Volume 3 , Issue 4 Jan-Mar 2013
An Afternoon with a Scientist The Institute of Jamaica hosted its annual ‘An Afternoon with a Scientist’ program from January 30 to March 27, 2013. The aim of the program is to expose students to different areas of science and encourage an appreciation of the discipline by teaching its importance and relevance to everyday life. The program targets 5th and 6th graders and one hour presentations are made by experts in various fields. This year, two members from the SRC’s Biotechnology Unit, Ms. Jodi Spence and Ms. Sanchia Miller, were asked to make presentations to students from the Mico Practicing Primary and Junior High. Ms. Spence and Ms. Miller, both Process Development Officers (PDOs), conducted an interactive one hour session with the students. This involved a PowerPoint presentation on Biotechnology as a whole and Biotechnology at SRC. Students were exposed to tissue culture technology via the glove box and were given an opportunity to try out the technique. A question and answer session culminated the activities of the afternoon with students earning prizes for correct answers.
Ms. Jodi Spence, Process Development Officer at the SRC, demonstrating the usage of lab apparatus to obtain accurate measurement.
Ms. Sanchia Miller, Process Development Officer at the SRC, explains the concept of Tissue Culture using the Glove Box.
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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Business Lab partners with SRC for i3 Competition In 2012, the Business Lab initiated the i3 : Innovation, Ideas, Ingenuity Competition in an attempt to showcase student’s inclination towards innovation. Based on the success of the inaugural staging, the Business Lab has partnered with the SRC and other sponsors for i3 2013. The competition was officially launched on March 14, 2013 at the Jamaica Promotions Cooperation (JAMPRO) Building and will culminate with a two day final competition on August 23-24. The STEU conducted Regional Consultations for this year’s competition on March 21 (Mandeville), March 22 (Montego Bay) and March 25 (Kingston). The workshops were both interactive and informative. The teachers were informed of the rules, guidelines and how to submit entries for the competition. They participated in an ‘Innovation Game’ and made a sales pitch for the prototype developed during the game. The next phase in the competition is the submission of entries which are due by April 26, 2013. For more details visit the i3 website: i3.jamaicabusinesslab.com
Teams discuss ideas during Innovation Game
Participant present their sales pitch for prototypes developed during the Innovation Game. (Right: Central Workshop; Centre: Eastern Workshop; and Left: Western Workshop)
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PCJ Energy Conservation Incentive Program for Schools In keeping with the objectives of their public education program, the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) hosts an Energy Conservation Incentive Programme for Schools on an annual basis. The program engages students through various science based competitions, exhibitions and seminars. The theme for this year’s competition was Energy Efficiency Begins at Home. The competition was held on March 8, 2013 at the PCJ Auditorium. Students were required to construct a small scale model of a residential home that incorporated energy efficiency and renewable energy measures with respect to interior and exterior design, as well as appliances, equipment and other technologies/devices that use electricity. A total of ten (10) projects were entered in the competition from schools across the island. Some of the schools in this year’s competition were: Port Morant Primary & Junior High, Carron Hall High, Green Pond High, Guy’s Hill High, Penwood High among others. The judging panel was comprised of Ms. Kerry-Ann Curtis, Coordinator of the STEU; Roger Chang, President of the Jamaica Solar Energy Association; and Michelle Chin-Lenn, Project Manager of Wigton Wind Farm.
Schools present their projects to the judges. (Left: Carron Hall High; Right: Port Morant Primary & Junior High)
Project Snapshots. Left: Guy’s Hill High; Centre: Penwood High: Right: Dunoon Park Technical High School
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Students Editorial The Schools Science and Technology Societies (SSTS) more popularly known as Science Club is the channel through which the STEU promotes and popularizes Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) among the nations youth. We believe that investment in the younger generation is paramount for ensuring a promising and prosperous future. Our country is filled with many talented and astute young people with bright ideas for national development. The student’s editorial in the SSTS Newsletter will act as a channel for students to share their views on being a part of the SSTS as well as topical issues on STI. Participants in the 2012 staging of SSTS Oratorical Competition were asked: ‘Why did you become a member of the SSTS?’ I became a member of the SSTS because this is a fun way in which I can share my love for science with others. Science clubs are wonderful tools to improve the culture of science. No one expects you to become the next Einstein or have a obsession for science, just be inquisitive and have a love for adventure. Tka Walker - Hampton School
I became a member of the Schools Science and Technology Society (SSTS) because I am very optimistic about the future of science and technology thriving in Jamaica and I have an inquisitive and explorative mind that seeks to be involved; always asking questions, exploring and analyzing things. This society has certainly strengthened my understanding of science and technology in an informal yet stimulating manner. Plus, we all know that there is no quick solution for creating an innovation-based economy in Jamaica. Therefore, it is our mission to ensure that this society produces many great scientists as we explore ways in which we can implement technological ideas for the benefit of Jamaica and Jamaicans. Michael Lewis - Denbigh High
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Science Beat Acne Spots Dictated by “Good” and “Bad” Skin Bugs The secret to clear skin may lie in the cocktail of strains of a common bacterium that lives in your skin. Propionibacterium acnes are abundant in the pores on everyone's face. The discovery that there are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ types of P.acnes offers clues to spottiness and opens up the possibility of developing treatments customised to the flora of an individuals skin. A team from the University of California has identified the most common strains of P.acnes and are currently sequencing their genomes. One of the bad strains was uniquely found on spotty skins; the other was found in 16% of samples from people without acne. The good strain was hardly found in people with acne but was present in 1/5 of those with clear skin. These rogue genes can potentially aggravate acne and include one which binds the bugs unusually tightly to human cells. Because spots are caused by our immune system going into overdrive in response to the presence of P.acnes, resulting in inflammation, this tightness gene means it can trigger a stronger immune response. Further investigations are under way in the same people to find out how the balance of good, bad and neutral strains changes over time. Good strains might be used as probiotics to stop skin blemishes before they start, much like yogurt contains good strains of bacteria to fight off bad bugs in the gut. Source: www.newscientist.com
FUN FACTS
Because of the placement of their eyes, parrots and rabbits can see behind themselves without needing to move their heads…..
Butterflies taste food by standing on top of it! Their taste receptors are in their feet unlike humans who have most on their tongue.
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Brain Teasers
Water in a Cup
A man in a restaurant asked a waiter for a juice glass, a dinner plate, water, a match, and a lemon wedge. The man poured enough water onto the plate to cover it. "If you can get the water on the plate into this glass without touching or moving this plate, I will give you $100," the man said. "You can use the match and lemon to do this."
Science Education Workshop
A few minutes later, the waiter walked away with $100 in his pocket. How did the waiter get the water into the glass? SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 7
Expanding Colours Materials: Bowl, Dish soap, Food Colouring, 1/2 cup milk, Cotton swab Instructions: Pour milk in bowl. Be careful not to move bowl, then put one drop of each colour at different places in the milk. Put just a small amount of soap on the end of the cotton swab, then touch it to one of the colour. Let the experimenting begin!!!!! The Science Behind It Milk has fat in it and the food colouring floats on top of the fat. The fat is all connected with bonds. Think of it like the little pieces of fat all holding hands with each other. Dish soaps are used on greasy or oily dishes because it breaks the bonds in fats allowing them to separate. When you add the dish soap to the milk, the fat separates and moves making your colours explode!
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April 10: ASTJ Eastern Science Quiz Playoff April 12: ASTJ Eastern Science Quiz Finals April 18: Combined Prize Giving Ceremony (Essay & Poster and Oratorical Competitions) April 26: Deadline for submission of entries for the i3 Competition
Science Education Workshop May 8-17: Innovation Days (i3 Competition)
ANSWERS (from page 6) Brain Teaser First, the waiter stuck the match into the lemon wedge, so that it would stand straight. Then he lit the match, and put it in the middle of the plate with the lemon. Then, he placed the glass upside-down over the match. As the flame used up the oxygen in the glass, it created a small vacuum, which sucked in the water through the space between the glass and the plate. Thus, the waiter got the water into the glass without touching or moving the plate. You can try this experiment at home with appropriate supervision.