St newsletter oct dec 2013 final 3

VOL.1, ISSUE # 3

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

A Q ua r te rl y N e ws l e tte r of t h e Scie n t if ic R e s e a rch Co un cil , Ja m a ica

This Newsletter highlights news, events and activities in Science & Technology (S&T) and related subjects which have taken place primarily in Jamaica over the last three months.

Using Social Media for Information Exchange workshop Nov 2013 learn more>>

IN THIS ISSUE: 1

| Agro-Industry

3

| Awards/Competitions

4

| Business Development

8

| Energy

10 | Environment (The) 14 | Health Issues 16 | Innovation 16 | Mining Industry

Process Technician at the SRC explains to students the operation of the SRC’s wastewater treatment system at the SRC Opportunity Fair 2013.

Click on the headlines to access these articles and more

AGRO-INDUSTRY Bringing youthful innovation to farming As a child, Rohan Roberts hated getting his hands dirty, but today the 22-yearold could very well be considered the poster boy for the evolving agriculture sector, which, among other things, is pushing towards getting more young people to contribute to Jamaica’s food security. The third-generation farmer has done well for himself and his mind is [...]

17 | Science (General) 18 | Science Education 18 | Science (Research) ...more on page 2/

19 | Scientists 20 | Sports 

20 | Technology 21 | Workshops/Seminars

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Making Science & Technolog y work for you

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013 CARIBBEAN S&T EVENTS FOR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2013 Oct 1-Oct2>>13th Annual Caribbean Energy Conference Oct 4>>National Tree Planting Day Oct 5>>National Wood & Water Day Oct 7>>World Habitat Day Oct 9>>International Day for Disaster Reduction Oct 9-Oct11>>Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2013 Oct 16>>World Food Day Oct 18-Oct 20>>Natural Dyeing Workshop Oct 27-Nov2>>Fire Safety Awareness Week Oct 29>> “Fuel sources: what is the optimal mix for Jamaica’s economic growth?”

Oct 31>>Public Forum on Renewable Energy Oct 31>>JAMLIN Seminar Nov 1-Nov 30>>Science & Technology Month Nov 8>>World Town Planning Day Nov 11>>International Mountain Day Nov 13>>GIS Day Nov 14>>STIN Workshop Nov 14>> Awards Ceremony Shortwood Teachers’ College Nov 16>> Trench Town Trade and Investment Fair Nov 19>>Public Lecture on the Science Behind Doping and Nutrition in Sports Nov 26-27>>Workshop on making Body Wash Nov 28>>Opportunity Fair 2013

Dairy sector targets student market Jamaica’s dairy sector has taken aim at the school -feeding programme as a major market for growing milk consumption. Having been thrown a life-line in the form of a US$70,000 grant from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) earlier this year to develop a five-year strategic plan, Hugh Graham says the creation of [...]

Jamaican gardeners sowing new seeds – Red Maize, Cho Cho, Callaloo, Dasheen and Eddoe are just a few A master gardener whose farming methods have produced tropical vegetables and tubers usually grown in places like Jamaica on British soil is hoping to repeat his success doing the reverse in the Caribbean. Jamaican-born Robbie Samuda, 59, also known as the Rockstone Gardener’, is involved in a food-growing project at the Harmony Gardens in Tottenham. The [...]

Farmers’ market aims to strengthen agriculture’s links to tourism The first of seven agro-tourism farmers’ markets planned for Negril was held last Wednesday at Norman Manley Sea Park in that resort town in Westmoreland, kicking off an initiative aimed at strengthening links between the tourism industry and the local agriculture sector.

According to the organisers, the markets, which are being staged at a cost of [...]

Cocoa production up The Cocoa Industry Board (CIB) is reporting an increase of more than 100 per cent in the production of cocoa for the 2011/2012 crop year.

Some 476.5 metric tonnes of cocoa, valued at $150.6 million, were produced during that crop year, as against the 2010/2011 crop year, which recorded 216.5 metric tonnes.[...]

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(Cover image: Opportunity Quest event 2012)

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Increased demand for Coffee, but production shrinks The local coffee industry will miss out on gains from projected increases in demand from international markets, despite the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s latest report that output of the commodity has increased by 143.8 per cent for the quarter to June. However, production has been significantly reduced because of, among other factors, diseases affecting the plants. “The production [...]

