Annual Conference 2012 Program

2012 AAAS Caribbean Division Annual Conference

Saturday September 22 2012

Science and Sustainable Design

In Memory of Prof. Lucy Gaspar

Conference Program

8:30am – Registration and Breakfast

9:00am – Welcoming Remarks

9:20am – Remembrance of Professor Luz V. Concepción de Gaspar (Lucy)

9:30am – Presentation of the Annual Lucy Gaspar Memorial Award for Excellence in the teaching of Science and Mathematics

9:40am – Remarks from CienciaPR.org, a virtual community of Puerto Rican scientists

10:00am – Plenary Session: Science and Sustainable Design by Architect Fernando Abruña

11:00am – Concurrent Sessions for Students and Teachers –

Concurrent session A – Science Inspired by Beauty – A panel discussion with different scientists from the fields of zoology, ecology, chemistry and nanotechnology whose research is nourished by concepts of shape, symmetry and aesthetics. Discussion led by Dr. José M. Rivera from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico.

Concurrent session B – Building for Science – A conversations with the architects and designers that took part in the recent construction of new facilities for scientific research in San Juan, Puerto Rico. These include the Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Biomolecular Sciences Building. Led by Architect Jennifer Lugo.

Concurrent session C – Art in Science in Art – Led by art history specialists from the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Juan, this workshop is aimed at middle and high school students and features a discussion on how artists can appropriate scientific concepts and incorporate them in their work.

12:30 pm  - Lunch break

2:00 pm – Graduate Student poster presentation

5:00 pm – Presentation of the Robert I. Larus Award for a graduate student poster