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The 2016 Junior Technical Meeting (JTM) and the Puerto Rico Interdisciplinary Meeting (PRISM) will be held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce on March 5, 2016.  JTM and PRISM are the Island’s largest annual scientific forum for undergraduate and graduate STEM students to present their research projects to peers and faculty members.

The invited plenary speaker is Dr. Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, associate research scientist for the Center for Scientific Teaching, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Short Bio:

Dr. Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, is the Executive Director of Ciencia Puerto Rico, an international network of scientists, students and educators committed to promoting scientific outreach, education and careers among Puerto Ricans and Latinos. She is also Director of the Yale Ciencia Initiative in the Center for Teaching and Learning at Yale University, where she studies the impact of scientific networks like Ciencia Puerto Rico in improving access and participation in science. Under her leadership, CienciaPR has become one of the largest networked communities of Hispanic scientists in the world, has secured several large grants to support diversity in science education and career development, and in 2015 received recognition as a Bright Spot in science education by the White House. Prior to her current position, Dr. Guerrero-Medina was Head of Science Policy at the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, MI and a Health Science Policy Analyst at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Guerrero-Medina has a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.  

Speech title and abstract: 

Ciencia Puerto Rico: Improving STEM education and careers through a network for Puerto Rican science 

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are essential for countries and individuals in the 21st century and open doors to some of the fastest growing, most rewarding, and best paying careers. Unfortunately, many students do not pursue these disciplines because they don’t see the relevance of these fields to their lives, because they lack role models they can identify with, or because they don’t have access to mentors or resources that can facilitate training opportunities and help them navigate the ups and downs of a career in these fields. STEM professionals can play a crucial role in helping to improve science education resources, experiences and trajectories of students interested in these careers. Since 2006, Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR, http://www.cienciapr.org) has helped connect the geographically dispersed Puerto Rican scientific community for the promotion of science education and scientific careers. Today, more than 7,300 STEM professionals, students and educators are members of CienciaPR. Through their example, contributions, and connections, CienciaPR has increased the visibility of STEM role models, improved science communication and educational resources in Puerto Rico, and facilitated access to academic and professional advice, resources and opportunities for students and young scientists. This presentation will provide an overview of CienciaPR's emergence and achievements and give concrete examples of how young scholars can explore their academic and career options through CienciaPR, as well as contribute themselves to impact others through their own knowledge and example. 

The PRISM provides vertical integration of the educational pipeline by bringing together secondary school students and teachers, undergraduate and graduate students from all STEM disciplines from all major institutions of higher education in Puerto Rico.  Participants are encouraged to cross disciplinary lines by attending presentations and posters from other disciplines.