Science News

Collaborations with various media allow us to create a bank of science news of relevance to the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities and give a venue that our scientific members can use to keep their communities informed and engaged with science.

Also, the news archive can be used as a resource for students and educators

In this section you can find: news written by members of the CienciaPR team and written by other news media and which are reproduced with permission from the original source.

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Ecological trails in the Condado lagoon

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

Half of the coral reefs in the Caribbean are seriously endangered and most coral reefs in Puerto Rico are heavily sedimented. This situation not only endangers our coast line, and deprives us from enjoying this beautiful marine ecosystem, but it endangers the marine life that inhabits them. Facing this, what can we do? In the first place, study and protect existing coral reefs. Second, we can help nature emulating its natural processes, specifically creating structures known as artificial reefs made from strong, durable, and environmentally safe material. These structures look like rocks in the sea floor creating spaces that attract marine fauna and flora, increasing the ecological richness and diversity of the area. The benefits of artificial reefs are multiple. Besides attracting fishes and providing educational and research material, the creation of these marine ecological trails attract tourism and foster a sustainable local economy. The Consortium of the Estuary of the San Juan Bay will soon start the creation of the first marine ecological trail in the northern coast of Puerto Rico. This trail will be created in the Condado lagoon using 30 modules that look like rocks with labeled stations to indicate the species present. These modules will also serve to implant coral colonies rescued from endangered areas.

Puerto Rican parrot helping other birds

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

The Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) is an endangered species, and for the last 35 years there has been a huge research effort in the Island, to save and recover this species. The plastic nests, made of PVC, that have been used in Puerto Rico to help the Puerto Rican parrot reproduce in captivity are now being used by other scientists around the world to help recover other endangered species, like the parrot of the Bahamas (Amazona leucocephala bahamensis) and the red macaw (Aramacao) of Peru.

Biotechnology agreement with the Dominican Republic

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

The University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez Industrial Biotechnology Program coordinators, doctors Rosa Buxeda and Lorenzo Saliceti recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to establish an agreement with this country’s government to promote biotechnology there.

Fellowships to study biotechnology

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

Students Ismary Colón Angueira and Kendrick Hernández Crespo were recently awarded a fellowship of $1,000 a semester –for five years- to study biotechnology at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez (RUM). Entrepreneur Carlos Rodriguez, president of VWR in Puerto Rico and his wife Coral Parrilla, both ex-alumni of RUM, made the donation for this fellowship.

Award for Science Teaching Excellence

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

The nomination process for the 16th Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence is now open. This award was designed to recognize outstanding K-12 teachers that have positively influenced the academic achievement of their students through science and those who have improved the learning of their students in those communities where Amgen has operations. This year, Amgen will reward four teachers in Puerto Rico, who will receive cash prizes of $5,000. Also, Amgen will give their schools $5,000 to be used in the expansion or improvement of science program in the winners’ schools. If you are interested in nominating an outstanding teacher you should visit Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence Program for more information. You can also call Cristina Robles at (787) 656-6856. Nominations should be sent before January 31st, 2007. Winners will be announced by April 2007.

Puerto Rico in an environmental crisis

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

According to Alan Steinberg, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Puerto Rico is in the middle of an environmental crisis. Puerto Rico is among the richest places in Latin America, and produces more waste per person that almost any other country in the world, except the United States: 645 kg a year. A big chunk of this solid waste ends up in rivers, tropical forests and other remote areas. Only 10% of the waste is recycled, although the government had a goal of recycling 35% at the beginning of the 1990’s.

In Search of the Phoenix by Rodrigo Fernos recounts Latin American science history

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

This book by Rodrígo Fernós travels through the history of Latin American science, from the pre-Colombian period to the present, trying to offer an explanation to the slow advancement of Latin American science, if compared with other countries and continents. You can access a copy of this book at EN Busca del Fenix

In search of the cure for cancer

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

Cuban-born and PR-raised MD Anderson doctor Gabriel López Berestein has worked 25 years in developing new cancer treatments, including several new drugs. He is now spearheading efforts aimed at opening a comprehensive research cancer center in Puerto Rico.

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