The University of Puerto Rico Center for Resilience to Climate Change (UPR-CRCC) was established to transform chemistry education and research infrastructure in Puerto Rico, preparing our island to face the complex challenges of climate change.
Our Center is about more than education: it is about equity, empowerment, and relevance. We ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to become a scientist and contribute meaningfully to solving urgent environmental problems.
Based at the Río Piedras campus, the CRCC integrates innovation across four core areas:
Research & Discovery – advancing transdisciplinary research in areas such as energy, carbon capture and sensing, green chemistry, sustainable materials, and environmental monitoring.
Spaces of Resilience – creating climate-resilient infrastructure, from solar-powered laboratories to collaborative learning centers and wellness hubs that serve both academia and the community during crises.
Education & Training – transforming chemistry curricula through innovative pedagogy (Problem-Based Learning, POGIL, spiral laboratory experiences) and embedding climate resilience into teaching at all levels.
Wellness & Community Engagement – offering mentoring, counseling, outreach programs, and citizen science initiatives that connect students and communities to climate action and resilience.
Together, these pillars make the CRCC a national and regional model of climate resilience in STEM education and research, while also functioning as a safe space for students and surrounding communities during environmental and social challenges.
Upcoming Events
Pregunta, persuade y refiere (PPR).
Dr. Michelle Jurado – DCODE
Location:
3rd Floor, Jóse M Lázaro Library
Date:
September 12, 2025
9:00 AM to 12:00 m
1:00 to 4:00 pM
sTEM Seminar on Climate Change
Dr. Elvia Meléndez Ackerman
Ecology and Ecology of Tropical and Urban Systems
Location:
Facundo Bueso 341
Date:
September 19, 2025
10:00 AM to 12:00 m