Student innovators tackle real-life challenges at science fair

Excited students from more than 33 schools across Jamaica congregated at Hope Botanic Gardens in St Andrew on Thursday to showcase their innovations in the annual Young Innovators Competition hosted by the Scientific Research Council (SRC).

Though a heavy downpour in the morning sent the students and organisers scampering to tents, it did not dampen the enthusiasm as they eagerly waited to show off their work.

The impressive displays included a device to filter carbon emissions from factories, an artificial intelligence-controlled solar fencing to hinder praedial larceny, and 3D functional diagrams of the organs of the body to assist visually impaired students.

Impressed with the ingenuity of the students, SRC Executive Director Dr Charah Watson said it demonstrated the students’ knowledge of the needs of society and their desire to contribute to its development.

“The future is bright – very, very bright – and events like these bring back home why an SRC exists,” she said. “When you look at the work that they put in, most of it is not teacher-led; the teacher is there as a guide. The students are coming up with ideas and when you see the solutions, you realise how attuned they are to what is happening in their world, and how much they want to be a part of the solution.”

Concerned about the impact of carbon emissions on the environment, Jayden Soares, a student at York Castle High School in St Ann, created a device that he said filters carbon from factories. He has high hopes for the device created with the help of his teachers.

“We want to use this on the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) power plants to contain the emissions that have an effect on the environment, and then after Jamaica, we can scale up to the world,” he said.

The JPS Foundation partnered with the SRC to host the event.

MAKING FARMING EASIER

The team from St Hilda’s Diocesan High in St Ann found the intersection between farming and technology by creating an artificial intelligence-controlled solar fence.

Students from Seaward Primary and Junior High School in St Andrew also wanted to make farming easier, so they invented a remote-controlled solar water truck that would lessen the effect of droughts on farms. This environmentally friendly truck is the best way to multitask while on the farm, explained grade-six student Audrianna Williams.

“You can also be doing other things while using the [truck] because it has a camera and a remote control, so you could be washing, and you have the remote control controlling the [truck], you’re on your phone, and also can see what [it] is doing,” she said.

The event, which is in its 11th staging, aims to promote a culture of innovation in schools and to encourage youths to use their knowledge and skills for critical thinking and scientific exploration, has grown significantly over the years, Watson said.

Students were encouraged to submit projects that solve problems in agriculture, STEM education, and climate-change.

The science fair is the culmination of three phases, which started with an ideation session before a pitch was made to a panel of judges. The shortlisted schools then participate in the national exposition.

The SRC executive director told The Gleaner that more than 80 schools registered initially.

“Each year, it has been growing. Last year, this would have been in an auditorium with 200 students. This year, we had to book the Hope Gardens to accommodate the interests that we have been receiving. We have over 33 entries in from all the various categories,” Watson said. “We feel very proud and we are very excited to be staging this.”

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com