HSI conference proceedings: Accelerating the impact of HSI STEM education and research on innovation ecosystems

Abstract

The first goal of the Conference was to contribute to the design of the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) program at NSF by: providing recommendations & winning proposals on: experiential learning & undergraduate research, workforce development, and how these strategies provide opportunities in innovation ecosystems.

The second goal is to use these activities to improve STEM education in Puerto Rico and develop our University as a true hub of transformation. This goal requires that we continue communication with the smaller regional HSIs and develop new collaborations. The team has collaborated within the UPRM e-ship network: a community of students, professors, emerging entrepreneurs and companies from different parts of the island who share a commitment to developing a network between innovative minds and creating new opportunities. This innovation community should be expanded to other universities. The event was held at the Mayaguez Resort on November 8th & 9th, 2018 and brought together 185 students and faculty participants from 37 HSI institutions.

The pre-conference NSF grant writing workshop included 49 participants and was held at the Mayagüez campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. This was the only HSI conference held in Puerto Rico, and provided input to NSF on how to expand active learning opportunities for undergraduate populations at HSIs by linking these students with mentors from both the commercial and knowledge economies.

These Conference Proceedings are based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (NSF # 1802252 ). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The contributions of co-PI: Alesandra Morales, Jose Lugo, Ubaldo Córdova, Stephen Hughes, is acknowledged. NSF HSI Conference proceedings includes: (1) Conference Highlights, Rodolfo J Romañach, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Department of Chemistry: (2) Experiential learning opportunities at Inter American University of Puerto Rico at San Germán Campus: changing our scientific culture, Angela González- Mederos, Inter American University of Puerto Rico at San Germán Campus; (3) Collaboration between Entrepreneurship and Sciences at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San Germán Campus, Luz Leyda Vega-Rosado, and Angela González-Mederos, Inter American of Puerto Rico at San Germán Campus; (4) 6th National Forum on Entrepreneurial Education (NFEE) Project Report - June 2019, Angelisse M. Ramos Morales and Moraima De Hoyos-Ruperto, School of Business, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez; and (5) A Four Level View of Industry University Collaboration, , Rodolfo J Romañach, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Department of Chemistry.