For the second time in a week, a group of renowned scientists approved a series of recommendations for the Government to address the local effects of global warming. This time, it was 20 experts of different fields in the environmental sciences, invited by the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. The recommendations stem from two-day round table meetings “Facing the consequences of global warming in Puerto Rico”. The scientists urge the Government to: 1. Acknowledge the global warming problem. 2. Create a Commission that will prepare, before the term ends, the mitigation and adaptation to global warming strategy. 3. That every project is evaluated on its contribution to climate change and to stop permits for construction in high risk zones. 4. Encourage the reconstruction of urban centers, facilitate collective, alternative and non-automotive transportation and stop urban overflow. 5. Redefine the maritime-land zones in terms of public and environmental safety. 6. Protect 25% of the land. 7. 50% of forests and 25% of the insular platform banned from fishing. 8. Conserve and keep the agricultural potential of lands. 9. Encourage the conversion of public buildings into green buildings. 10. Reduce the energy use in all government agencies by 20% in a five year period. 11. Buy hybrid cars for the State’s fleet. 12. Encourage the purchase of high performance equipment.

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord and the networks of sensory neurons throughout our body. It’s a multidisciplinary science that integrates biology, chemistry, and physics with the study of the nervous system’s structure, its physiology, behavior, emotions and cognitive functions. There are scientists that study the development of the nervous; neuroanatomists study its structure and organization. Some study cognitive processes, like visual perception and memory and others study processes underlying behavior. Other neuroscientists study the computational aspects of the brain. Some dedicate to study the clinical aspect of neuroscience, investigating the causes, effects and possible treatments for diseases like Parkinson, Alzheimer and schizophrenia, among many others. Meanwhile, molecular neuroscientists see the brain as a group of neurons that are composed of genes, proteins and molecules, vital for neuronal function. Puerto Rico has a large variety of these scientists. Our Island has a rich neuroscience community, having an Institute of Neurobiology in Old San Juan, next to El Morro. Also, the Schools of Medicine in Ponce, the University of Puerto Rico and the Universidad Central del Caribe; and the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez and Rio Piedras are home to Puerto Rico’s neuroscientists. *This article is part of CienciaPR's collaboration with El Nuevo Dia

While most of the Puerto Rican scientific community demands the government to start taking initiatives to reduce the effects of global warming, hundreds of children in Guayanilla, which are part of the generation that could probable suffer the most of these effects, march through the town center of this municipality to drive a message of environmental protection and recycling.

The Taller de Arte y Cultura de Adjuntas (Arts and Culture Workshop of Adjuntas), better known as Casa Pueblo (Town House), gave legal character to its efforts with the creation of the Casa Pueblo Trust. With this document they want to protect the continuity of the assets of this community based organization, among them 150 acres of the La Olimpia School Forest, acquired in part with money raised with the sales of Coffee Mother Island, made by volunteers of this non-profit organization. Besides the Forest and Coffee Mother Island, Casa Pueblo has educational workshops, like the Biodiversity and Culture Community Institute; it has hydroponics lettuce crop; a butterfly garden and a library.