YAPOLLO in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)

“I liked it because it showed you that you can learn cool things about science and it can be interesting and fun”

Bike Generator

So beamed 11 year old Terique Grant, a national of Tortola, when asked about his experience at the YAPOLLO exhibition in the British Virgin Islands which ran from March 25th to 30th 2003. Young Terique was not the only one who was in awe of this display of interactive science exhibits, planetarium shows and exciting science demonstrations. Over 1200 persons, both young and old got a taste of the YAPOLLO experience in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). This figure represents approximately six percent of the population. Dr. Kenneth Challenger, the BVI co-ordinator of this event reported that “there were instances of children crying… reluctant to leave when their families had to go”.

Some of the Student Demonstrators with puzzles

It was not only youngsters like Terique who benefited from the exhibition, but also secondary school and college students, parents, teachers and the wider community. Fifteen community members, high school teachers and college teachers volunteered to work as co-ordinators and sixty high school and college students were trained as demonstrators. Mrs. Natalie Nesbit, a NIHERST demonstrator who oversaw training for the planetarium was quite impressed by the enthusiasm of the student demonstrators. She noted that most of them under her supervision did not allow the short time frame for training to affect them negatively. They took initiative, did research at home, and made the planetarium shows come alive. She noted that even Science students came with the impression that Science was boring, but by the end of the YAPOLLO experience, such notions were things of the past.

The audience is spell- bound by this exciting  Science Demonstration

Ms. Kala Sookhram, Administrative Officer at the National Science Centre, recalled that many of the teachers, with whom she spoke, felt that “this was exactly what they needed”. One college student (demonstrator) who had considered becoming a teacher, but was undecided, felt that this experience had convinced her that teaching was a field in which she would excel. 

Parents were quoted as saying that the most enjoyable aspect of their visit was “seeing students actively engaged in and excited about the science demonstrations and exhibits” and of course “the looks of wonder and amazement on the student’s faces”.

Children and adults discover Relative Motion

Many parents returned with their children on the weekend, something that Ms. Althea Maund, (Science Educator, NIHERST) thought to be one of the more impressive aspects of the BVI visit. The exhibition was truly a “family affair”.

The huge outpouring of support experienced in the British Virgin Islands and the almost ubiquitous question asked, “when will they be back?” are clear signals that there is a demand for informal science education initiatives not only in the BVI but across the entire Caribbean. Visits like this, which aim to stimulate and promote Science Popularisation in other countries, can serve as the impetus for the establishment of such programmes in the region.