ssts newsletter

Volume 2 , Issue 4 Jan-April 2012

Science, Technology and Innovation Explosion!!!!

The Scientific Research Council in collaboration with the Association of Science Teachers of Jamaica hosted the Science, Technology and Innovation Explosion at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at the Jamaica College on April 3, 2012. The explosion was a combination of three events: A Careers’ Expo, Young Inventor/Innovator Competition (preliminary judging) as well as the Award Ceremony for the Essay and Poster Competition. The STI Explosion was officially declared open by a short ceremony which featured greetings from Dr. Chadwick Anderson, Executive Director of the SRC; Mr. Hawthorne Watson, Manager of the Information Services Division; and Mr. Ruel Reid, Principal of the Jamaica College. Twenty-nine (29) organizations which included the public and private sectors, educational institutions and technological agencies displayed exhibits highlighting careers in Science and Technology as well as the institution where training to pursue such careers may be obtained. Many of the organizations mounted interactive displays which enabled students and teachers to get ‘hands on’ experience with science, technology and innovation at work. The afternoon's events were broadcasted by a team from FAME 95 FM who were on location between 1pm and 5 pm. Ms. Regina Beavers conducted interviews with Dr. Anderson, a member of the Jamaica College’s Robotics Team and Mr. Beneil Morgan, a teacher at the Garvey Maceo High School.

Students and teachers visit booths at the STI Expo

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MAY CONTACT THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION UNIT:FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MAY CONTACT THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION UNIT:

Telephone: (876) 927-1771-4 Fax: (876) 927-0806 Email: [email protected]

Editor: Ms. Sannette Hall

Highlights of the STI Explosion

The preliminary judging/screening of entries in the Young Inventor/Innovator Competition was also done on April 3, 2012. This year’s competition had a total of thirty one (31) entries from individuals and schools across the island. Participants were grouped by age into 4 categories: 9-12 years (11 entries); 13-17 years (15 entries); 18-25 years (3 entries); and 25 years and older (1 entry). Entries included agricultural and natural products, sauces and foods as well as devices for energy production and conservation. Of the 31 entries, 23 will advance to the finals of the competition during Science and Technology month in November.

A special thanks to all our judges, Mr. Craig Harley, Ms. Donna Marie Newby, Mr. Olando Gayle, Mrs. Herma Meade and Mr. Colin Coley.

Some of the projects are displayed below

Young Inventor/Innovator Competition

Willowdene Group of Schools

Magnetic Generator

Denham Town Primary

Picnic Pot

St. Andrew Technical High School

“Beet it Up” Products

Sunderland All Age

Quick Patch

Camperdown High

Solar Water Pump Port Morant Primary & Jr High

Thermo Box

The Scientific Research Council’s Essay and Poster Competition 2012, saw students from primary and secondary institutions submitting essays and posters based on five categories at each level. A total of two hundred and sixty-one (261) entries were received for this year’s competition. Of this number, one hundred and thirty one were essay entries (79 primary and 52 secondary) and the remaining 130 were posters (53 primary and 77 secondary). The categories for the essay and poster competition focused on pertinent areas of science and technology namely: conservation, energy , natural resources, innovation, information and communication technologies as well as science exploration. The judges for the essay competition were: Ms. Marsha-Gaye Brown of Petroleum Cooperation of Jamaica; Ms. Viv Ward of UTech; Mrs. Marie Wint McKenzie of Central Information & Technology Office; Mr. Marlon Osbourne from the Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation Division; Ms. Jodi Spence, Ms. Sannette Hall, Mr. Andrew Woods and Mr. Keroma Bernard all from the SRC. The poster competition judges were Mr. Craig Harley, Ms. Michelle Morris and Ms. Donna Cornwall from the SRC. The winners from primary schools, first to fourth place, and those from high schools, first to third place, were invited to participate in the awards ceremony. Below is a list of the winners in various categories of the essay and poster competition.

