3rd quarter october december 2014 newsletter

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volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

Call for entries SRC UNEP UWI Green Economy Poster Competition

In this issue Call for Poster Competition Entires

SRC Connects with Science Clubs Science and Technology Month 2014 Where are they Now?

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Kingston, Jamaica. October 30, 2014. The Scientific Research Council (SRC) in association with the United Nations Environment Programme and the University of the West Indies is issuing a call for students from primary and secondary schools to submit entries for its Green Economy Poster Competition.

According to Mrs. Nicole Colley Lewis, Coordinator of the SRC Science and Technology Education Unit (STEU), this year is the 28th staging of the competition. We are quite pleased with the joint collaboration and to specially focus our competition on the Green Economy. It is a very important topic as we seek to create awareness among our youth of the importance of developing and promoting an environmentally friendly country that can further benefit the economy and national development.

Mrs. Colley Lewis stated that the competition is aimed at students who have an interest in, or are already doing the Sciences in school. It also forms a part of the Unit’s mandate to promote the interest, awareness and understanding of Science and Technology and Innovation among our school population. Students may submit entries in any of 5 categories namely the Green Economy and Water Conservation, Tourism, Agriculture, Construction and Energy.

Mrs. Colley Lewis added that there are over $60,000 worth of prizes. The top entrants will each receive $15000, the runner ups $10,000 each and third place winners $5,000 each. The competition is supported by the European Union.

Teachers of successful entrants will also receive awards. Prize winners will receive their awards at the Second Caribbean Green Economy Conference to be held in Jamaica early 2015, where their entries will also be prominently displayed.

The competition closes January 9, 2015.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MAY CONTACT THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION UNIT: 1 Telephone: (876) 927-1771-4 Fax: (876) 927-0806 Email: ssts.src@gmail.com Editor: Ms. Felicia Bailey

volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

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volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

SRC RECONNECTS WITH SIENCE CLUBS

I The Science and Technology Education Unit of the SRC hosted its first regional Schools Science and Technology Societies Cluster Meeting in an effort to reenergise and reintegrate with Science Clubs.

The meeting was held on October 9 at the SRC boardroom, with a total of 19 secondary schools being represented from within the Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine areas.

Among the issues discussed where; Clubs badges and t-shirts, interclubbing activities, future vision for Schools Science and Technology Societies, forming a regional executive body ,and general sharing of knowledge as it relates to keeping clubs energised and funded.

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volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

Science and Technology Month 2014 cÜÉvÄtÅtà|ÉÇ VxÜxÅÉÇç

Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, officially proclaimed November as National Science, Technology and Innovation Month on October 31st at Kings House.

The ceremony marked the official opening of the Science, Technology and Innovation Month. The month’s activities will be observed under the theme ‘Science and Technology for Economic Development: Science for Life”.

“Science and technology.goes a long way to ensuring the generation of meaningful knowledge, workforce productivity and innovation, meaningful occupation,participatory governance and enhanced quality of life,” said His Excellency.

In his address, guest speaker, Minister of Science,Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell said he was especially pleased with the presence of students at the ceremony.

“We need to nurture our youth and their natural geniuses”, Paulwell said. “Our cultural Science remains untapped”, he continued.

The ceremony this year was returned to its former glory, with an audience of over 200; a stark contrast to the 15 invitees the past few years.

The ceremony included performances from a cultural performing arts group and musical interlude by the Jamaica Military band.

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volume 4, Issue 3 January– March 2014

Science and Technology Month 2014

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Annually during Science, Technology and Innovation month, the SRC through its Science and Technology Education Unit (STEU) facilitates tours for students across the island in organisations demonstrating the application of taught science in their day to day activities.

This year a total of 19 schools were facilitated to visit one or more of 12 public and private organisations, throughout the Month of November.

Organisations toured this year were;

Wisynco, International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), Earthquake, Geology and Seismic Unit, Biotechnology Centre, Wigton Windfarm, Jamaica Standard Products, Sugar Industry Research Institute (SIRI), Caribbean Public Health Agency(CARPHA) Drug Testing Laboratory, Mines and Geology Division, Caribbean Aviation Training Centre, Scientific Research Council (SRC), and Water Resources Authority (WRA).

Of special note is Wolmers Boys’ visit to CARPHA Drug Testing Laboratory. Staff at the CARPHA was pleased with the students and the initiative by the SRC, and took the opportunity to invite the school to send boys who had missed the tour for another chance to visit.

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volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

Science and Technology Month 2014 fv|xÇvx |Ç à{x ctÜ~

The second staging of the Science in the Park Exposition was once again successfully executed at Emancipation Park in Kingston on November 27, 2014.

The exposition capped the month of activities highlighting the importance of Science, Technology and Innovation to national development and was hosted by the Scientific Research Council (SRC) in collaboration with the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST). The event, which was first staged in 2012, is aimed at bringing to life the application of Science, Technology and Innovation in everyday life and industry in Jamaica.

The event also featured a special Careers Section geared towards Secondary Level students. This included a march by the Tivoli Marching Band accompanied by students with placards bearing various careers in Science.

Master of Ceremonies at the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Hawthorne Watson, Acting Executive Director of SRC encouraged students to pursue careers in the sciences noting that unknown to many, several leaders in industry are actually scientists and engineers.

