EEP High School Science Pipeline Geo-Explorers at Universidad del Turabo: Learning and Teaching the Business of Science – Lessons Learned

The Geoeplorers project is an integrative effort between the School of Science and Technology, the School of Business Administration, the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Sea Grant Program at the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, the Municipalities of Caguas, Juncos, Las Piedras, San Lorenzo and Humacao, and the Puerto Rico Department of Education. The goal of the project is to increase awareness in NOAA related careers and areas of interest, GIS, environmental science and research, and environmental business amongst high school students (9-12) in the east central region of Puerto Rico. The project establishes a Saturday Academy at UT that offers seminars in NOAA related topics, natural resources, GIS and business development to high school students annually. The project also promotes research and entrepreneurship amongst participants by creating a fellowship program that will support summer research experiences for high school students annually. During the 3 years of the grant, the project has impacted well over 500 students in all 5 municipalities and over 20 different schools. This presentation is about how the project has evolved over time and about lessons learned and best practices that may be useful to teachers and researchers in similar projects. Particular emphasis is placed on the science to business and entrepreneurship approach to the summer academy aspect of the project.