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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
The Instructors and Volunteers of BETA Camp. The Camp recruits engineering and technology professionals along with qualified university students to lead the dynamic labs and lessons.
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TEEN ENGINEERING CAMP TO TACKLE DISASTER RESPONSE
Nassau, Bahamas - The young Bahamian engineers and professionals of Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement (BETA) Group have again partnered with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to bring back their immensely successful engineering and technology summer camp for teenagers for its third year. Registration is now open for the 5-day summer camp, to be hosted July 4 - 9 at the College of the Bahamas.
Inspired by the unifying relief efforts after Hurricane Joaquin, the camp will have the theme “Prediction, Preparedness, Provision: STEM tools to Sustain our Bahamaland,” and will focus on using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to create solutions for disaster management, especially hurricanes.
BETA CAMP student in the Chemical Engineering stream testing acids in the lab
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The camp intends to sponsor students from the affected islands to attend the camp as part of its family island outreach. In past years, the camp has had 20% family island enrolment, with members of corporate Bahamas stepping forward to sponsor travel and accommodations for the students. Companies wishing to sponsor a child can visit the site at www.wearebeta.co or email the BETA board at info@wearebeta.co .
“Every year we look to present a problem of national significance in order to engage our students beyond lessons by making them a part of the solution. We hope to stimulate their minds to think, create and ultimately become those solutions.” stated Trenicka Rolle, BETA President. “Hurricanes threaten and impose grave danger to our Bahama Islands every year and we know that we can use STEM tools to mitigate the damaging effects of these storms.”
“We are very grateful to sponsors like the Lyford Cay Foundation whose contribution will allow us to invite family island students who have been affected by Hurricane Joaquin to this year’s camp.” says BETA Vice-President, D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika. “These students will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how they can be a part of the STEM solution, thanks to the support of all of our contributors”.
At the camp, attending students will choose between seven STEM streams: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Computer Science/Web Development, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering. Each Stream is taught by professional engineers and technologists with the assistance of qualified university student volunteers. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in supervised field tours of engineering sites.
Students from the Civil Engineering stream show their technical display at last year’s BETA Camp closing ceremony
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Throughout the week, camp attendees will be challenged with a multidisciplinary group project aimed at solving a real problem connected to disaster preparedness and relief. The camp will include an opening panel and presentation on Monday July 4th, sponsored by the US Embassy in Nassau. This year’s panel, open to the public, will feature Keynote speaker, Dr. Pamela McCauley an industrial engineering professor and expert on human factors in disaster management.
This year promises to be a landmark year for the BETA organisation. With a strategic focus on “Progression through Partnership” BETA will be expanding its event calendar. BETA is teaming up with internationally acclaimed hackathon planner WearHacks to host a hackathon for Bahamian teens in October. BETA is also working with We Speak Science to host a STEM conference in November, bringing professors from top university across the globe to present research and participate in think tank sessions.
Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald addresses the students of BETA Camp 2015. Ministry of Education has again partnered with BETA CAMP to host the engineering camp for Bahamian teens.
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For more information on how to register, donate or volunteer with BETA Camp or how to be involved in BETA’s other events, visit the site at www.wearebeta.co or email the board at info@wearebeta.co .
ABOUT BETA
Co-founded by engineers Trenicka Rolle and D’André Wilson-Ihejirika in March 2014, Bahamas Engineering and Technology Advancement (BETA) is the work of a consortium of Bahamian engineers, scientists and technologists. These highly skilled professionals share a passion for using the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills they have learned in their successful careers to help re-energize the Bahamas and provide opportunities for Bahamian youth
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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