Farm Up Jamaica to grow organic foods, save money Farm Up Jamaica, a bold and innovative agricultural private-sector programme designed to significantly boost the organic production of selected crops in Jamaica was launched last Thursday evening at the Kimberly Hotel in New York City. Farm Up Jamaica is the brainchild of New York-based businessman and entrepreneur Neil Curtis. The initiative aims to assist farmers in [...]

AWARDS/COMPETITIONS 3 Ardenne students representing Ja at Junior Achievement competition Three students from Ardenne High School have been selected to represent Jamaica at the annual Junior Achievement Americas Company of the Year Entrepreneurship Competition to be held in Cancun, Mexico, between December 9 and 12. The three are Dawin Morna, Nicholas Kee and Hughian Bernard. This is the third year that students from Ardenne will represent [...]

Public invited to nominate persons for Prime Minister Youth Awards for Excellence The public is invited to nominate outstanding young persons for the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards For Excellence. These awards are bestowed on young Jamaicans between 15 and 24 years of age, who have excelled in the categories of academics, agriculture, the arts and culture, entrepreneurship, journalism, leadership, sports, youth in service, international achievement and youth [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

St Thomas students top Handwashing Day poster competition Two St Thomas students emerged winners of the Poster and Song Competition put on by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) in observance of Global Handwashing Day. Akeil Harris from Bath Primary and Junior High School won in the poster category, while Sidra Grant of Port Morant Primary and Junior High School took the song [...]

Innovators take the spotlight for NCB’s Nation Builder Awards The diversity and innovation of Jamaica’s small and medium business sector is mirrored in this year’s selection of nominees for National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited’s (NCB) premier rewards programme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the Nation Builder Awards. This year, the independent panel of judges selected seven nominees representing a variety of new and emerging [...]

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IDB, Compete Caribbean fund doing business reform programme The Inter-American Deve-lopment Bank (IDB) and Compete Caribbean have provided funding of US$653,000 (J$69.2 million) to undertake reform aimed at improving business competitiveness in Jamaica under an ongoing technical assistance programme. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton told a press conference in Kingston last week that funding from Compete Caribbean and the IDB have [...]

Cargo Handlers gets into petrol Cargo Handlers Limited (CHL) will acquire a petrol tanker company aimed at diversifying its cargo operations and nearly doubling revenue to $300 million. The acquisition of Bulk Liquid Carrier Petroleum Limited, which is owned by businessman Chester Chung, will result in the transfer of contracts with gas marketing firms Total, Rubis and Cool along with 14 [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit ‘Big ideas’ put on display at JBDC open day To most people, the bark of a banana tree is useless. But the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is not most people. What farmers discard as waste or invariably use as mulch, it uses to make paper. That paper is then used to make jewellery, clocks, lampshades, bags, [...]

JAMFA to create venture fund Jamaica Micro Finance Association (JAMFA) is creating a venture capital fund to be backed partially by its ten members, according to Executive Director Raymond Gabbidon. JAMFA wants to create a venture fund of J$600 million to J$700 million for ploughing into entities which need capital to grow, said Gabbidon. However, the group says it is concerned that JMMB creates investment start-up Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited (JMMB) has created an investment subsidiary, which will open for business in Port-of-Spain in January. JMMB Investments Trinidad & Tobago (JMMBITT) marks the group’s return to the securities market in that country following the disposal of its half of Caribbean Money Market Brokers (CMMB) five years ago. JMMBITT will offer “a different [...]

PetroCaribe Development Fund to intensify renewable investment in 2014 Petrocaribe Development Fund aims to increase its financing of clean energy projects in 2014 as part of the national goal to reduce the island’s reliance on fossil fuels. The fund wants to include biogas and solar projects led by state enterprises to its mainly wind portfolio, chief executive of the fund Wesley Hughes told the Observer [...]

Events for Science and Technology Month went well The SRC staged a number of events during the Month of November which is celebrated as Science, Technology and Innovation Month each year. The Month opened on October 31 with a Proclamation ceremony at Kings House, under the theme “Science and Technology – the Gateway to Economic restoration”.

Governor General, SIR Patrick Allen, Officially opening Science and [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Biotech R&D Institute third anniversary

300 women business owners complete training programme Three hundred Jamaican women business owners have completed a three-year training programme aimed at strengthening and promoting entrepreneurship among females in Jamaica. The programme was organised by the Women Business Owners (Ja) Limited (WBO), with financial support from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). Speaking at a closing ceremony held recently at the WBO office, IDB country [...]

