To promote access to biotechnology knowledge for young people and educators by integrating scientific innovation and an immersive environment, the EcoExploratorio: Puerto Rico Science Museum The room opened this WednesdayAmgen Biotech Lab“, in alliance with the Amgen Foundationa philanthropic entity of the pharmaceutical company, to facilitate tours and workshops on the living sciences.
The room begins its journey with the exploration of the systems of the human body, as a starting point, and has an interactive screen, barcodes, stations for observing samples in microscopes and three-dimensional models of scientific elements that integrate educational content from the foundation, as part of the experience.
“It is a way to inspire this present generation so that they can study these disciplines and can also be agents of change through biotechnology education.”expressed Jenny Guevaraexecutive director of EcoExploratorio.
As part of the offerings, the space will serve as a laboratory for teachers and university professors who wish to come, together with their students, to observe real cells and molecules or to use the digital tools available.
The conceptualization of the room began last year, when both entities were looking for a way to truly incorporate the biotechnological work that Amgen carried out through a museum exhibition for the public’s exploration and inspiration.
“Amgen has always walked alongside the EcoExploratorio over the past years, including the first project we developed together, in 2015, was ‘The Scientific Future’. We impacted 30 students and 98% of those students decided to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines”Guevara said about the impact of collaborative efforts between organizations since 2014.
For her part, the founder of the EcoExploratorio, the meteorologist Ada Monzónhighlighted the educational mission of the space in expanding access to scientific knowledge through experiences focused on technological innovation in a creative and fun way.
“The new room (…) will be a specialized educational space focused on the field of biosciences, providing children and young students, as well as teachers and educators, the opportunity to enter the fascinating world of biotechnology with theoretical and practical experiences with scientists, experts and educators through workshops,” said Monzón.
“One of the young women who participated told me, ‘It is the first workshop I have participated in, I excused myself from my school to be able to be here as a leader, to be able to bring this knowledge to other classmates, but we will see you soon’…she is a girl who is in grade 11 and wants to bring her classmates to also participate in the next workshop, so I think it was super fruitful,” Guevara commented, meanwhile, about the first workshop that was given this Wednesday to 20 students.
“Through the Amgen Foundation, we established the first educational laboratory in Puerto Rico focused on biotechnology in an immersive and interactive manner, with the purpose of bringing the community closer to the fascinating world of life sciences and continuing to position Puerto Rico as a global leader in biotechnology,” he indicated, for his part. Sylnés Centenodirector of corporate affairs at Amgen.
The room, which expects to receive 15 thousand visitors this year, will be open to the public, on the second level of Plaza Las Américas, from Wednesday to Saturday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm