April 2013 newsletter by Scientific Research Council

Volume 4, Issue 1 April-June 2013

SRC Awards Top Students at Combined Prize Giving Ceremony The SRC’s Science & Technology Education Unit held its annual Awards Ceremony on April 18, 2013 at the Stella Maris Auditorium. This year, finalist in the Schools’ Oratorical Competition (held in November) as well as the Essay and Poster Competition (held in February) were awarded in a combined Prize Giving Ceremony. The theme of the Oratorical Competition was “Waste to Energy: The Need, Opportunity and Feasibility”. The top 6 students from both categories (Grades7-9 and Grades 10-13) were awarded trophies provided by the SRC as well as day passes to Dolphin Cove. (See page 2 for winners)

Representatives from MSTEM and SRC pose with wining teachers and students at the Combined Awards Ceremony held at Stella Maris Auditorium

The Essay and Poster competition was revamped to include three (3) age categories. Topics covered were pertinent to national development and included innovation, ICT and environmental protection. A total of 20 students were awarded. Prizes included trophies provided by Supreme Ventures Limited and gift baskets provided by WISYNCO Group Limited. (See page 3 for winners) Special gratitude must be extended to all the judges who assisted in this year’s competition: Ms. Kandee Grant, Ms. Vanessa Clarke-Austin, Ms. Sanchia Miller, Ms. Michelle Morris, Ms. Donna Cornwall, Mr. Andrew Woods, Mr. Jourdan Owen and Mr. Keroma Bernard (all SRC staff members).

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

Telephone: (876) 927-1771-4

Fax: (876) 927-0806 Editor: Ms. Sannette Hall

Email: ssts.src@gmail.com

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SRC Awards Top Students at Combined Prize Giving Ceremony Oratorical Winners 7-9 Category

10-13 Category

1st Place: Sashay Smikle (Denbigh High)

1st Place: Michael Lewis (Denbigh High)

2nd Place: Dominique Grant (Willowdene Group of Schools)

2nd Place: Curtis Moxam (Mannings School) 3rd Place: Nashon Mitchell (Ardenne High)

3rd Place: Shemar Williams (St. George's College)

4th Place: Shavaneise Arnold (Westwood High)

4th Place: Sayeed Bernard (St. George's College) 5th Place: Tka Walker (Hampton School) 5th Place: Stevoir Sadaar (St. Mary High) 6th Place: Tarique Plummer (St. Mary High) 6th Place: Samira Gayle (Denbigh High)

1st Place Winners in the Oratorical Competition. Sashay Smikle (left) and Michael Lewis (right) both from Denbigh High School receive their trophies from Keroma Bernard, Process Development Officer at the SRC

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SRC Awards Top Students at Combined Prize Giving Ceremony Essay & Poster Winners Essay Winners

Poster Winners

8-12 Years

1st Place: Jhonalee Gardner (Inverness Primary & Infant)

1st Place: Kera Smith (Corinaldi Avenue Primary)

2nd Place: Dominic Mullins (Stella Maris Prep)

2nd Place: Alexander Boyd (Stella Maris Prep)

3rd Place: Kadeeja Stanley (Inverness Primary & Infant)

3rd Place: Nickallaye Gunn (Corinaldi Avenue Primary)

4th Place: Alexander Boyd (Stella Maris Prep)

4th Place: Reanna Jarrett (Corinaldi Avenue Primary)

13-15 Years

1st Place: Demario Asquitt (Titchfield High)

1st Place: Michael Dennis (Lacovia High)

2nd Place: Tatyana Harvey (Anchovy High)

2nd Place: Deandra Spence (Green Pond High)

3rd Place: Graeme Smith (Wolmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boys)

3rd Place: Samuel Robinson (Jamaica College)

16-18 Years

1st Place: Curtis Moxam (Mannings School)

1st Place: Alexis Falloon (Camperdown High)

2nd Place: Mervin James (Jamaica College)

2nd Place: Ackeem Henry (Jamaica College)

3rd Place: Janice Alexander (Knox College)

3rd Place: Rochelle Watson (St. Andrew High)

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Combined Awards Ceremony Photo Highlights

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i3 Round Up : The Top Teams Ideas from secondary schools were submitted on April 29, 2013 for screening on May 3, 2013. A panel of four (4) judges viewed the ideas submitted by students and selected the top ten based on the criteria outlined by the Business Lab. Below is a list of the Top Ten Secondary Entries. Name of School