Access, Belize firm win Citi microfinance award Jamaican firm Access Financial Services was one of two companies that received top honours for excellence in microfinance at the 2nd Annual Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards ceremony last week. The other company was La Inmaculada Credit Union of Belize. Access and La Inmaculada took home US$5,000 ($522,000) each, respectively, for product innovation and transparency. The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards [...]

Branson urges gov’t to offer loans to young entrepreneurs – three receive US Dollar loans to boost business Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson, is urging the government to provide business loans to young entrepreneurs in Jamaica to spur economic growth and job creation. He was speaking on Sunday following celebratory activities to mark the second anniversary of the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship Caribbean in Montego Bay, [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Red Stripe creates raspberry beer for young drinkers Red Stripe has introduced a fruit-flavoured beer to the local market, called Red Stripe Burst, aimed at young drinkers. The raspberry-flavoured drink was rolled out to Red Stripe Jamaica shareholders on Friday, ahead of a national campaign which is to start later this month. The beer has been designed as a “recruitmentdriven” product, primarily for 18 to [...]

What will make venture capital work in Jamaica?

The success of any venture is determined by the willingness of the participants to co-operate toward a good end. Venture Capitalism (VC) is not new to Jamaica, but for many reasons, among which reside the perception of intense greed among providers of capital, and lack of accountability and appreciation of the risks involved in investing in [...]

Data is the real asset of business Data is the most valuable asset to any business, according to Daniel Rossignol, Director of Global Alliances and Partnerships at Geminare Incorporated. As businesses grow, the more business intelligence they generate, whether it is customer information, supplier information or accounting data, he declared during his presentation at a round table discussion on “Managing Information and Data [...]

Diaspora reaches out to young inner-city entrepreneurs Members of the Jamaican diaspora have been given the chance to engage with young entrepreneurs from inner cities through yesterday’s launch of the Diaspora Youth Connect (DYC) project.

The DYC launch, which took place at the offices of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, represents a collaborative effort among the Jamaica Diaspora Institute, Cuso International, and the [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Marley Coffee buys new company, relocates to Denver Jammin Java Corp, which trades as Marley Coffee, has spent the last few months moving headquarters, negotiating the purchase of a beverage distribution subsidiary and securing an advertising agreement with the Denver Broncos. On August 1, the company said it signed a letter of intent to acquire the assets of Black Rock Beverage Services (BRB), a [...]

Fuel Farm to boost traffic at Ian Fleming Jamaica Aircraft Refuelling Services (JARS) has developed a fuel farm to store aviation gas and jet fuel at the Ian Fleming International Airport.

JARS General Manager Luther Williams said the fuel farm owned by his company will be up and running by end-September. The St Mary facility, Williams said, will allow fuelling of small planes with aviation [...]

Sagicor structures venture capital financing for new medical company Sagicor Investments Jamaica Limited and NCB Capital Markets have taken equity stakes in a start-up medical diagnostics company under a J$147 million financing deal structured by Sagicor Investments. Under the financing arrangement – a mix of ordinary shares and convertible mezzanine financing — Sagicor and NCB Capital Markets initially held 43 per cent of Elite Diagnostic [...]

ENERGY Four gov’t buildings to get energy efficient air conditioning systems Cabinet has approved a contract for air conditioning systems for four Government buildings, as the administration intensifies measures to improve energy efficiency in the public sector. This involves the design, supply and retrofitting of efficient air conditioning solutions for the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Kingston Public Hospital, the Donald Sangster Building at the Sangster International Airport, [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Solar-powered business centre for Grants Pen A development company specializing in energy-efficient projects has invested $40 million in a solar-powered commercial centre in the often volatile Grant’s Pen, St Andrew area. Construction workers contracted to Global Designs and Builders are putting the finishing touches on the 17,000 square-foot facility located at the intersection of Fagan Avenue and Grant’s Pen Road. The business centre, [...]

Report: Money available for renewable energy, but Gov’t policy lacking The Worldwatch Institute on Wednesday launched its groundbreaking Sustainable Energy Roadmap for Jamaica, a look at the measures that the Jamaican Government can take to transition its electricity sector to one that is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable. The report Jamaica Sustainable Energy Roadmap: Pathways to an Affordable, Reliable, Low-Emission Electricity System [...]

