November 15, 2016: On Friday 18th November 2016, local students from six primary and four secondary schools, will present working prototypes and be recognised for their application of scientific knowledge and technological solutions toward improving the conditions of their school or community in two critical areas: (1) energy access and efficiency; and (2) agriculture and food security, as the Improving Innovation Capacities in the Caribbean (INVOCAB) project nears its completion. The ceremony will take place at Lecture Theatre D, Teaching and Learning Complex, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine at 10:00 a.m. The Honourable Minister of Education, Mr. Anthony Garcia of the Ministry of Education will deliver the feature address.
A participatory initiative of the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Scientific Research Council (SRC) in Jamaica, INVOCAB is an African, Caribbean and Pacific region (ACP) Cooperation Programme funded by the European Union (EU). It is a three-year project created to improve teachers’ capacities in science education, as well as to implement an innovation framework in selected schools in the Caribbean. The project intends to further integrate science and technology into the primary and secondary school curriculum and to help change students’ attitudes and dispositions towards science. While the INVOCAB project only accommodated eight schools in this pilot phase, two additional schools were included due to funding from the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), sought by NIHERST under the heading of offshoot project, Teach Me.
The awards ceremony will be the conclusion of the innovation competition, which challenged students to produce designs that are, among other things, original, functional, sustainable, cleverly inventive and possessing commercial potential. The competition was incorporated into the INVOCAB project as a mechanism for the promotion of science, technology and innovation to the young. Other tactics toward this goal were hosting vacation camps and establishing Science Clubs in each school. Additional aims of this project included improving the competence of teachers in the transfer of knowledge and technical skills in science subjects, and improving students’ critical thinking, problem solving and science application. Methods to success included in-service teacher training through professional development workshops and teacher-student manuals on the application of scientific principles, providing science kits and models to schools and equipping science labs.
All this was aimed at improving the levels of innovation in the Caribbean, by building and strengthening capacities in the areas of science, technology and innovation, specifically science education, as an enabler for poverty reduction, growth and socio-economic development of Caribbean countries.
See attached the full project description and competition regulations.
The media is cordially invited to cover the award ceremony on Friday 18th November, 2016 at Lecture Theatre D, UWI Teaching and Learning Complex, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, at 10:00 a.m. | Viewing of prototypes will take place from 9:00 a.m.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Mr. Anthony Garcia of the Ministry of Education will deliver the feature address.
Refreshments will be served
Parking is available at Carmody Road Car Park. See map below.
Directions
For further information please contact:
International Projects Dept. at 622-7505 Ext 3311 / 733-3634
or kimberly.campbell@niherst.gov.tt / lovaan.superville@niherst.gov.tt
Marketing and Communications Dept. at 868-622-7505 or marketing@niherst.gov.tt