President-elect Leonel Fernandez will be in New Jersey to participate in the Thursday, 27 May commencement ceremony of Stevens Institute of Technology. He has been invited to speak at the graduation ceremony of 350 undergraduate students. During the ceremony, Fernandez will also receive an honorary degree.
The invitation stems from Fernandez? support for the Stevens Institute of Technology?s efforts to provide research opportunities in the Dominican Republic for scientists and students. At the Stevens Chemical Ecology Laboratory at Punta Cana, researchers are engaged in profiling the intricate chemical mechanisms insects use to communicate and ward off disease. This Stevens program, called ?Drugs From Bugs,? makes use of the great biodiversity of the Dominican Republic as it explores the possibilities for vital new pharmaceuticals.
Also speaking and receiving an honorary degree at the undergraduate ceremony will be Ted Kheel, a major shareholder of the Punta Cana project in the Dominican Republic, and well-known for his efforts as an environmentalist and his strong commitment to sustainable development and preserving biodiversity. Kheel?s generosity helped Stevens establish its new Chemical Ecology Laboratory in the Dominican Republic. See http://www.stevensnewsservice.com/pr/pr436.htm
During his visit to New York, President-elect Fernandez is also scheduled to meet with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on joint programs that can be developed with the Dominican community in New York and the DR.