AISK saves big with solar Just over three months since installing a photovoltaic (PV) system at the institution, American International School of Kingston (AISK) is reporting accumulated savings of approximately US$15,000 as at October 9. The system boasts 400 250-watt solar panels covering 7,000 square feet, and five Schneider-Electric 20-kilowatt grid-tie inverters which convert DC to AC power. The project made [...]

Energy World provides OUR evidence 360MW bid bond in hand The Gleaner understands that Energy World International (EWI) has provided the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) with evidence it has secured US$7.4-million to cover the required bid bond for the 360-megawatt project. However, sources say the funds are with a financial institution located in Hong Kong, with which Jamaican financial entities have never done business.

The OUR reportedly [...]

Phase out energy subsidies The International Monetary Fund chief is urging governments to phase out energy subsidies as a key step to address climate change. Christine Lagarde said Tuesday that such subsidies, particularly for fossil fuels, only encourage the use of more energy and disproportionately benefit wealthier individuals, who can afford to use more energy, instead of the poor.

Lagarde said [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Geothermal energy project sites narrowed to six The 12 sites originally identified as potential geothermal energy sources have been narrowed to six as the feasibility studies unfold. Geologist Krishna Vaswani and partners in the project announced in January, aim to produce electricity from heat trapped underground, for the first time in Jamaica.

Construction of the 15mw geothermal plant has a “likely” start date of [...]

OUR to retender for 37MW of renewable capacity The first round of qualified bids to supply 115 megawatts of electricity from renewable sources fell short by one-third. The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) said on Wednesday that it will be returning to the market with a request for bids to supply the outstanding 37 megawatts of ‘firm capacity’.“We are not clear on the time line,” [...]

Taiwan financing new energy project in St Lucia The St Lucia government says Taiwan is funding a project to reduce energy consumption in the public sector through the installation of energy-efficient lighting in public buildings. One component of the Sustainable Energy project is the replacement of the costly incandescent lights with light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Head of the Energy, Science and Technology Unit in the Ministry [...]

China funding street-light project in Dominica Dominica is implementing a US$34-million solar street-light from China, Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmore has said. He said the 33-month project would involve installation of 4,851 solar street lights across the country, and that Beijing would be providing 2,500 of those lights. “The prime minister has been able to use his good office to [...]

Wigton 24MW windfarm to be commissioned mid-2015 Wigton Windfarm expects to commission an additional 24 megawatt (MW) bank of wind generators by August 2015. Yesterday, it said that it had already submitted its one per cent bid bond to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), having been chosen as one of three preferred bidders selected for the supply of 115 MW electricity generating capacity [...]

ENVIRONMENT NEPA hosts workshops for new waste regs High on the laundry list of issues facing industry players at the recent series of workshops to sensitize owners and operators of plants that generate, store, treat and/or discharge effluent into the environment, was the leap in licensing and registration fees from $10,000 to $75,000 in some cases. According to the Natural Resources Conservation (Wastewater and [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

World Bank issues climate change warning to Caribbean The World Bank has warned that a rise in sea level could have “catastrophic effects” for the Caribbean and would affect the poorest and most vulnerable in the region. A new study by the Washington-based financial institution has urged Caribbean nations to link risk management with social, economic and environmental initiatives in [...]

Guyana to ban plastic foam containers Guyana says it is forbidding imports of plastic foam containers, starting in June. That amounts to a virtual ban since there are no domestic producers. Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud says importers have a seven-month grace period to switch to alternative containers, such as cardboard.

Guyana has been considering a ban for several years because plastic foam [...]

Global Warming trends a clarion call to Caribbean leaders With A more than two-degree rise in global temperatures, and given current and projected greenhouse gas emissions, Caribbean leaders have been encouraged to pull out the stops to have developed countries take their climate obligations seriously. “One opportunity would be at the July meeting of CARICOM. [It is a chance] for leaders to really get this [...]

‘Vocal group’ representing Caribbean at Warsaw climate talks The 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol began here on Monday with the Caribbean having a relatively [...]

Portmore gets €60,000 for climate-change project THE PARTNERSHIP between the German city of Hagen and the municipality of Portmore has yielded funding to the tune of €60,000 for the first in a series of climate-change projects they propose to undertake together. Dr Conrad Douglas, chairman of Jamaica’s Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC) which is facilitating the collaboration, said this first project is [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Developing countries urged to unite as UN climate talks get going As the United Nations climate change talks begin here this week, developing countries, big and small, have been urged to band together to safeguard their collective interests, including secure financing for adaptation. “Developed countries have managed to get us, as developing countries, to behave as crabs in a barrel so that they can do what they [...]

