On January 24, 2012, Cheryl Lani Juárez, the Museum’s Sr. Director of Professional Development, was invited to speak with Univision’s highly popular national radio host Dr. Isabel Gómez-Bassols. The interview focused on the role science centers and museums play in engaging families in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) during out of school time learning.

Ms. Juarez talked about some of the Miami Science Museum’s educational programs as examples of how science museums can reach learners of all ages in their communities. For example, the Miami Science Museum developed ECHOS (Early Childhood Hands-On Science), a preschool science curriculum and professional development model that is currently being tested with Head Start teachers and children in classrooms throughout Miami-Dade County. The Museum also developed APEX (Afterschool Program Exploring Science) for K-5 students. Dr. Isabel was especially interested in the Museum’s Upward Bound Math and Science program, which has helped prepare over 500 low income, first-generation college bound students for postsecondary study in STEM fields.

Dr. Isabel’s  program is part of Univision’s national education campaign, entitled Es el Momento and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Univisión is committed to disseminating educational information through all their media platforms including television, radio and web, to raise general awareness of resources available to address the Latino education crisis in STEM fields.

A summary of the interview, titled “Más ciencia para una nación mejor” (More Science for a Better Nation) can be found on the Es el Momento section of Univisión’s website at http://vidayfamilia.univision.com/es-el-momento/doctora-isabel/article/2012-01-24/ciencia-educacion-futuro-nacion