Students display innovative solutions for everyday challenges at national STEAM fair

Students from across Guyana gathered at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre for the Ministry of Education’s STEAM Fair, where a wide range of innovative and technical solutions to everyday challenges have been presented.

The event, which commenced on April 23 and ends today, April 25, is being held under the theme “Innovative Solutions through STEAM for Sustainable Development in Guyana”.
Several schools showcased the talents of their students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) through vibrant and engaging exhibits that put creativity and innovation on full display.
Esther Lewis of Westminster Secondary School, who introduced a cost-effective solution to livestock feeding by creating her own home-made feed for poultry, such as chickens, has said she aimed to significantly reduce expenses for farmers.
“Our project is called ‘Leaf to Livestock.’ We reused agricultural waste, specifically banana stalks, and made that into environmentally friendly feed. We added corn, broken rice, and cod liver oil at the end,” she explained.
Noting that a range of materials was used to complete the prototype, she said, “With our original prototype, we installed a cutter and a grinder for each process. The cutter is used to process the banana stalk, and the grinder is for mixing and further breaking down the ingredients. After mixing the banana stalk, corn, and broken rice, we lay it out in the sun to dry. We’ve found that the drier the mixture, the longer it lasts. Once dry, we add some cod liver oil; and just like that, you have your own feed,” she explained.

According to Lewis, the cost savings are significant, and should be seriously considered by local farmers.
She also emphasized that the home-made feed allows farmers to know exactly what their animals are consuming.
“This project took two days to complete. The cost of commercial feed has skyrocketed, a 100-pound bag now costs around $7,000. But if you make your own feed, it costs only about $53 per pound. That’s a major difference. If our livestock are happy and healthy, then our farmers will be, too. Plus, with commercial feed, you never know exactly what’s inside,” she added.
Another exhibitor, Micshana Simpson of Port Mourant Secondary, displayed a solar-powered school bus model – an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution to student transportation.

“I currently live in Berbice, where traffic is a big issue. I reach school late almost every day, and that’s a serious problem,” she said. “This electric bus would help me and others who struggle with transportation costs. The solar cells on top of the bus convert energy from the sun and store it in a battery which powers the bus.”
Urging Government to consider implementing this initiative, Simpson noted that many parents and students face financial and logistical challenges when it comes to attending school.
“Some children aren’t going to school simply because of transportation or money issues. This could really help,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, students Aknisha Samuel and Deshanna Small of Hopetown Secondary shifted the focus to nutrition by creatively highlighting the versatility of eggplant and the vitamins it contains.
“Most people only use eggplant to make stew or choka, but our aim is to explore and highlight the different ways eggplant can be used,” one student explained. “We have eggplant ice cream, soup, sauce, lasagna, juice, and even eggplant sour.”
Detailing one of the recipes to make the eggplant juice, the student said, “First you peel the eggplant and add it to a pot of water with cinnamon. Boil it for 10 minutes, strain it, and then add sugar or honey to taste. That’s your eggplant juice.”
This fair has successfully showcased the ingenuity, resourcefulness, and innovation of Guyanese students, while also providing a platform to address real-world problems with practical, sustainable solutions. Throughout the three-day event, students had not only exhibited their projects, but also engaged in live presentations. They would share the inspiration behind their ideas, explain their processes, and interact confidently with attendees, thereby demonstrating not just technical knowledge, but also critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.
This is more than just a competition; it is a celebration of the potential of Guyana’s youths to transform society through STEAM.