Students Encouraged To Embrace Science, Technology & Innovation

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology, Claudette Hope-Greenidge, is calling for a recommitment to exploring the scientific world to unlock new ideas in the classroom that can be transferred to the workforce.

Mrs. Hope-Greenidge also wants to see parents and guardians paying greater interest to science as they encourage their charges to maximise their potential, given the importance of science, technology, and innovation.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Science and Technology Festival in Queen’s Park Steel Shed on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary told the students from primary and secondary schools across the island that science played a pivotal role in many areas.

The event, under the theme Innovating the Future-Science for Endless Possibilities, was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Education Transformation.

Mrs. Hope-Greenidge reasoned that the global landscape was rapidly changing and citizens needed to keep abreast of all the changes and “get ahead of the game” by utilising science, technology and innovation.

“So, today’s showcase plays a crucial role in promoting and understanding the appreciation for science and technology among the general population, and it serves as a platform, through the Ministry, for the public, [with the focus] on children at this time, to engage and learn about advancements in innovation, some of which are homegrown.

“You will see students and business places who are doing things right here in Barbados, and we are interested in making sure that we foster that commitment to the culture of creativity and forward thinking, with science and innovation and technology at the base,” the Permanent Secretary stressed.

Mrs. Hope-Greenidge continued: “So as we embark on this journey today, … let us reaffirm our commitment and dedication to exploring the scientific world, exploring the technology world, and where possible, looking to see how we can be creating new things, novel things based on the knowledge that we put together through school and translating [this] into the workplace.”

She urged the students to fully embrace the power of science and technology, not only for today, but throughout the rest of their school life.

Meanwhile, Education Officer for Project-based Learning and Chess at the Ministry of Education Transformation, Kirtis Luke, said the festival was more than an exhibition of science and technology, but represented a national commitment to inspire the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, and leaders.

He reminded the audience that under the Ministry’s Transformation agenda, every student, regardless of his or her background, has the opportunity to excel.

“Science and technology provide pathways for achievement, encouraging inquiry, experimentation and discovery…. Our transformation agenda is about creating a system where every child can dream, design and deliver solutions for Barbados and the wider world,” Mr. Luke underlined.  

The students toured several exhibits, where they had the opportunity to see and be a part of science in action firsthand. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Students at the Science and Technology Festival showed a keen interest in the aerial drone technology. Pictured is a member of the Barbados Defence Force’s Drone Unit preparing a drone for flight