RISE 2019 Conference
Transforming University Engagement In Pre- and Post-Disaster Environments: Lessons from Puerto Rico
Transforming University Engagement In Pre- and Post-Disaster Environments: Lessons from Puerto Rico
Communities are often perceived as “blank canvases”, passive recipients of aid and/ or “laboratories” in which new technologies can be tested. However, Hurricane Maria demonstrated that communities have expert knowledge about their local landscapes, both physical and social. Communities are also agents of change that have visions of their own futures and are looking for collaborations with universities in their own terms. This panel will explore the lessons learned from community-university collaborations in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in PR in establishing just and respectful relationships between academia and communities.