Mayaro Science Week (April 28th - May 2nd, 2004)

NIHERST Community Science Week outreach project, with its array of exhibitions, workshops and cultural activities, is a collaboration between NIHERST and key stakeholders in education, namely companies, civic organisations, the Ministry of Science, Technology & Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Education. 

In 2003, the Science Week was taken to three communities: La Brea, Toco and Tobago. The fourth Science Week initiative was held in Mayaro at the Mayaro Resource Centre from 28th April 2004 to 02nd May 2004. It was formally opened on Wednesday 28th April, 2004 by The Honourable Franklyn Khan, Minister of Works and Transport and Member of Parliament for Ortoire/Mayaro. Mr. Bob Fryar, Vice President, Infrastructure at BPTT also delivered some special remarks on the programme, recounting some of his earliest encounters with the joys of science and the limitless possibilities that it can bring to young people.

Related Links   Overview   Cedros Science Week   NSC Cops Service Excellence Award   Tobago Science Week, May 2007   Moruga Science Week, April-May 2007   Point Fortin Science Week, Feb-Mar 2005   Mayaro Science Week, Apr-May 2004   Tobago Science Week, Oct-Nov 2003   Toco Science Week, June 2003   La Brea Science Week, March 2003

The Science Week programme aims to bring to the fore, relevant topics in science that are of local interest and to help teachers and students to better grasp scientific concepts, processes and issues that affect their daily lives. This is done through stimulating experimentation, demonstrations, workshops and interactive exhibits. The science week was therefore planned in conjunction with local stakeholders. The Councillor for the area, Mr. Matthew Pierre and staff of the Councillor’s office, members of the Mayaro Cub Troops, the Ortoire Village Council, the Mayaro Unemployment Group, the Mayaro/Guaya Unemployment Group and Radix Village Council and Staff of BPTT played an instrumental role in the organising of Mayaro Science Week. 

All fifteen primary and secondary schools in the Ortoire/Mayaro/Rio Claro/ Manzanila/Guayaguayare areas visited during the week with the assistance of the Ministry of Works and Transport, BPTT and The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, which provided school transportation. 

THE EXHIBITION

YAPOLLO

The honourable Franklin Khan and Councillor Matthew Pierre experience "Everyone is You and Me"

A number of the YAPOLLO interactive science exhibits were displayed in Mayaro, including one module of our recently launched “What If You Couldn’t” exhibit, which allows persons to experience some aspects of the life of a differently-abled person. Mayaro visitors also experienced live demonstrations of the Lego MINDSTORMS^TM Roverbots. Student demonstrators picked from area schools were trained in the weeks leading up to the Science Week and assisted NSC staff in running the exhibition.

EXTERNAL EXHIBITORS

Mr. Bob Fryar at the BPTT Booth

Other exhibitors at the Science Week included the Trinidad & Tobago Blind Welfare Association, BPTT, The National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago, BHP Billiton, Habitat for Humanity, Ministry of Agriculture and the Regional Health Authority - Ministry of Health.

There were over three thousand (3000) visitors to the exhibition over the course of the Science Week.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops featured a mixture of the Science Centre’s one-day workshops; special CXC Chemistry workshops (held at the Mayaro Composite School) and a Creativity Workshop conducted by the NIHERST Innovation Unit, which took participants through the stages of the inventive process. 

CAREER DAY

Career Day

The Mayaro Composite School was abuzz with eager students who attended the Career Day which was facilitated by career guidance personnel from the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service, the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago (COSTAATT), the National Training Agency and many more. More than four hundred and fifty (450) students from area schools including the Manzanilla High School, Rio Claro College, Rio Claro High School and Mayaro Composite School benefited from this event.

THE ASTRONOMY EXPERIENCE

Community members await their chance to get up close and personal with the stars

Also featured at the Mayaro Science Week was the National Science Centre’s telescope “Rosie”. The telescope viewing formed just one part of the Astronomy experience in Mayaro, which also included daily planetarium shows. Patrons experienced a first-hand view of the night sky and were also treated to special multimedia presentations and planetarium shows. 

ENTERTAINMENT

Patsy's Scout Band

The week’s programme of events also included entertainment by schools and performers in the community. Such performances included a medley of songs by Patsy’s Scout Band, a beautiful rendition of “Evening Time” by the Mayaro R.C. School, a Calypso Dance piece by the Mayaro Folk Performers and many other displays of talent by the Mayaro Community. 

Exciting science demonstrations thrilled local visitors. Demonstrations such as “sticky penny” and others on air pressure and inertia, all illustrated forces in action. The student demonstrators from the community acted as able assistants to the Centre’s experienced show persons.

The Mayaro Science Week continued in the same vein as its three predecessors, a successful attempt at bringing NIHERST’s special brand of science to communities who do not have easy access to the Centre’s daily offerings.