He cited Prof. Gordon Shirley (CEO of Ports Authority), Mr. Richard Powell (CEO of Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), Mr. Douglas Orane (retired CEO of Grace Kennedy, Mr. Cedric Blair (newly appointed CEO of D&G) who are all engineers and Mr. Byron Thompson, (retiring CEO of Seprod Ltd), and Mrs. Joy Spence of Wray and Nephew and the World’s first female Master Blender, who are both chemists.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining,

The Honourable Phillip Paulwell, in delivering the Keynote Address said he was especially pleased with the turnout of the youths at the event as it was important for them to be exposed to Science, Technology, Innovation and Invention in Jamaica. He expressed the view that the event should be replicated elsewhere in the island. He concluded by outlining some of his plans for the increased use of the electronic media in education, particularly with reference to the “Tablet”.

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volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

Science and Technology Month 2014

Director General of the NCST, Professor Errol Morrison in bringing Greetings succinctly stated that the Exxposition provided “an opportunity for students to recognise that there is Science at work in everything.”

Dub-poet, Randy McLaren provided entertainment..

Attendees at the park expressed their gratitude to the Scientific Research Council for hosting such an event and stated that it was especially important as the general public could be exposed to the variety of ways through which organisations put Science and Technology to work in their operations.

Sponsorship in kind for the event was provided by National Bakery, Glaxo Smith Kline, Tastee Patties, Seprod, Lifespan Spring water and Nutritional Product Holdings.

Other activities of Science and Technology Month included a Proclamation Ceremony, Church Service, the SRC’s Third Biennial Conference, the National Innovation Awards Competition 2014 and National Medal for Science & Technology as well as the SRC Essay and Oratory Finals.

Where are they now? volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

Q

This quarter we feature Malike Kellier, Cornwall College past student

A

Which SRC Competitions or activities did you take part in?

While in high school (Cornwall College) I took part in the annual Primary/Secondary School Essay and Poster Competition 2008 - 2010 [in 5th form and both years my 6th form years] submitting at least two essays each year and was placed 1st and 2nd in the essay categories I entered over that period namely: Health and Wellness, Information Technology, Biology and Environmental Science.

I also participated in the SRC/Association of Science Teachers of Jamaica (ASTJ) and Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) annual Science, Technology and Standardization Quiz Competition in 2007 and 2008 where my team from Cornwall College won the high school segment of the competition both years.

I also participated in the SSTS Oratorical Competition in 2008 and was placed 2nd both in the regional and national competitions. The 6 national finalists from that competition were selected as participants to attend the Caribbean Youth Science Forum (CYSF) summer 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago. At the CYSF the top three speakers from the SSTS national competition (myself included) represented Jamaica in the Debate competition - a major highlight of the forum which saw 6th form students from across the Caribbean Region and local schools in Trinidad and Tobago argue topical moots on Science and Technology issues. The Jamaica team won the overall competition that year.

I entered the SSTS Oratorical Competition again in 2009 and was placed 1st for the Western Region and 3rd in the National Finals. I attended the CYSF Forum again this year after being requested by the organisers as a Host at the forum – the first Jamaican host that year. I also helped prepare the Jamaican participants that year in preparation for the Debate Competition.

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Q A

Do you believe your participation had any influence on your grasp and appreciation for Science?

Yes my participation in the SRC Quiz, Essay and Oratorical competitions had influenced my grasp and appreciation of Science as the topics selected for the various competitions were not only current to our day to day society and issues faced by our country and region but were also linked to the CXC CSEC/CAPE Syllabus that Science students were studying at the time. These competitions helped in reinforcing some of the concepts I learned for examinations but also aided in strengthening my research and writing skills. My analytical, critical thinking and public speaking skills were also developed as they would be on display. During the competitions the judges would field questions after our oratorical presentations to which we would have to respond with well thought out answers as well as your arguments had to be supported by current and authoritative sources which we would place in our essay bibliography.

Q A

volume 5, Issue 3 October-December 2014

Give a synopsis of your academic and proffessional life since high school I was Head Boy and President of the Science & Environmental Club at Cornwall College and after graduating in 2010, I went on to the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados where I read for a Bachelor of Laws degree and graduated with honours in 2013. I am currently a final year student at the Norman Manley Law School and tutor at the Faculty of Law, UWI Mona Campus. I intend in November 2015, to be called to the Jamaican Bar to practise as an Attorney-at-Law. I am still integrally involved with the SRC and SSTS and their activities as I share my enthusiasm and the benefits to be gained from participating in these competitions with the students and staff at my alma maters – Montego Bay Preparatory School and Cornwall College. After my time, there was an increase in student participation from these schools which still enter the annual Poster and Essay competitions thanks to the guidance from teachers in the Art, English and Science Departments. I also groom my younger sister who also participates in the SRC Competitions and has placed in the Essay and Oratorical Competitions 2014.

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Season's Greetings From us to you

We here at the Science and Technology Education Unit at the SRC wish to extend our warmest wishes to you and your family for the holiday season.

We are pleased with the support and participation we have received all year and we hope it will continue in the new year and beyond.

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR! From: Felicia and Nicole at the STEU.