International Programs

Rural Initiative for Science Education

RISE, the Rural Initiative for Science Education, offers professional development training for science teachers in low-resource communities. Over the course of a three-day workshop, participating educators are shown experiments using locally available materials that they could integrate into their own classrooms. These hands-on experiments are developed by Pueblo Science to incorporate concepts from biology, chemistry, material science, physics, and engineering and are tailored to reflect the local curriculum, regional needs, interests, and available resources. The teachers training also emphasizes effective pedagogical techniques in science education, and instructors provide follow-up support in the implementation of the experiments. As of 2022, RISE has been conducted in the Philippines, Thailand, Guyana, Jamaica, India, and Bolivia and has trained over 4,500 teachers.

Relevant, hands-on learning modules

Our team of scientists and engineers creates hands-on learning modules that are fun and easy to implement without compromising on the math and science. We work closely with our local partners to customize the learning modules to best meet the needs of their teachers. Our partners have a say in the topics they would like Pueblo Science to cover, and we design the activities, test them, and adapt them to use locally available and affordable materials. We aim to create modules that both fit into the students’ existing curricula and relate to topics of particular interest to the local community (e.g. water, agriculture, health, robotics, programming, etc.).

Who are the instructors?

Our dedicated team of volunteer instructors are highly qualified professionals and graduate students specializing in science, engineering, and education. They boast extensive experience in teaching students across various levels, from K to 12 to undergraduates and postgraduates. Their teaching expertise spans diverse settings, encompassing both urban and rural environments in both developed and developing nations. Many of our instructors are affiliated with esteemed global institutions, including the University of Toronto. They are enthusiastic, self-motivated and have exceptional communication skills.

What do teachers do during the training workshop?

During a RISE training workshop, teachers are organized into small groups, each guided by an instructor to learn and perform specific experiments using provided materials. Throughout three days, teachers rotate through various instructors to gain exposure to a wide range of experiments. They can retain the material kits for use in their schools. Pueblo Science experiments exclusively employ locally available materials, ensuring that teachers can effortlessly replicate these experiments with their students. Additionally, the program has expanded to incorporate lessons on programming, electronics, and their applications in developing community problem-solving science fair projects.

Student Camps & School Visits

We visit classrooms around the world in-person and online. Pueblo volunteers lead practical and fun science lessons using household materials or introduce students to programming and robotics. Email us to schedule a visit to your class.

Techno Fair

Students initially participate in an introductory course covering electronics, programming, and robotics. Following this, they engage in a structured ideation process to generate projects aimed at addressing community challenges. During the program, students also acquire valuable skills in delivering compelling presentations. To bring their ideas to life, they proceed to prototype their projects with the help of Pueblo mentors. The workshop concludes with a pitch competition on the final day, vying for prizes based on their innovative solution.