The Milo Climate Action Academy is an innovative educational initiative aimed at empowering university students and recent graduates in Puerto Rico to develop creative solutions for addressing climate change. Over the course of 12 sessions, held from August 19th to December 7th, 2024, participants explored the use of satellite data to devise solutions focused on mitigating climate change impacts.

This initiative, a collaboration between the Milo Space Science Institute of the Arizona State University and the Research Grants Program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust, brought together 139 participants from 53 municipalities across Puerto Rico.

139

Participants

53

Municipalities across P.R.

Empowering Youth Climate Action

Empower

Leveraging satellite data and remote sensing, we empowered participants with the tools necessary to tackle their communities' most pressing climate- related challenges.

Inspire change

With the right tools and mentorship, our participants were inspired to design innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change in Puerto Rico.

102

Participants completed the academy

Milo Climate Action Academy

Focus areas in Puerto Rico

  • Forest Health & Restoration

  • Coastal Zone Management

  • Agricultural Sustainability

  • Urban Planning & Infrastructure Resilience

  • Water Resources Management

Milo Climate Action Showcase

The Milo Climate Action Showcase marked the culmination of the MILO Climate Action Academy. During the event, 102 participants presented 28 groundbreaking projects aimed at addressing climate challenges in Puerto Rico, showcasing their climate  solutions to a diverse audience. It also served as a platform for the emerging climate leaders to network with academics, industry leaders, and other professionals passionate about advancing climate action and exploring how their ideas can shape Puerto Rico’s future.

The event concluded with the awarding of five top projects for their exceptional contributions to creating a sustainable future for Puerto Rico.

What we
accomplished

Innovation

Teams designed and presented 28 innovative solutions to a panel of judges, with five awarded for best performance.

Connections

Participants connected with peers and space and climate experts from Arizona State University, the Caribbean Center for Rising Seas, the Puerto Rico Committee of Experts on Climate Change, and the NASA Climate Resilience Program.

71

Students

31

Early Career

28

Solutions

5

Awards

Showcase Winners

1st Place

Enhancing Forest Resilience in Puerto Rico: A Remote Sensing Approach to Invasive Species.

2nd Place

Strategies to improve the resiliency of small farmers in Puerto Rico after extreme meteorological events Agricultural Sustainability: Soil Health Management and Monitoring in Santa Isabel.

3rd Place

Examining how specific weather patterns influence bacterial growth and distribution in Puerto Rico’s aquatic environments/

4th Place

Electrical Oasis in the central region of the Puerto Rico.

Building a Climate Resilient Future for Puerto Rico

by empowering participants with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to turn their climate solutions into reality. Through the MILO Climate Action Academy, we connected participants with experts across various fields, providing valuable insights and guidance.

We also presented additional resources such as funding opportunities and entrepreneurship programs to help bring their innovative ideas to life.

By supporting these emerging leaders, we are equipping them to tackle climate change, mitigate its effects, and improve the quality of life for Puerto Rican communities.

Success Stories

An exciting journey that challenges participants to involve themselves in their own future.

It was mind opening to see the communities problems and to learn how to make a positive impact.

My experience at the academy was extremely helpful. I was able to develop my communication and problem-solving skills while learning about climate change and remote sensing tools.

Good source to find pathways to future professionals.

Resilience toolkit experience!

Program that promotes this initiative: