By Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter 
WITH AN elaborate display focusing on the 'Socio-economic Effects of Moko Disease', Norman Manley High School emerged overall winner in the Region One Science Fair organised by the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPSCo).
The school, located along Maxfield Avenue in Kingston, received a trophy and cash award of $30,000 at the awards ceremony held recently at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. Norman Manley also won a microscope for being winner in the Grades 7-9 category.
St. Mary High School placed second, receiving $20,000, with third place winner being Denham Town Primary School which collecting a cash award of $10,000. St. Mary High's exhibit focused on cheesemaking, while Denham Town Primary explored the use of banana peel to make paper.
The two schools were also winners in their respective categories, Grades 10-11 (St. Mary) and Grades 4-6 (Denham Town, shared with Mona Preparatory School). Other sectional winners were Titchfield High (Grades 12-13) and the College of Agriculture, Science and Education at the college level. Sectional winners received microscopes donated by JPSCo.
Teachers of the three top schools were also rewarded, receiving $5,000 each for their efforts in preparing the students for the competition.
The annual competition, organised in collaboration with the Scientific Research Council (SRC) and the Association of Science Teachers of Jamaica (ASTJ), is part of the recently-restructured JPSCo's response to 'growing requests for tours and information on the company's power plants and distribution and transmission operations," Maurice Reid, community relations manager explained.
According to him, "This interest arises as schools seek to fulfil the requirements of the CXC School Based Assessment (SBA) component of their science syllabus. But the competition is also designed to encourage students to become interested in science and technology, and provide a medium for them to become inventors and participants in the development of technological ideas."
Innovation was, therefore, rewarded and the 'most innovate' project was submitted by Mona Preparatory School, in St. Andrew. Their fire management/prevention exhibit was awarded a $15,000 cash prize. A similar prize was received by CASE as the institution using the 'most indigenous' material in their submission about a mosquito repellent. Certificates of participation were presented to all schools.
KEEN UNDERSTANDING
The 18-member judging panel praised the students for strong research and keen understanding of the projects presented, as well as the high level of environmental awareness. They urged the students, however, to try and interpret the theme adequately and submit written reports of all stages of experimentation. Presentation (30 per cent), innovativeness and viability (20), levels of understanding (20) and originality and use of local materials (20) were the criteria used in selecting winning entries.
This year's fair was organised under the theme 'Science and Technology for Economic Development: Transforming Resources into Viable Businesses.' The wide range of exhibits included Duhaney Park Primary's use of plastic to make houses; a wonder cure for liver spot by Rock Hall All-Age; coal production by Camperdown High School; testing water absorption rates of different soil types by St. Andrew High School, and a systematic kinetic rotor assembled by Titchfield High School.
The variety of 'quality' exhibits by 'our young scientists' was hailed by Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport, who was guest speaker at the event.
"One of the great challenges in developing countries such as ours is to stimulate interest in science and technology, not only among students but also among the general population," she said. "(But) a way must be found for the development of projects to use existing science and technology knowledge to form new businesses."
CHALLENGED
She challenged the students to "Keep questioning. Keep curious. Never stop learning. Never stop investigating, as many of the world's greatest success stories began with the simple question 'why not?' So go for it, as you can become one of the greatest scientists the world will ever see if you persevere."
Visitors to the fair included Dr. Paulette Mullings, vice-chairman of the National Child Month Committee; Dr. Audia Barnett, executive director of the SRC; Shanna Campbell, ASTJ president; Winston Forrest, senior education officer of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture; and JPSCo representatives and senior managers.
Schools from St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston and St Andrew participated in the fair, which was the second in the 2004 series.
The fair for Region Two was held in Mandeville in February with winners being Clarendon College (first), Edwin Allen High School (second) and Manchester High School (third). Schools in this region were drawn from St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon. The finals for Region Three (St. James, St. Ann, Trelawny, Hanover and Westmoreland) is scheduled to take place later this year.
Part of the display investigating water absorption rates of different soil types produced by St. Andrew High School in St. Andrew.
