Before he turned 16 years-old, Larry Cunningham had lived four years in China, four years in Philippines, four years in India and four years in the United States. His experiences as a globe-trotter were not always easy, but as he kept “walking” he ended up in Puerto Rico. He’s lived in the Island since 1960’s, were he established himself as a pneumologist, profession he still practices and teaches at the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico.

Thirteen public schools in nine municipalities will have new research laboratories, funded by the municipalities and the Authority for the Financing of Infrastructure (AFI), announced yesterday the Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. This is part of an agreement between the Department of Education, AFI, and the Science and Technology Trust. Initially the project will impact 11,000 students with the goal of generating more interest and experience in science and mathematics. On the long term, it is hoped that there will be laboratories in all public schools, with the collaboration of the municipal administrations.

The book ‘Beyond Sun and Sand: Caribbean Environmentalisms', edited by doctors Sherrie Baver y Barbara Deutsch, was thought and created mostly for two groups of the North American population: the tourists that see the Caribbean as a paradise-on-Earth with attraction similar to an amusement park; and also, for the population of North American environmentalists that still see Caribbean environmentalism from a conservationist perspective. The book also creates awareness among Caribbean environmentalists that the Caribbean has similar environmental situations across the board; situations that could be solved more effectively if they joined forces between the islands.

Working with turbines and engines is not only for men and proof of this is 33 female high school students that will participate in the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez mechanical engineering summer camp, sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering of this campus. The summer camp, in its fourth year, has the goal to motivate women to consider mechanical engineering as a profession. The students will learn about robotics, materials, thermal sciences, and manufacture and they will have the opportunity to interact in a college environment.

Students of the Luis Muñoz Marín High School in Barranquitas have created “Biocomiso” (Bio-trust), a plant nursery where they can practice their teachings in biology and strengthen communitarian environmental conservation initiatives. With the nursery, sponsored by the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust under the Friend School Program, they are not only helping reforestation and educational efforts, but they are helping their school, since it can generate revenues for the school, and provide a place for student association activities.