#NSPNsymposium18 @yfortiss starts off the session on Rebuilding Sustainable & Resilient #PuertoRico thru #Science @scipolnetwork
@SEPANYC

w/ @Sefini @sloan_kettering, Juan Ramirez @aaas @nahjUPRRP, and @fcoloninFL of Jasperi Consulting and former advisor to US Dept of State

Ramirez shows #NSPNsymposium18 the striking and dramatic impact of the #PuertoRico hurricane, and the impact on services and #infrastructure. Power was a prominent lasting impact. Cellphone signal was out for days, but once back the people got to work 💪

Pix of the student centre & research building at the university @nahjUPRRP soon after the hurricane in #PuertoRico, taken by Ramirez. Just over a year later, the regular semester and the natural beauty of the campus has returned 👏 #NSPNsymposium18

An important part of supporting #PuertoRico #science and #trainees was the @aaas fundraiser that led to the Restoration ➡️ Thesis ➡️ Continuity model of the Hurricane Relief Grants Program. @SfNtweets also joined and contributed funds. 65 awardees were supported #NSPNsymposium18

Lessons learned: embrace the power of networks, a little help goes a long way. #KeepOnKeepingOn
#NSPNsymposium18

#NSPNsymposium18 @Sefini presents Science + Puerto Rico @CienciaPR network. It includes over 9000 members, 49 states, 50 countries, 485 universities, 100 disciplines. After #hurricanemaria, they helped #PuertoRico scientists through outreach & grants to start rebuilding capacity

#NSPNsymposium18 @CienciaPR @Sefini empowered the #PuertoRico #science diaspora and the public in general, incl advocating for support towards #USPolitics via letter campaigns. Students were a huge help, providing aid and mobilizing others

Letter to @Sefini @CienciaPR after #hurricanemaria in #PuertoRico ➡️ I lost 90% of my research, we have no water to drink, to bathe, it looks like a monster ravaged and burned everything. #NSPNsymposium18

The official death count after the hurricane remained at 68, for months. The #PuertoRico community knew this was not the case. Puerto Rico scientists and statisticians rallied and brought #evidence via studies. The real number is over 3000. #NSPNsymposium18

With these studies, a house bill has passed into law on the use of #evidence for evaluating the casualty count of disasters 🙌 #NSPNsymposium18 #scipol @Sefini

#HurricaneMaria was not just a natural disaster, it is a man-made disaster - @Sefini @CienciaPR

Through the #PuertoRico #scipol action network, members are bridging gaps btw #science and #policy / #USPolitics to ensure policy is well informed by #evidence & drive positive change

If you think you're just a student, just a postdoc, think again. You're in a position of privilege and you can have an impact on #scipol and your community - @Sefini @CienciaPR #NSPNsymposium18 @scipolnetwork @SEPANYC

#NSPNsymposium18 @fcoloninFL talks about @cenadorespr nonprofit initiative, in which people got together (over food) to tackle relevant projects. This was before #hurricanemaria. In her dining room, they helped the mayor of #SanJuan to apply for @100ResCities

#NSPNsymposium18 @fcoloninFL lives in #Miami, not #PuertoRico. She shows pictures of #kingtide that causes #flooding. This worsened with rising water levels. 2 yrs ago, city started #SeaLevelRise committee. This incl 3 scientists and aims 2 work on solns outside silos #scipol

#NSPNsymposium18 @fcoloninFL sits on #PuertoRico Big Ideas Challenge. 2/3 winners:

1. Create community lab in wetlands, driving collaborative #infrastructure for all

2. Seed and seedling repository in the mountains to sustain #biodiversity after disasters like #hurricanemaria

Q from @yfortiss, what advice do you have for #NSPNsymposium18 for #scipol in #PuertoRico and in general?

Ramirez @aaas - mobilize, don't sit still, act! If you don't take action now, you settle for nothing later

(was it only me that got the @RATM reference 🤘?)

#NSPNsymposium18 @fcoloninFL says elected officials work for you, you decide if they stay or go. If it's important to you it better be important to them. Get your voice heard! If you whisper to friends "this is awful, something needs to change" ➡️ speak louder and be that change

Good Q - is there legislation in the works to improve power generation within #PuertoRico? Most of their power comes from important fossil fuels. Could add solar power? @Sefini says there is work in progress on this #NSPNsymposium18