SSTS Newsletter

Volume 3 , Issue 2 Jul– Sep 2012

Caribbean Youth Science Forum 2012

The 11th Annual Caribbean Youth Science Forum (CYSF) was held in Trinidad & Tobago from August 5th to 12th, 2012 at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. The forum, which is designed to bring together regional senior high school science students for a week of hands on activity, cultural exchange and interaction, seeks to increase student interest in Science & Technology in a nonformal but stimulating environment.

The Jamaican participants were the national finalists of the Scientific Research Council’s Annual Schools’ Science & Technology Oratorical Competition. The team comprised of Tarique Plummer (St. Mary High); John Powell (Munro College); Keona Bailey (Westwood High); Jahnigh Clemmence (Knox College); Franz Brown (Ardenne High) and Jevon Henry (Manning’s School). The team was accompanied by Ms. Kerry-Ann Curtis, Coordinator of the Science and Technology Education Unit, SRC. Airfare for the CYSF delegation was sponsored by The Ministry of Science Energy and Mining, E-Learning Jamaica Project and the Universal Access Fund (UAF).

The activities for this year’s forum included lectures, field trips, ‘Meet the Scientist” session as well as a Design Challenge.

The lectures were delivered by specialists in various areas of Science and topics presented included genetics, natural disasters The 2012 Jamaican CYSF contingent: (From L-R) Tarique Plummer, Kerri-Ann (preparation in the Caribbean region) and the Curtis (chaperone), John Powell, Keona Bailey, Jahnigh Clemmence, Franz Brown and Jevon Henry origins of the Universe. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the lectures.

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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CYSF 2012 The “Meet the Scientist” session was particularly memorable for the Jamaican contingent, as one of the featured scientists, (and the keynote speaker of the Forum) was Jamaica-born Professor Patricia DeLeon.

Professor DeLeon is the Trustees Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences, Member of the University of Delaware Board of Trustees and recipient of the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring which she received from President Barak Obama in 2010.

Professor Patricia DeLeon, recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, poses with the Jamaican contingent during the “Meet the Scientist” session.

Forum participants were privy to the company of twenty (20) experts in the scientific arena, including: an environmental scientist, oceanographer, theoretical physicist, forensic pathologist, U.S. military officer, geneticist, actuarial student, human geneticist, industrial engineer, astronomer, aviation pilot, electrical engineer, innovator, cosmetic chemist, master mariner, Geomatics engineer, veterinarian, and a urologist.

The students were allowed four (4) fifteen-minute sessions to meet a scientist of their choice. Although discussions took place in groups of 10 students each, the opportunity to ask pointed questions of a scientist was most beneficial to the students.

The field trips for the 2012 staging of the CYSF were both interesting and informative. Each site visited provided reinforcement and a better understanding of topics that were discussed in lectures. Some of the locations visited included: School of Veterinary Medicine, Caribbean Industrial Research Institute, UWI Seismic Research Unit and The Ministry of Agriculture.

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CYSF 2012 Design Challenge This year’s challenge was the construction of a glider made of recyclable materials, which after being launched, was tested for length of time in the air and distance travelled from the launch point. The average of two throws was used to determine the final score for each team.

The design challenge occurred in two stages: (1) the presentation of a work plan including a contingency plan, an estimate of cost to construct the glider, and explanations for the choice of design, and (2) the actual construction and launch of the glider on competition day.

Though the Jamaican team did not place in the top three (3), their presentation was delivered with clarity and professionalism: a trademark of the Jamaican contingent. Questions presented by members of the judging panel as well as students in the audience were answered efficiently and cogently.

Members of the Jamaican contingent listen to a question posed from the audience during the presentation of projects for the Design Challenge

Members of team Jamaica pose with their glider dubbed “The Spirit of Jamaica� during the Design Challenge.

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CYSF Delegates - Supernovae of Excellence

John Powell of Munro College obtained two (2) ones and two (2) two’s at Unit 1 CAPE. He will enter upper sixth form at Munro College.

Keona Bailey of Westwood High obtained six (6) one’s and three (3) two’s at CSEC, and will continue to lower sixth form.

Franz Brown of Ardenne High obtained two (2) one’s, two (2) two’s and four passes at Unit 2 CAPE. He has been accepted to both the schools of Law and Medicine at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

Tarique Plummer of St. Mary High obtained eight (8) one’s and one (1) two at CSEC. He will continue on to lower sixth form.

Jevon Henry of Manning’s School obtained eleven (11) ones and two (2) two’s at CSEC, in addition to two (2) ones at CAPE. He is still undecided about entering University or continuing to lower sixth form.

Jahnigh Clemmence of Knox College obtained three (3) two’s at Unit 2 CAPE. He will attend the University of West Indies, Mona to pursue a degree in Actuarial Science commencing September 2012.

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Summer Attachment Programme Only one teacher was successfully placed in this year’s Summer Attachment Programme. Ms. Bunantie Cain was placed at the Mines and Geology Division for four (4) weeks.

Summer School Science Tours Since 1996, the Scientific Research Council has been involved in the dissemination of scientific information to Prep/Primary students through the Annual Science Summer Camps. This year, instead of conducting summer camps, the members of the Science & Technology Education Unit visited summer schools across the parishes of St. Catherine and Kingston & St. Andrew to make science presentations. The presentations were interactive activities which provided the students with hands on experience in conducting experiments with the aim of stimulating awareness and appreciation of the discipline.

The schools that were visited included: Harrison’s Prep (St. Catherine), Mona Prep (Kingston & St. Andrew), and Central Branch All Age (Kingston & St. Andrew). The team also visited the Fairy Hill Summer Camp in Portland upon request by the Camp Coordinator The activities that were conducted included experiments focused on Chemical Reactions such as Acid-Base Reactions, Colour and Temperature change; Surface Tension; and Polymers. The response from the teachers and students was overwhelming. For many, though the experiments were educational they were also fun and interactive. The students were shown that science is not such an abstract concept but is everywhere around us and in everything we do.

Photo Highlights

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Science and Technology Education Workshops The Popularization of Science Unit conducted a workshop at Hopewell High, Hanover on September 14, 2012. The workshop was conducted with over 30 teachers from various disciplines. The day’s activities began with a brief presentation on the activities of the Science and Technology Education Unit (STEU) of the SRC. This was followed by an in depth presentation on The Integrated Curriculum by Mrs. Doreen Dietrich, Team Leader of Popularization Science. Teachers then participated in a ‘break out’ session which involved the planning of a lesson using an integrated approach.

The Science and Education Unit Team also visited the Belmont Academy in Westmoreland on September 14, 2012. A total of 30 students participated in science activities involving chemical reactions. The students were exposed to acid-base reactions as well as the parameters scientists use to tell if a chemical reaction has occurred.

Mrs. Doreen Dietrich, Team leader of Popularization of Science, delivering a presentation on The Integrated Curriculum.

Ms. Kerry-An Curtis, Coordinator of the Science & Technology Education Unit (STEU), delivering a presentation on the activities of the STEU.

Teachers at Hopewell High School designing a lesson based on the approach of the Integrated Curriculum.

Students at Belmont Academy conducting science experiments.