Resident Commissioner Announces Over $600,000 in Federal Funds for the University of Puerto Rico

Press Release

The island will have access to an additional $275,110 for the management of the coffee berry borer
Washington, DC - The University of Puerto Rico will receive federal funds to promote STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and for the protection of crops from pests and diseases, informed the resident commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón.

The congresswoman explained that as co-chair of the Caucus of the Congress of Institutions Serving Hispanics, her priority is "to support that the 64 institutions that serve Hispanics in Puerto Rico have greater federal investments and opportunities to educate the next generation of Hispanic leaders in our entire nation."

The announced grants are part of the budget of agencies that evaluate the commissioner as part of her functions in Congress. The National Science Foundation concluded the reserve of $600,000.00 for the Department of Biology of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.
The proposal presented is entitled Research Experience for the Teachers Program, focused on the general theme of biology and biomolecular interactions; hence BIORET: BioInteractions.

The long-term goal would be to improve middle and high school students' science literacy and create positive attitudes toward STEM. Under the proposal, this will be accomplished by engaging teachers in a professional development program that focuses on immersion in biological research and the development of curriculum material, focused on standards based on their research experience.
The Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico will receive two grants totaling $62,747 in federal funds for crop pest detection and surveillance.

Under the Program for the Prevention and Management of Plant Pests and Diseases (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez will receive $41,887 to Studies in support of mango exports from Puerto Rico to the European Union.

The University Campus in Mayagüez, under the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN), will also receive $20,860 for the Citrus Health Program in Puerto Rico. This item goes directly to support research at the Experimental Substation in Juana Díaz, which operates under this university institution.

On the other hand, the USDA APHIS program, with the objective of expanding the mitigation capacity of the states, allocated $275,110 for the management of the coffee berry borer in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. USDA will contact the recipient to indicate the next steps in the cooperative agreement process.

Source