RISE 2019 Conference

Dr. Luis a. Bonilla-Soto is the Director and a Full Professor in the Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). His diverse academic and professional backgrounds has helped him to develop knowledge and skills in the fields of biology (BS), ecology, environmental sciences, oceanography (MS and PhD), clinical research (MSC), bioethics (GCB), biostatistics (MPH), demography (MS), and environmental education. Through his professional and academic career Dr. Bonilla has been the recipient of several important recognitions including: academic productivity (UPR’s, Rio Piedras Campus Academic Senate), Environmental Prize (Puerto Rico’s Environmental Quality Board), Environmental Education Recycling Award (State Solid Waste Authority), recognition for his work in public environmental education (State House of Representatives), Chelonia Environmental Award (Chelonia Society of Puerto Rico), and his designation, as Environmental Advisor, to Puerto Rico’s delegations that assisted both to the United Nations (UN) 1992 Earth Summit and the UN 2002 Sustainable Development Summit Conference. His experience and skills on governmental issues, developed through more than 14 years, working as an advisor to Puerto Rico’s Legislative Assembly (and also to the Government’s Executive Branch) in the areas of environmental health, natural resources, and environmental quality are a valuable tool for public health policy development and also for the translation of research results to public health practice. Dr. Bonilla’s research areas of interest are: community-based research, prevalence of chronic diseases in different population groups, survey research, time-series studies, and development and validation of measurement instruments.