CMI hosts week of research

The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) hosted its second annual three-day research initiative from Monday, March 25 to Wednesday March 27. The event was conceptualised in 2012 to showcase the CMI's role in maritime and related research, encourage a culture of research among students, create an avenue for intellectual exchange among various stakeholders, and recognise excellence in academics and leadership among the student population.

The Nature of Research

Held under the theme'Research and Excellence: the Engine of National Growth', the event reflected the didactic nature of research and as such, the variety of activities included audio-visual presentations form industry partners, demonstrations by students and staff, and displays booths, which all elucidated various aspects of research.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Julian Robinson, special guest speaker at the event, identified research and innovation as key defining features that fuelled entrepreneurship among Jamaicans. These, he said, make "us excellent at whatever we do, despite the challenges we face as a nation".

The occasion gave students an opportunity to broaden their educational horizons, enhance creativity, and recognise excellence among their peers. Areas of focus included, but were not confined to, the benefit of effective research in the shipping industry, the protection of intellectual property rights, and the publishing of research-based academic papers. It also provided the ideal avenue for evidence of the institute's extensive applied research and innovativeness to be showcased. Research initiatives such as these play an important role in the institute's preparation for university status in the near future.

Expanded Focus

In recent years, the institution has expanded its focus to include applied research and consultation in areas such as logistics, engineering, alternative energy, and robotics. This has resulted in significant developments such as the conversion of seawater into drinking water for domestic and commercial use - a project funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme; the assembling and manufacturing of light-emitting diode lights for domestic and commercial use - facilitated through partnership with Solar Jamaica; and building andutilising equipment from recycled material in the production of energy to offset the cost of electricity. The latter is spearheaded by the School of Advanced Skills and the Engineering Department at the institute.

Schedule - Kingston: April 2- April 8

CARIB STAR

CMA CGM JAMAICA

GATEWAY SHIPPING

JA FREIGHT & SHIPPING

LANNAMAN & MORRIS

MARITIME & TRANSPORT

SEABOARD JAMAICA

SEAFREIGHT JA LTD