Rainwater harvesting to become mandatory for housing projects It will soon be mandatory for all housing developments to have provisions facilitating rainwater harvesting whether or not they are connected to a central water supply system. Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister Robert Pickersgill, who made the disclosure on Friday, said that the National Rainwater Harvesting Policy is currently being strengthened to facilitate [...]

Insects making eco-friendly buzz in Dutch kitchens Cecile’s latest batch of students watched attentively as she launched into the last step of the dish — swirling grasshoppers around in a frying pan before setting them on the cous cous. In their bid to find an environmentally-friendly alternative to meat, Richard, 41, Mariet, 53, and Seppo, 43, are looking to [...]

Focus on water November 8 Jamaica will on Friday, November 8 join the rest of the international community in observing World Town Planning Day (WTPD), which will focus on expanding access to, and encouraging more efficient use of potable water. The day, which will be observed under the theme: ‘Water: Too much, too little, Unusable or in the wrong place’, is [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Climate change said taking toll on Negril beaches The urgency with which Jamaica needs to address climate change was made evident at last week’s Government of Jamaica/Adaptation Fund Programme National Stakeholders’ Consultation after it was revealed that at least one metre of Negril’s coastline was eroding yearly, making the beaches smaller.

Stakeholders in the project titled, “Enhancing the Resilience of the Agricultural Sectors and [...]

Disasters impacting more people who lack technology In 2012, 139 million people were affected globally by natural disasters, the lowest figure for the last decade, however, Jan Gelfand, head of programmes and operations, Americas zone of the International Federation of the Red Cross, said that people with the least access to technology are the most vulnerable to disasters. “Although the overall number of [...]

New project to analyse climate impact on Caribbean coasts The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has collaborated with the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, and the University of Cantabria to launch a database to facilitate analysis of the impact of climate change on Caribbean coasts.

ECLAC said regional countries could improve coastal planning and develop preventive measures to [...]

LIME Foundation adopts part of forest reserve The LIME Foundation has undertaken a major initiative with the Forestry Department that will see the entity ‘adopting’ one hectare (two-and-a-half acres) of Government Forest Reserve lands in the hills of St Andrew. The LIME Foundation is sponsoring the initiative to the tune of approximately $500,000. The LIME Foundation is the latest participant in the ‘Adopt-AHillside’ Corporate [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

New database to help region protect coastline from climate change Countries in the Caribbean and Latin America could improve coastal planning and develop preventive measures to adapt to the effects of climate change using a database launched yesterday by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, University of Cantabria and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The database contains information [...]

Climate Change Division becomes a reality The long awaited Climate Change Division should be up and running by the end of next month, with the recruitment of key staff members now completed, Dr Conrad Douglas, chairman of Jamaica’s Climate Change Advisory Committee, told The Gleaner recently. “It [the establishment of the division] is going very well now. We have concluded the interviews for [...]

Waste not! – Farmers to use treated effluent in cane fields Farm Up Jamaica, a bold and innovative agricultural private-sector programme designed to significantly boost the organic production of selected crops in Jamaica was launched last Thursday evening at the Kimberly Hotel in New York City. Farm Up Jamaica is the brainchild of New York-based businessman and entrepreneur Neil Curtis. The initiative aims to assist farmers in [...]

HEALTH Stem Cell Therapy: facts worth noting There is always controversy in the word stem cells. After all, the research started with the use of embryos, and there are many who still believe that stem cells only come from embryos.

Stem cells are actually in all tissue and are the basis of our repair and regeneration. There are many forms of stem cells, [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Elderly exercisers have fewer broken bones after falls Older adults who have a regular exercise routine are less likely to fall, but if they do, they’re also less likely to get hurt, a new study suggests. Researchers found that older adults taking part in fallprevention exercise programmes were about 37 per cent less likely to be injured during a fall, compared to non-exercising [...]

Stem Cell Therapy healing Jamaicans – the miracle of using your body to self-repair Deeming it nothing short of a medical miracle, Dr Janice Simmonds-Fisher strongly believes stem cell therapy should become a routine part of medical treatment in Jamaica. Operator of BIO-regeneration Integrated Medical Center in Montego Bay, St James, which introduced stem cell therapy to Jamaica a year ago, Simmonds-Fisher is now working on making that a reality.

