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Shipping industry contributes to maths revolution

Published:Tuesday | March 18, 2014 | 12:00 AM
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John Knight (seated, second right), first-year engineering cadet of the Caribbean Maritime Institute, responds to questions from students during the National Mathematics Expo hosted by the Ministry of Education. Looking on is Justin Burrows (seated, right), first-year navigation cadet. - Contributed photos
Christopher Hamilton (left), project manager of the Port Authority of Jamaica, explains the use of the gantry crane to students of St Hugh's High School during the second annual Mathematics Expo hosted by the Ministry of Education.
Officer Sanjay Lozer explains the use of the sextant to this participant during the National Mathematics Expo held at the University of the West Indies last Thursday. The expo was hosted by the Ministry of Education.
Denzil Archer (left), stevedore at the Shipping Association of Jamaica, explains to students how this crane is operated during the Ministry of Education's National Mathematics Expo held on March 13 at the University of the West Indies.
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Students from across the island - from the primary to the tertiary level - were last Thursday educated on how mathematics is utilised in the shipping industry. The students were participants in the Ministry of Education's National Mathematics Expo at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.

Held under the theme 'Maths Revolution = Economic Solution', the expo saw the Shipping Association of Jamaica, the Caribbean Maritime Institute, and the Port Authority of Jamaica providing information on the importance of maths in ensuring safe operations on land and at sea. Areas highlighted included navigation, marine engineering, and port operations.

displays

The industry partners, who were among 32 exhibitors, displayed equipment used in the industry, including sextants, ships, cranes, stackers, trucks, shipping containers, and a life raft. Delighted students were intrigued by the various items and quizzed industry team members on the use of the equipment.

The expo was aimed at showing students how they could apply mathematics to their daily lives, various methods that can be employed to learn the subject, and new material available in the subject area.