In Caguas, Puerto Rico, the Centro Criollo de Ciencia y Tecnología del Caribe (C3Tec) has inaugurated a new Biotechnology Laboratory, a permanent educational space that will allow over 1,000 students to experience hands-on biotechnology processes and techniques. The Amgen Foundation is contributing to the initiative by funding biotechnology workshops, which will introduce students to scientific disciplines and potential careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Caguas Mayor and C3Tec Board of Directors President William Miranda Torres highlighted the importance of developing scientific education initiatives from the city, making them accessible to new generations. The laboratory, located at C3Tec’s facilities in Caguas, will enable participants to go beyond theoretical learning and experiment in a scientific laboratory-like environment, using equipment, materials, and methodologies related to biotechnology and molecular biology.
Educational experiences will include techniques such as electrophoresis, DNA analysis, and micropipette handling. During its first cycle of operations, the program aims to impact over 1,000 students from at least 25 schools per year, with an emphasis on providing free access to these educational experiences. The initiative will also open its doors to families and the general public through a special free experience on the fourth Saturday of each month, with a projected reach of around 300 families annually.