“To [...]

Ten tips for treating Acne in teens Mild acne can be treated with products containing ingredients like benzoyl peroxide (2.5-5 per cent), sulphur and/or salicylic acid (0.5-2 per cent).

These may be irritating, so start with lower concentrations, and be careful when combining products. It is best to choose gentle cleansers when using other acne treatments. If tolerated, exfoliating (deep cleaning) cleansers and [...]

Gut bacteria could help fight obesity Different kinds of bacteria that live inside the gut can help spur obesity or protect against it, say scientists at Washington University in St Louis, United States, who transplanted intestinal germs from fat or lean people into mice and watched the rodents change. And what they ate determined whether the good germs could move in and [...]

Lifesavers – Cornwall Regional conducts first kidney transplants Through what has been described as the highest form of altruism, three endstage renal failure patients have had their life expectancies increased by several years. The three – Wayne Bernard, who urinated for the first time in six years last Thursday; Shaneik Lawson, who no longer feels drained as if she runs from Kingston to St [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

INNOVATION Microsoft seeks partners for Jamaican Innovation Centre Microsoft wants to build private sector partnerships to establish a Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) in Jamaica, says Marcelle Smart, Microsoft Jamaica country manager. The US-based electronics and computer software giant has already developed the necessary links with the government, The University of the West Indies and Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), she said. The MIC, which [...]

Bringing youthful innovation to farming As a child, Rohan Roberts hated getting his hands dirty, but today the 22-year-old could very well be considered the poster boy for the evolving agriculture sector, which, among other things, is pushing towards getting more young people to contribute to Jamaica’s food security.

The third-generation farmer has done well for himself and his mind is [...]

A system to manage innovations

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

MINING INDUSTRY Limestone resources estimated at 150 billion tonnes – next challenge: monetising the mineral By ramping up local production of limestone and its derivatives, Jamaica could exploit lucrative overseas markets and generate inputs for local feed, food and pharmaceutical production, according to new research.

The Limestone Assessment Study identified market opportunities in CARICOM and the Americas which could earn Jamaica multimillions in foreign exchange, according to a presentation of the [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Gypsum mining to restart – Carib Cement Carib Cement says it will be restarting its gypsum-mining operations at Halberstadt, Bull Bay, St Andrew, in the new year. Tony Haynes, managing director of the cement-producing company, toldThe Gleaner yesterday that the operations would be resumed subject to environmental approval.

“We are about 95 per cent. It seems we will resume mining,” Haynes said.

“We will put the [...]

SCIENCE (GENERAL) India launches first mission to Mars India on Tuesday launched its first spacecraft bound for Mars, a complex mission that it hopes will demonstrate and advance technologies for space travel.

Hundreds of people watched the rocket carrying the Mars spacecraft take off from the east-coast island of Shriharikota and streak across the sky. Many more across the country [...]

November proclaimed Science & Technology Month The month of November was officially declared as Science and Technology Month by His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen at king’s House at a Proclamation Ceremony held at the King’s House on October 31, 2013. The ceremony was attended by the members of the scientific community, the board and managers of Scientific Research [...]

Selenium a mighty mineral I have often recommended that readers supplement their diet with the ACES – vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium and have talked a lot about the first three. But what about the fourth – selenium? Selenium is a trace mineral that our bodies use to produce an important enzyme within our cells called [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

SCIENCE EDUCATION The field of biomedical engineering Engineering and biomedics may sound like an odd combination. However, biomedical engineering – the design and creation of medical-care options, systems and facilities – is increasingly happening both globally and locally. Medicine is using more and more technology in diagnosing and fixing medical problems. Just like cars have spare parts, this technology is now allowing [...]

Catholic college embarks on new math programme The school, which moved into its new multimillion-dollar campus in Williamsfield earlier this year, is one of the region’s most respected tertiary institutions for the training of the nation’s teachers.

For years, Catholic College was one of a few institutions that offered mathematics-focused courses that prepared students to become competent specialists in the discipline. Minister of Education [...]

John Rollins success primary boosting literacy and numeracy John Rollins Success Primary School in St James has, since its inception in 2004, pioneered innovative ways of learning in order to boost the literacy and numeracy of students. Under the leadership of Principal Yvonne Miller-Wisdom, the school instituted a Reading Marathon in 2005 and a Math Olympics in 2006. The initiatives have grown to incorporate several [...]

