School-aged science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) enthusiasts will today and Tuesday flock the Diamond Secondary School, East Bank Demerara, to participate in a regional science fair.
This biennial event provides a platform so that students from nursery to secondary can create and showcase projects from the fields of science, technology,
Coordinator Loren Park and Regional Education Officer (ag) Tiffany Favourite-Harvey showcase the trophy prizes for this year’s competition
engineering, arts and mathematics.
The two-day event is a collaboration between the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Department of Education and the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC). The event, themed ‘Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) – the way for a green and sustainable society’, will see participation from 47 nursery, primary and secondary schools, and competition in 27 categories.
Education Officer Loren Park, coordinator of the fair, confirmed that hosting of the much-anticipated event has been properly prepared for.
“From the entries that are being submitted, I can assure patrons that the competition will be one that is very competitive and of a high standard,” he stated.
The coordinator noted that, to date, the number of participants stands at 220 students, and it is anticipated that another seven to 10 entries would be forthcoming from schools. He also disclosed that Diamond Secondary currently leads with the number of entries submitted. “Diamond Secondary, over the years, has been one that enters a number of entries into the fair, as it’s not a case that because they are the host thus the high number of entries. They are always coming out in large numbers to the science fair,” Park said.
He added that Hope Secondary and Annandale Secondary follow closely with their number of entries.
This year’s competition will also feature the inclusion of ‘Arts’, hence the name being changed from STEM to STEAM. “We are excited with the addition of the Arts into the fair this year, as it provides opportunities for students to express themselves and showcase projects in this area,” the coordinator stated.
In terms of support and prizes, Park noted that trophy prizes have been acquired for each of the 27 categories. However, he expressed that prizes currently are not there for some winners, and the coordinators are hoping to have additional prizes for the winners, as an incentive for their hard work. “We secured trophies already, but we were hoping to offer some prizes along with the trophies as an incentive to the winners, so that they can be further motivated. However, we were not successful in this area, (but) we are hoping that by the end of the fair, some corporate companies can come forward and chip in,” he expressed.
Students in the lower secondary category will be competing in Home Economics, Environmental Science, Agricultural Science, Social and Behavioural Change, and Mathematics. In the upper secondary category, students will be matching skills in Environmental Science, Integrated Science, Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Home Economics, Mathematics, Industrial Technology, Information Technology, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
In the nursery category, students will be competing in Craft and Environmental Science, and Science and Mathematics; and in the primary category, students would be competing in Mathematics, Craft and Visual Arts, Environmental Science and Science.
The coordinator has said he foresees the hosting of a successful fair. He says students are all eager and excited to showcase their respective projects at the fair. “While it’s a regional fair, the magnitude in terms of excitement, crowd and anticipation is like it’s a national fair,” he declared.
When the competition was staged in 2016, President’s College placed second while Annandale Primary took the third position. Diamond Secondary will return to reclaim their first place position.
