Museo DE historia natural y conservacion DE puerto rico (museum of natural history and conservation of puerto rico) will strengthen the museum's workforce infrastructure to build professional capacity…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded $913,415 to Museo de Historia Natural y Conservación de Puerto Rico on September 1, 2026, under the 21st Century Museum Professional Program (CFDA 45.032).

The museum will strengthen its workforce infrastructure through professional development of museum staff and collaborating educators in paleontological preparation techniques and digital documentation technologies. Training will be delivered via internal workshops, consultations with academic partners including the University of Puerto Rico Geology Departments, and collaboration with researchers from partner institutions. The museum will create professional training documentation and program development materials to support ongoing capacity building. Participating professionals will develop competency in exhibition planning and design, collections management best practices, educational program development, and community engagement strategies. These efforts will improve interpretive infrastructure, increase educational programming and community engagement, and enhance preservation and interpretation of the region's natural heritage.

Performance takes place in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029.

Museo DE historia natural y conservacion DE puerto rico (museum of natural history and conservation of puerto rico) will strengthen the museum's workforce infrastructure to build professional capacity among museum staff while improving interpretive infrastructure, increasing educational programming and community engagement, and enhancing the preservation and interpretation of the region's natural heritage. A central component of the project is the professional development of museum staff and collaborating educators in paleontological preparation techniques and digital documentation technologies. Training sessions will be conducted through a combination of internal workshops, consultations with academic partners, and collaboration with researchers from partner institutions such as the university of puerto rico geology departments and other scientific organizations. In addition, professional training documentation and program development materials will be created to support the ongoing capacity building of museum staff and collaborators. As a result of the project, participating museum professionals will develop knowledge and skills in exhibition planning and design, collections management best practices, educational program development, and community engagement strategies.