Project Idea

Category

The University of the West Indies

Heart Alert

Mobile Technology

Northern Caribbean University

Inventive Learner

Student/Personal Convenience

Independent Group

College CoCo

Mobile Technology

The University of West Indies

Sun Plug

Energy Conservation

The University of Technology

Book Seek Rentals

Student/Personal Convenience

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Editorial Feature Meet Michael Dennisâ&#x20AC;Ś.. Mr. Teen Caribbean United Nation 2013 Mr. Michael Lewis, Deputy Head Boy at Denbigh High, is the reigning Mr. Teen Caribbean United Nations 2013 who will represent the Caribbean at Mr. United Nations 2013 in Mexico. Michael was recently interviewed by Caribbean E-Magazine about his life since winning the title as well as his plans to capture Mr. United Nations 2013. (See excerpt from interview below) Tell us about yourself? I am a sincere, talented, genuine, passionate, self-empowered, influential, innovative and creative 19 year old Aquarius, who boastfully attends the Denbigh High School in Clarendon, Jamaica, where I am currently completing my final year of sixth form. I relish: singing, drawing, dancing, dramatizing, researching, reading and creating poems, stories and blogs. I am great at building a harmonious and synergistic atmosphere with new individuals and I have always been willing to try new things and be creative. One thing that really stands out is my genuineness and sincerity that is radiated in everything I do. I not only preach self-empowerment, I also exemplify and radiate it myself. I don't think of myself as a poor deprived youth who is making good. I think of myself as someone who from an early age, knew I had to make the best of my opportunities. I believe that the greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change their future by merely changing their attitude and the biggest adventure one can take, is to live the life of their dreams. I am a true epitome of a substantially successful young Jamaican and I am able not only to make a difference in my own life, but in other people's lives. What do you like to do for fun? I love performing! I love being on stage, speaking, doing drama, acting, singing (in the shower!) and also dancing. Going out for dinner or to a music gig or festival is something I really enjoy. I also really enjoy meeting new people and learning about others and what interesting things or stories they have to tell. Are you involved in any community service activities? Yes I am actively involved in my community. In fact, I have a good record of community service and valuable volunteer experiences. I am an active member of the Glenmuir citizens association; I have participated in community clean-ups, planning family fun days and holiday trips for community members to enjoy. I am also the only Teen-Journalist from my community, I initiated the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Each One-Teach One Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and separately, I offer my time on Saturdays to tutor GSAT students. All of these experiences have helped to form me although I have faced many challenges, balancing community service, co-curricular activities and academics in the same light.

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Editorial Feature Did you believe when you entered that you had a good chance at winning the Mr Teen Caribbean United Nation contest or was it a bit of a surprise to you? Winning the title as Mr Caribbean United Nations was in truth and in fact, a bit of a surprise to me. All the contestants were talented and intelligent and all our minds were directed towards having fun in the competition since we were constantly reminded by the pageant director; Mr L. Williams that we should not believe in failure because it is not failure if we’ve enjoyed the process. Your next step is to compete for the Mr Teen United Nations in Mexico. How are you preparing for this competition? I am thoroughly organized so I am constantly creating lists and action plans to ensure I am ready by the time I get on the plane to leave. I also attend training on assigned Saturdays at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. These training sessions are geared towards improving my talent piece and interviewing and relation skills. Apart from making sure I physically have everything I need, I am staying positive and relaxed; I am very excited for what is to come. All I can do is be myself, enjoy the experience and do the best I can and everything will fall into place. ‘You can't prepare being yourself!’ Why do you want to become Mr Teen United Nations 2013? I want to become Mr Teen United Nations 2013 because I know I have exactly what it takes to be an amazing ambassador for the world. To be able to make a difference on such a large scale inspires me and my dream is to be able to do this full time. I want to work with and for the world to create positive change by taking action. Any title holder in the United Nations pageant has a unique opportunity to do this. Another reason is that this title is so appealing to me and would be the highest of all privileges I feel possible, bringing far more than the visible rewards. I want to make a positive change and to be able to embrace so many countries, people’s ways of life and find a way of bringing all of these together as one, is something you can only dream of. Apart from this achievement, what are your proudest achievements? Well, I enjoy the arts and participated in many competitions for which I obtained many awards and media highlights. I was awarded the Prime Minister’s Youth Award in the category of Arts and Culture. This award is the highest honour bestowed on Jamaicans between 15 and 24 years of age, who have achieved eminent national and international distinction. In 2011, I also obtained the first and fourth highest score for CSEC Theatre Arts in Jamaica and the Caribbean respectively out of a vast number of students. Recently, I was overwhelmed when I was awarded by my high school the title ‘student school’s ambassador’ at their prize giving ceremony. What is your career ambition? Upon graduating from University, I wish to meticulously help in composing parts of Jamaica’s history by being a ‘watchdog’ for society as my grandmother would coin it. Simply put, I want to become one of Jamaica’s best Journalists and embrace a change by contributing in meaningful ways to social, economic, spiritual, business, environmental and political growth and development.

For the full interview visit : http://www.caribbeanemagazine.com/2013/04/exclusive-interview-mrteen-caribbean.html

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Science Education Workshop

Lava Lamp What you need: Water Clear plastic bottle Vegetable oil Food Colouring Alka-Seltzer (or any fizzing tablet) What to do: 1. Pour water in bottle until about a quarter full 2. Pour in vegetable oil until bottle is nearly full 3. Wait until the oil and water have separated 4. Add 10 drops of food colouring to the mixture 5. Cut the tablets in small pieces (4-6 pieces) 6. Add a piece of tablet to the bottle and watch as things get a little crazy. 7. More tablets can be added as soon as fizzing stops

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Summer School Science Tours (July 2-26)

i3 Competition Finals

Science Education Workshop

ANSWERS (from page 8) Math Crossword Across 4. Sum 9. Difference 11. Odd 12. Denominator 14. Pentagon 16. Parallel 17. Congruent 18. Cylinder 19. Perimeter 20. Bar Chart

Down 1. Quotient 2. Dozen 3. Pictograph 5. Sphere 6. Addend 7. Product 8. Rectangular Prism 10. Times 13. Right Angle 15. Numerator

Lava Lamp The oil and water separate from each other, with oil on top because it has a lower density than water. The food colouring falls through the oil and mixes with the water at the bottom. The piece of Alka-Seltzer tablet you drop in after releases small bubbles of carbon dioxide gas that rise to the top and take some of the coloured water along for the ride. The gas escapes when it reaches the top and the coloured water falls back down. The reason Alka-Seltzer fizzes in such a way is because it contains citric acid and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), the two react with water to form sodium citrate and carbon dioxide gas (those are the bubbles that carry the coloured water to the top of the bottle).