The Crew: Jose Olivencia

"Hi there! I'm Jose, and I am a 5th grade science teacher in Duncanville, TX.  I am proud to be a graduate student in the MS2 (Multidisciplinary Science for Middle School) program at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.  I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, a small island in the Caribbean, and I enjoy visiting my family whenever time (and money) permits!  Most of my family lives there, about a 5 minute drive from the beach.  I love the beach and learned to bodyboard surf a few years back.  I still try to catch a wave or two when I visit.  I am blessed to be a part of the Belize research team this summer, lead by our cool professor Mark McGinley, and engage in real environmental research along with my Tech friends!  I hope to bring my experiences to class, adding relevance to instruction and allowing students to feel they are part of it.  I wish to bring the scientific method to life through our efforts and through the Malaysian bat research also sponsored by TTU.  Finally, in my friend George's words, I would like to "raise awareness of conservation" in my students."