people can see themselves reflected in science and innovation”, stated Greetchen Díaz, Executive Director of CienciaPR.
Dr. Greetchen Díaz, Executive Director of CienciaPR. Photo: José R. Madera
For her part, Lucy Crespo, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, highlighted the importance of strengthening this ecosystem: “Science museums and centers are engines of inspiration, discovery, and knowledge-based economic development. We are honored to support a network that will promote collaboration among institutions and expand our communities' access to transformative STEM educational experiences”_.
During the official launch, representatives of the co-founding organizations participated: Para la Naturaleza, EcoExploratorio: Science Museum of Puerto Rico, Caribbean Creole Science and Technology Center (C3Tec), Science Park by Toro Verde, Natural History Museum of Puerto Rico, Casa Pueblo of Adjuntas, the Museum of Zoology and the Herbarium of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, Arecibo C3, and the laboratories of the programs of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust.
The co-founding organizations and members of their teams. Photo: José R. Madera
Invitation to Join the Network
ReCiTe PR calls on science, technology, nature, or natural history museums, community centers with science-based programs, ecotourism parks with educational components, botanical gardens and arboretums, research centers with educational offerings for students and/or the general public, and mobile educational programs with community impact to join this collective initiative.
Also, businesses, private foundations, and government agencies or programs are invited to be supporting members of the Network. Interested organizations can find more information at: www.cienciapr.org/recitepr