“Planet under Pressure” activities

The NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre (NSC) makes an important contribution to environmental awareness and education in Trinidad and Tobago through its interactive exhibits on the environment, which include exhibits on climate change, and the hosting of outreach activities such as camps and science festivals on environmental issues. It has also produced documentaries on local and global environmental issues. In support of “The Planet under Pressure” initiative and our contribution to the Road to Rio+20, NSC will be airing online and on local television part two of its popular video series “Natural Wonders of the Caribbean”. The series showcases the uniqueness of four distinctive ecosystems of the Caribbean: beaches, cloud forests, seagrasses, and tropical savannas. In addition to their beauty, the videos raise awareness of their importance, the threats from human activities, and conservation strategies that can be practised by everyone. NSC will also release “Eco-ribbean: The Climate of Change”, an educational DVD-ROM with puzzles, simulations, games and other activities on the causes of climate change, its potential impacts especially for Caribbean peoples, and adaptation/ mitigation strategies. Changing attitudes, behaviours and ultimately lifestyles are key messages promoted in these NIHERST productions.

Going one step beyond, NIHERST will also launch a project in three rural communities aimed at seeding sustainable practices that will help bring about self-sustaining rural communities. The targeted communities have identified water scarcity as a challenge and, under the project residents will be educated about the benefits of rainwater harvesting systems. A pool of students and technicians will be trained to install and maintain such systems in a safe and hygienic way. In one community, there will be an added focus on renewable energy, which will result in the community being educated about renewable energy systems, and the local school will be outfitted with a solar energy system. NSC staff will play an important role in the public education aspect of this exciting new initiative from NIHERST.

NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre
Cor. of Piarco Old Road & Churchill Roosevelt Highway
D'Abadie
Trinidad & Tobago
West Indies
Phone: 1-868-642-6112/9371
Fax: 1-868-6642-1353
www.facebook.com/national.science.centre