Continued on Page 5

Essay and Poster Competition

PRIMARY ESSAY WINNERS POSTER WINNERS

Category A Energy Conservation

Katherine Peralto

Stella Maris Prep

Energy Conservation & Me

Nickallaye Gunn

Corinaldi Avenue Primary

Category B Myself as Career Scientist Roshaun Robinson

Stella Maris Prep

Space Scientist Exploration Ashley Richards

Mount St. Joseph Prep

Category C Protecting our Natural Resources Kareem Williams

Corinaldi Avenue Primary

Trees for Life Zoya Smith

Stella Maris Prep

Category D Protecting the Ozone Layer Victoria Parague

Stella Maris Prep

Protecting the Ozone Layer Samantha Chin

Stella Maris Prep

Category E Science & Technology Influencing

the Way We Live Kevar Ricketts

Kilsyth Primary and Infant

Cyber-Tech Classroom Alexander Boyd

Stella Maris Prep

The overall winning school for the secondary essay competition was St. Catherine High School and the overall winning school for the secondary poster competition was Cornwall College. Cornwall College was named Overall Winning High School and Stella Maris Prep overall winning Primary/Prep School. The teachers who supervised the winning students were also awarded for their work. Overall winning Primary School teachers were Ms. Kadia Pounal (essay) and Ms. Jennease Guy (poster) of Stella Maris Prep and overall winning secondary teachers were Mr. Conrad Moore (essay) of St. Catherine High and Mr. Clyde Clarke (poster) of Cornwall College.

Essay and Poster Competition

SECONDARY ESSAY WINNERS POSTER WINNERS

Category A Science, Technology & Innovation Ackasia Thompson

Anchovy High

Innovation for National Development Sean-Michael Salter

Cornwall College

Category B Agriculture Franz Brown

Ardenne High

Agriculture: Tapping into Unused Resources Jheraud James

Cornwall College

Category C Energy Zaqkeisha Hayles

Edwin Allen High

Energy Prospects: Oil and Gas Exploration Fitzroy Ford

Cornwall College

Category D Environmental Science Tia Thompson

St. Catherine High

Recycle for Income Generation Kemoy Strachan

Cornwall College

Category E Information & Communication

Technologies Nkechi-Ann Porter

Campion College

Breakthroughs in Education Using ICT Raymaro Lumley

Cornwall College

Essay and Poster Competition Awards Ceremony Highlights

Annual Essay and Poster Competition - Secondary Essay and Poster Winners

Overall Prep/Primary Winning School - Stella

Maris Prep Overall Secondary Winning School - Cornwall

College

Annual Essay and Poster Competition - Prep/Primary Essay and Poster Winners

The Scientific Research Council was invited to participate in the Ministry of Education’s Jamaica Day on February 17, 2012. The theme for the event was Celebrating Jamaica: Goals for Gold. Cultural presentations were made by members of staff and invited schools. The guest speaker was Mrs. Grace Jackson-Small who engaged the audience in a short yet interesting speech about setting and achieving goals, a reflection of her life as an athlete. The SRC along with other agencies displayed booths which showcased accomplishments of students which have participated in competitions over the past few years. Presentations were also made by a representative of each organization. The team leader for Popularization of Science, Mrs. Doreen Dietrich, delivered a brief presentation on the SRC, highlighting the nature and accomplishments of the Council over the past 50 years.

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Ministry of Education Celebrates

Jamaica Day!!

Members of Staff at the Ministry of Education visit

the SRC display

Denham Town Primary displays their 1st place 2011

Science Fair entry, Corny Products

Mrs. Doreen Dietrich, Team Leader of Popularization of Science,

delivers her presentation on the SRC

The Natural History Museum of Jamaica of the Institute of Jamaica invited the SRC to make a presentation for its “ An Afternoon with a Scientist” programme on February 8, 2012. The aim of the programme is to expose students to different areas of science and encourage an appreciation of it by teaching them the importance and relevance of science to our daily lives and the world at large. Ms. Jodi Spence, Process Development Officer, and Mr. Ryan Francis, Research Scientist, of the Biotechnology Unit made a presentation to students on Biotechnologists, their importance and functions. Demonstrations of the Glove Box, tissue cultured plants as well as the apparatus and materials used for making nutrient media was set up. Students got an opportunity to subculture ginger plantlets and measure and mix reagents used to make nutrient media.

Upcoming Events

July - August

Summer Attachment Programme for teachers/students

Science & Technology Summer Camps

Summer School Science Tours

Caribbean Youth Science Forum at UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad (August 5-12)

An Afternoon with a Scientist

Students using the Glove Box to subculture ginger

plantlets

Mr. Ryan Francis, Research Scientist in the Biotechnology

Unit, explains the procedure for making nutrient media.

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