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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
L-R: Dr. Pamela McCauley, Melanie Roach, and Phillip Weech.
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Nassau, Bahamas - Now in its third year, Bahamas Engineering and Technology Association (BETA) Camp, the free one-week science camp for Bahamian teens, intends to launch on Monday July 4th with an expert panel on disaster management under the camp’s theme “Prediction, Preparedness, Provision: STEM tools to Sustain our Bahamaland,” The panel, which will be held in COB’s Harry Moore Library at [TIME], is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and is open to the public.
The panel will feature keynote speaker Dr. Pamela McCauley an, ergonomics and biomechanics specialist and award-winning professor at the University of Central Florida where she serves as head of the Ergonomics Lab – studying human efficiency in the working environment. Dr. McCauley, a Jefferson Science Fellow with the U.S. State Department holds expertise on the ergonomics of disaster management and will address the organisational and human factors of emergency responses such as those in the case of a hurricane.
The Panel will also include a number of prominent local experts. Civil engineer and former Director of Works Melanie Roach will also participate, bringing her experience as Director of the National Repair and Reconstruction Unit for the Hurricane Joaquin efforts.
In addition, environmental scientist, Chairman of the National Energy Policy Committee and Director of the Bahamas Environment and Science Technology Commission (BEST) Phillip Weech will join the panel. Mr. Weech is an authority on climate change and biodiversity with extensive experience in small island water resources and systems.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald, who will be giving remarks at the camp’s closing ceremony, stated that to keep up with the fast pace of modern development, Bahamas will have to continue to place focus on STEM programs like BETA Camp.
“Globally, greater emphasis is being placed on STEM education and the Bahamas’ Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) is following suit,” said Minister Fitzgerald. “As the world and technology evolves, we want to position our students to be a part of this global phenomenon. The MoEST’s commitment to STEM education is evident through our partnership with the BETA Camp. This camp has provided our students with wonderful opportunities to broaden their horizons in STEM.”
He continued, “I would like to commend the founders Trenicka Rolle and D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika, Bahamians investing in the lives of young people and sharing their knowledge and passion of STEM to empower the next generation of Bahamian scientists, technology specialists, engineers and mathematicians.”
The camp, which runs June 4th – 9th, will welcome 120 students from across the Bahamas to participate in interactive sessions in seven technology, engineering and science fields with professional engineers and qualified university student volunteers.
Inspired by the recent Hurricane Joaquin relief efforts, the entire camp will focus on using STEM for disaster relief. 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 which they will present at the closing ceremony.
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, 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.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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