Universidad de Los Andes, INTEC and the Propagas Foundation join forces to develop the "Pequeños Científicos" Program
SANTO DOMINGO. The University of the Andes, Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and the Propagas Foundation joined forces to implement the “Little Scientists” educational program in the country, which is being developed in several Latin American countries.
The pact was signed by the rector of INTEC, Rolando M. Guzmán; the president of the Propagas Foundation, Rosa Margarita Bonetti and the legal representative of the University of the Andes, Pablo Navas Sanz de Santamaría, during a ceremony held in the Hall of the Rectory.
The "Small Scientists" Program has as its mission to promote and contribute to the improvement of the teaching of science and technology of Dominican children and youth, through the accompaniment and professional development of teachers in the area of science.
As the director of the Center for Educational Studies (CEED-INTEC), Héctor Martínez, the program is developed through the training of teachers, development of materials to support the teaching process and teacher support.
He stressed that INTEC is in the training phase of the teaching team in the program methodology and then be multipliers. These are teachers of the "Education to Think" Program that INTEC implements at the Fray Ramón Pané school in the Jardines del Norte sector.
Children learn from science
"Pequeños Científicos" wants to be a high quality alternative in the teaching-learning of mathematics, natural sciences and technology for children and young people, with national scope and international presence.
It is proposed to develop in students scientific and technological competences, communication skills and citizen values, through collaborative work, discussion, confrontation of ideas based on argumentation and evidence.
The signing ceremony was attended by Claudia Catrain, general director of the Propagas Foundation, as well as the members of the Board of Directors, Lisette Fernández and Luis Taveras, the marketing manager, Olga García; the Director of the Legal Department of Grupo PropGas, Lic. Marcela Carias, and the executive staff of that organization, Tomiko Castro, coordinator of educational projects, Eladia Gesto, coordinator of conservation projects and Farah Hallal, coordinator of community cultural management.
The Vice-Rector for Research and Liaison, Indhira De Jesús, attended the INTEC; the dean of the Area of Social Sciences and Humanities, Migdalia Martínez; the dean of the Area of Basic and Environmental Sciences, Leticia Mendoza; the Director of Development and Institutional Relations, Patricia Portela; the one in charge of the chemistry laboratory, Izáskun Uzcanga and the coordinator of Inter-Institutional Relations, Carmen Roa Gerónimo.
After the ceremony, the CEED offices located in the Los Próceres building (LP), an external INTEC building located on that avenue, next to the National Office of Industrial Property (ONAPI), were inaugurated.