News
2012 CSF Workshop Attracts Over 120 Grenadian STEM Students and Teachers
Over 120 students and teachers from Grenada, plus lecturers, scientists, entrepreneurs and government officials from the Caribbean Region and the Caribbean Diaspora gathered on 5, 6 October 2012 at the Grenada Grand Beach Hotel Conference Centre in St. George's, Grenada to discuss how science, engineering and innovation can be promoted to help diversify the Region's economies. The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) in collaboration with the Caribbean Diaspora for Science Technology and Innovation (CADSTI) and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) organized the conference. The CSF was established in 2010 as a non-profit, non-governmental organization to assist with the diversification of the economies of the Region by promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) education reform, and stimulating more technology-based entrepreneurship.
The workshop was opened by the Hon. Tillman Thomas, Prime Minister of Grenada. Under the theme, "Stimulating Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Science and Engineering within the Caribbean," the workshop's main message was that science and technology based entrepreneurship is critical for the economic development of the Region, and . . . . . Read the full press release at the link below
Press Release-2012 CSF Workshop Conclusion 9OCT12.pdf
Inaugural 2012 SPISE a Huge Success!
The ten students in the inaugural 2012 Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE) have successfully completed a busy 4-week schedule comprising classes in calculus, physics, biochemistry, humanities (one Caribbean concept) and Mandarin, as well as laboratory project work in electronics and robotics. On the final afternoon of the program, in front of a packed and captivated audience, the students gave presentations on their projects in humanities, electronics and robotics that included demonstrations with metronomes clicking, numbers flashing, amplifiers playing music, and underwater robots navigating obstacles in a water tank. Dr. Basil Springer, in his Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust (CBET) column, referred to that afternoon as a 'magnificent, indeed awesome experience'.
The inaugural SPISE represents the first milestone in the Caribbean Science Foundation's mission to help diversify the economies of the Region by encouraging more students to pursue careers in science and engineering, and to consider becoming entrepreneurs. The Caribbean Science Foundation thanks the sponsors, whose support was absolutely critical for the 2012 SPISE, and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Barbados Campus, whose generous donation of the use of their facilities made the program possible. The goal for SPISE 2013 is to double the number of students (with new as well as returning sponsors) and to increase the number of subject offerings so students have more choices.
For a sampling of press releases on the 2012 SPISE, including photos of the students and their project demonstrations, please click on the following links:
Hailed for creativity -SPISE 2012-Barbados Today 31Aug12.pdf
Graduates Can Help Economy-SPISE a Hit - Barbados Advocate 2Sep12.pdf
The 2012 SPISE Student Project-Barbados Advocate 7Sep12.pdf
CSF and CADSTI Report at AAAS 2012
At the February 2012 Vancouver meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Prof. Cardinal Warde presented a history and status of CADSTI and CSF in a session titled "Coordinating, Learning and Sharing Best Practices Among Scientific Diaspora Networks". Other Scientific Diasporas represented included The Society for the Advancement of Science and Technology in the Arab World, and The Wild Geese Network of Irish Scientists.
You can read the full AAAS meeting report at: Scientific Diasporas
Education Reform Discussions in Barbados
Since the closing of Prof. Cardinal Warde's 36th Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture on "Science Technology and Business Reform in the Caribbean" the government and society of Barbados have been responding to Prof. Cardinal Warde's views on the need for education reform within the island.
- In BGISMedia News in an article titled "Changes In Education System Already On Stream," Minister of Education Ronald Jones welcomed the sentiments of Prof. Warde on the need for change in the island's education system.
- The Barbados Advocate has produced three articles related to Prof. Cardinal Warde's Lecture:
• On December 1, 2011 an article titled "International Partnerships Important" dealt with the issue of business development in Barbados, in particular with respect to science and technology. This was in response to Prof. Warde's statements that international partners are necessary in the development of pharmaceuticals drugs in the Caribbean.
