The National Milling Company of Guyana Inc. (NAMILCO) has recently committed to part sponsoring Ms. Deowattie Vanessa Narine of Bishops’ High School to attend the Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE). This programme is an intensive four-week enrichment residential summer program run by the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) for Caribbean high-school students who are gifted in Science and Engineering, and interested in studying and exploring careers in these fields.
The goal is to help address the low numbers of Caribbean students pursuing Advanced Degrees in Science and Engineering. This program, along with the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge (SVC) is one of CSF’s initiatives with the long-term goal of helping to diversify the economies of the Region and raise the standard of living of the people by stimulating more technology-based entrepreneurship within the Region. SPISE is modeled after the well-known and highly successful MITES program at MIT. This programme is of total immersion (24/7) in University-level Calculus, Physics, Biochemistry, Entrepreneurship, Mandarin, one-Caribbean Studies, and hands-on projects in Robotics and Electronics and Computer Programming. It will run from July 20-August 17, 2013 at the UWI Cave Hill Campus in Barbados.
Deowattie Vanessa Narine, a 17 year old female student, has the unique distinction in the entire Caribbean region of receiving the award for the Best CXC Science Performance for 2012. She was the top performer in CXC science exams amongst more than 20,000 Caribbean students who took these exams! Not only did she receive top CXC scores of 1’s in all 14 exam subjects, but also she has superb grades. Her teachers wrote in letters of recommendation that we “will not find a more worthy recipient” and that she is a “combination of academic achievement, charisma and thoughtfulness.” She has also demonstrated leadership in her extracurricular activities. She is not only the top student applying from Guyana, but also one of the top 2 candidates amongst the group of 20 Caribbean students that we hope to accept this year.
According to Managing Director, Mr. Bert Sukhai, NAMILCO is committed to assist in developing Guyana’s youths in Science and Technology. Science, Technology and Engineering are fields that will propel Guyana’s national development. He added that Science and Technology and Engineering play a critical role in the quality of the products produced by any food company. Namilco is certified to ISO 9001 and has maintained very high standards within the local food manufacturing sector. Mr. Sukhai attributes this success to his team of highly skilled scientists and engineers. He encourages other companies and private sector institutions to join Namilco in this noble initiative.
The Ministry of Education has increased its efforts in the promotion of STEM Education through the use of the Inquiry Based Science Education and the re-introduction of the use of the Micro science Kits.