Point Fortin Science Week (February 28th - March 4th, 2005)

Introduction

The Point Fortin Science Week, with its recipe of exhibitions, workshops and cultural activities, is a collaboration between NIHERST, Ministry of Science, Technology & Tertiary Education, the Ministry of Education and the Point Fortin Borough Corporation.

The NIHERST Community Science Week outreach project was taken to four (4) communities in 2003 and 2004, namely, La Brea, Toco, Tobago and Mayaro. The fifth Science Week initiative was held in Point Fortin at Festival Square, Mahaica from February 28th to March 4th 2005. It was formally opened by Alderman St. Clair Natta, His Worship, The Mayor of Point Fortin. Also featured on the programme were Mrs. Maureen Manchouck, President, NIHERST, Mr. Marlon Richardson, Deputy Mayor of Point Fortin and Ms. Patricia Bradshaw, CEO of the Corporation.

Objectives

• The Science Week programme aims to bring to the fore, relevant topics in science that are of local interest. Therefore, it is being planned in conjunction with local stakeholders.

• In Point Fortin, the organising committee comprised the CEO of the Borough Corporation, Ms. Patricia Bradshaw, members of staff of the Corporation and Councillors in the area. Other partners in this event were some corporations in the community, Bechtel, Petrotin (TRINMAR), Atlantic LNG, EARTH Co. Ltd.

• The programme also attempts 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. All twenty-seven primary and secondary schools, and seventeen pre-schools in the Point Fortin to Icacos and Erin, areas were invited to visit during the week.

• The NIHERST Community Science Week programme aims to be exciting, relevant and responsive to the needs of communities, while bringing families, children, and adults together to learn about their world, and become life long learners of science.

The Exhibition

A number of the National Science Centre’s interactive science exhibits made their way to Point Fortin, including

• new energy exhibits and human body models, which were first showcased at Sci-TechKnoFest 2004 and

• Go Creative, an exciting exhibit that allows visitors to find out about some of Trinidad & Tobago’s own creative nationals.

Also featured, was Mr. Ronnie Thomas’ prize-winning entry in the Bright Solutions category of the Prime Minister’s Awards for Innovation and Invention 2004 Competition. On show was a model which replicated Mr. Thomas’ vision of the Highway Interchange- Churchill Roosevelt Highway and the Uriah Butler Highway.

There were also a number of external exhibitors at the Science Week including the Trinidad & Tobago Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired; the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources; the Point Fortin Corporation Public Health Department; the National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago; BGTT; Lake Asphalt and Petrotrin (TRINMAR).

Workshops

Featured were a mixture of the Science Centre’s exciting one day workshops, Creativity and RoboMania Workshops. Other sessions focused on job preparedness skills for young adults and disaster preparedness.

Origami- This workshop, not only teaches participants about the art of paper folding but also explores the topic of force, as participants learn about what makes the objects they create, move. Workshop participants created paper airplanes, paper frisbees, paper helicopters, classic darts, dragon paper airplanes and more.Apart from helping youngsters to manipulate paper to form different objects, the workshop is also beneficial to participants’ powers of observation, improving measurement accuracy. RoboMania- The RoboMania workshop was held for both Primary and Secondary level students. The workshop helps participants understand how robots process data and allows participants to design and build their own robots, while developing simple robot programming skills. Topics covered include: What are Robots? Examples of Robots Robot Commands Robot tasks and uses Movement- Gears and Sensors Programming-Writing a Program Bugs & Errors Algorithms (problem solving Instructions)

Figure Me Out- This workshop attempts to engender in young participants, an appreciation and love for Mathematics, by introducing items of the schools’ syllabus through fun activities like crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Topics covered include, geometry, fractions, averages, symmetry to name a few. Creativity Workshops- Creativity workshops focused on flight. Participants were asked to create any flying object that their mind could perceive using the materials before them. The workshop delved into the creative process and included some creativity exercises which help young participants understand how their own creativity can be used to solve simple problems. These workshops were conducted in both the Brighton AC Primary School and Holy Name Convent.

Interview Skills- The Human Resource Department of Petrotrin (TRINMAR) conducted this session for Secondary School students and young adults in general. The session’s topics ranged from cover letters and resumé construction to preparing and dressing for an interview and interview conduct.

The Astronomy Experience

Also featured at the Point Fortin Science Week was the National Science Centre’s telescope “Rosie”. The telescope viewing, where visitors experienced a first hand view of the night sky, formed just one part of the Astronomy experience in Point Fortin. It also included planetarium shows and special multimedia presentations.

The “Astronomy Experience” was extremely well received by the residents of the community, so much so, that it was repeated on the final day of the Science Week. It is estimated that more than two hundred visitors (200) collectively visited on the both days.

Entertainment

Related Links   Overview   Cedros Science Week, Nov 2008   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 programme also included entertainment by schools and performers in the community. These included the Jeunes Agape Choir under the direction of Ms. Lois Louis, the Fanny Village Government Primary School with a Chorale Speaking Medley and the Holy Name Convent Choir.

Exciting science demonstrations also formed a part of the week’s entertainment itinerary.

The Point Fortin Community Science Week can be considered a great success. Over five thousand students, teachers and residents of Point Fortin and its immediate catchment area visited the exhibition over the five day period. Of these, approximately four hundred students participated in workshops and seminars.

This event continued in the same vein as its four predecessors, bringing NIHERST’s special brand of science to communities who do not have easy access to the Centre’s daily offerings.

Written: May 2005