Jacob Torres announcing his move back to the Española Valley to work with Moving Arts Española. Courtesy/MAE
MAE News:
ESPAÑOLA — Moving Arts Española (MAE) has announced the hiring of Jacob Torres, a highly accomplished engineer and scientist known for his work at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center: Growing Beyond Earth, and The Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant Challenge.
Torres is returning to his hometown of Española to join the team at Moving Arts Española and work to make a meaningful impact on the community that he calls home. Torres will be partnering with MAE to launch an initiative aimed at inspiring and motivating the local youth through science and innovation.
Driven by his commitment to give back to his home community, Torres and MAE have joined forces with the goal of setting up a state-of-the-art collaborative workspace for making, exploring, learning and sharing, using high tech to no-tech tools. Working with Torres will provide a unique platform for students to engage in hands-on learning and exploration.
Torres will bring his expertise and the Fairchild GBE growth chamber from NASA Space Biology Lab, to educate the local youth with real-life examples of space-based research right in their own community.
“This endeavor marks the ultimate fulfillment of NASA’s core mission – using research to inspire and educate,” Torres said. “I am thrilled to return to my roots and share the knowledge and experiences gained throughout my career, with the next generation. Together with Moving Arts Española and our partners, we will cultivate a passion for science and engineering in the hearts and young minds of Northern New Mexico.”
MAE Program Director Roger Montoya said, “Jacob Torres sets the bar high and launches beyond! He continues to showcase his personal vision for the next generation. Moving Arts is deeply honored to collaborate with him and the region’s public schools, Northern New Mexico College, and our partners. Active support for the future of our youth here at home is the best investment.”
For more information and to support this initiative, contact MAE Executive Director Salvador Ruiz by email at executivedirector@movingartsespanola.org
To donate to Moving Arts Española, donations can be mailed to: Moving Arts Española, PO Box 505, Velarde, NM 87582, or visit www.movingartsespanola.org. Donations are tax deductible.