• In the 4th of December 2011 article "Straight to the Point: 11-plus removes class/colour bias" there was some expected push back where the author, Mr. John Blackman, said that "... A significant number of people calling for the abolition of the examination have failed to appreciate how it has leveled the playing field over the past 30 to 40 years."
• On the 5th of December 2011 in the article "Multifocal learning is key", Minister of Education Ronald Jones responds to the question posed by Prof. Cardinal Warde on the need for reform in the island's secondary entrance examination by stating "...the Ministry responsible for education will look towards pushing for a more holistic approach to learning for its students."
- The Nation News also carried articles on the lecture on November 23rd, 2011 titled "11-Plus reform a must" and a November 27th, 2011 titled "Curriculum shift 'a must': Prof sees this as best for Caribbean." According to to first article, Professor Warde stated, "What we need in this region is the will to change it [the 11-Plus]" and in the second article "...the 11-plus places limitations on slow learners, thwarting their desire to realize their true potential,"
Lecture on Education Reform by Professor Cardinal Warde
After an exciting weekend of the first annual conference and workshop of CADSTI-CSF (November 18-19, 2011), on Monday November 21, 2011 at 8.00 pm, Prof. Cardinal Warde delivered the 36th Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture (courtesy of the Central Bank of Barbados) on "Science Technology and Business Education Reform for the Caribbean" at the Frank Collymore Hall, Barbados. Prof. Warde's slide presentation can be accessed by clicking the link below.
36th Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture Slides.pdf
Professor Cardinal Warde Visits St. Christopher Primary School, Barbados
Dr. Cardinal Warde, MIT Professor of Electrical Engineering, visits his Alma mater, St. Christopher Primary, Barbados on November 24, 2011. To view pictures from his visit, please click on the link below.
Photos of Professor Warde and students at St.Christopher Primary
2011 Workshop Press Release
CADSTI and the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) held their first annual Workshop on November 18-20, 2011 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The theme of the Workshop was "Mobilizing the Diaspora for Caribbean Development Through Science, Technology and Innovation". See the press release of the Workshop below:
Press Release of the 2011 CADSTI-CSF Workshop
2011 CADSTI-CSF Workshop: Photos, Agenda, Poster Summaries, and News
The 2011 Workshop was a critical event in that it propelled the Caribbean Science Foundation into operation as the leading body for stimulating science and technology activities in the Region. The Workshop programme is reproduced at the link below:
2011-CADSTI-CSF Workshop-Agenda.pdf
Summaries of the scientific posters presented at the Workshop can be found in the link below:
Poster Abstracts 2011-CADSTI-CSF Workshop.pdf
Also, at the same time, the CSF headquarters in the CARICOM Research Building on the UWI Cave Hill Campus came alive with Ms. Samantha Sobers (Administrative Assistant) joining the management team and now running the day-to-day show. Lots of great ideas were developed at the workshop, and some are already being put into action (see CSF Press Release above). The energy and the passion for the cause was intense, and these are captured in some of the pictures below:
2011 CADSTI-CSF Workshop Photos-web.pdf
Research: News, Analysis, Funding & Data produced an article about the CSF Workshop titled "Science Foundation seeks funds to translate science and technology research" on the 14th of December 2011.
CADSTI-CSF Governing Council Annual General Meeting
The Annual CADSTI-CSF Governing Council General Meeting was held at the Headquarters of Sagicor Financial Corporation, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados, on the 20th of November 2011. To view pictures of the meeting, click on the link below.
2011-CADSTI-CSF General Meeting Photos-web.pdf
Caribbean Science Newsletters
The first Caribbean Science Foundation Newsletter--Caribbean Science News Issue 01 has been published! Please take a look and circulate.
In the News
* SciDev Net article covering the CSF launch (pdf)
* Newsday Article covering the CADSTI launch
* Grenada IDC article covering the CADSTI launch