SCIENCE RESEARCH Stem Cell research is still in the experimental stage Persons reading a recent article in The Gleaner regarding ‘Stem cell therapy healing Jamaicans’ might have been led to believe that they might currently be treated safely using stems cells taken from their own bodies. This is not so! Worldwide, the work with stem cells is still regarded as being in the ‘experimental stage’ and is not [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

Lowe urges Gov’t to ‘remove the smoke from ganja’ Studies on cannabinoids (chemicals from ganja) show that they help to improve moods, relieve anxiety, and address several other issues related to mid-life crisis that affects men and women, says local research scientist and entrepreneur, Dr Henry Lowe, “Tremendous potential exists for research and development, to determine how medical ganja products can be developed and used [...]

High time indeed to review marijuana policies On September 17, the Bureau of the Heads of Government of the 15nation Caribbean Community (Caricom) discussed the decriminalisation of marijuana and its production for medicinal purposes. The discussion was prompted by the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves who, prior to the meeting, is reported to have said “it is [...]

My role in the ganja issue Dear Editor, Given that my name and that of the Scientific Research Council (SRC) were mentioned by both distinguished gentlemen - Dr Albert Lockhart and Dr Henry Lowe - perhaps I should begin by attempting to clarify a point. I am currently the acting executive director for the Scientific Research Council (SRC), where I have been [...]

SCIENTISTS Arnaldo Ventura appointed to CARICOM committee Dr Arnoldo Ventura, professor at The Mico University College, has been invited by the Prime Minister responsible for Science and Technology in CARICOM, Dr Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, to serve on the CARICOM Committee for Science, Technology and Innovation.

The first meeting of this committee will take place in Grenada in January 2014 and [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

SPORTS UTech to host public lecture on the science of doping, nutrition in sports The University of Technology (UTech), as part of its mandate to engage public debate and foster public awareness and education of important national issues, will host a public lecture entitled “The Science Behind Doping and Nutrition in Sports: Let the Nation Hear!” on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston. The lecture [...]

TECHNOLOGY Picture perfect – Jamaican animator goes Hollywood When credits roll for the animated movie The Nut Job, Jamaican Wayne Carnegie’s input as a surfacing artist will be on that list. Produced by Open Road Films, The Nut Job opens in North America on January 17. It features the voices of Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, and Katherine Heigl. The comedy revolves around a [...]

University of the West Indies computer science students launch restaurant app Three computer science students from the University of the West Indies, Mona, under the expertise and mentorship of JJ Geewax, a former engineer with Invite Media, which was acquired by search engine giant Google in 2010, has developed an application designed for the purchasing of food without the use of physical cash. Kevin Leyow, Jonathan Cooper [...]

Jamaica: growing to full broadband penetration Achieving 100 per cent broadband penetration in Jamaica stands to yield significant economic gains. Estimates show just eight per cent of the population are presently using high-speed Internet service, while studies suggest that for every 10 per cent increase in telecomunications and broadband penetration there is a 1.3 per cent boost to GDP. But the Government may [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

JuiceMan character here for children – Jamaican father introduces interactive tablet books, mobile games and animated series It’s not Dora The Explorer, but Johnathon Kelly is hoping his JuiceMan brand will get to those lofty levels. JuiceMan was inspired by observing his young son watching cartoons. “I was a little taken aback by the fact that everything was North American,” he said. “We have Dora, we have SpongeBob, but we don’t have any Jamaican character that actually [...]

Taking SMS to school Communication between home and school is crucial to the success of any educational model, but the 21st century and its focus on technology have all but obliterated the days when a teacher would write a note in a child’s book. That’s where Mark Trought and his School SMS messaging service come in. Designed to strenghten the [...]

WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS Parliament hosts business workshop for students The Houses of Parliament were staging their Commonwealth Day 2013 Expo at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St Andrew. Kingston Technical, Holy Trinity high schools, and Convent of Mercy Academy were a few of the schools present at the expo, which took place under the theme ‘Opportunity Through Enterprise’. “As young people preparing yourselves for productive and [...]

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION NEWS OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2013

CONTACT US: Documentation Centre Scientific Research Council Hope Gardens, P.O. Box 350 Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I. 876-927-1771-4 (o) 876-977-1840 (f) Visit src.gov.jm for more on Science and Technology news in Jamaica.

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