– aims at garnering students’ interest in STEM

THE Queen’s College’s Summer Maths Institute began on Monday with the aim of harnessing the mathematical capabilities of youth and fostering an interest in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

This Maths Camp was initiated in 2016 by Queen’s College alumnus and member of the Queen’s College of Guyana Alumni Association New York Chapter (QCAANY), Dr. Terrence Blackman, aiming to place young, inquisitive minds on the career pathway of STEM.
This year, it returned with the same aim and caters for students from Grades eight to 10. In addition to Queen’s College students, this year’s initiative will see participation of students from the Bishop’s High, Saint Stanislaus College and Tutorial High school. Each session begins at 09:00hrs and concludes on 15:00hrs, until Friday, July 28, at Queen’s College.

According to Queen’s College alumnus and facilitator of the programme, Shindy Johnson, “What we’re trying to do is to encourage the students to pursue careers in STEM.”
While trying to foster an appreciation and interest for the subject, Johnson however related that the camp does not take a classroom-session approach; rather, the sessions are more engaging. She noted that while they will be exposed to the subject through mathematical theories and the use of the ‘Maths circle,’ a social structure that fosters mathematical thinking, and they will also be engaging with professionals in the field chatting with the students.

Moreover, the students will be taken on field trips to places such as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and both University of Guyana (UG) campuses. These trips are geared at illustrating the real-world applications of the discipline.
Another interesting feature of the camp is that the students will be introduced to ‘maplesoft’ – mathematical and engineering software used to also illustrate the application of the discipline.
In light of the recent oil discovery off the shores of Guyana, too, it is pertinent that students are educated in this field of STEM, to work in the emerging sector, according to Johnson.

While the camp is still in its pilot stage, Johnson related that the camp will definitely return in 2018. Presently, the QCAANY is seeking to establish a Maths Club within the college which seeks to further spark an interest in STEM within the students.
As the lead professor of the camp, Dr. Blackman will be joined by a Doctoral Candidate in Applied Mathematics at North Carolina State University and former Queen’s College alumnus Mr. Cleveland Waddell.

Their efforts will be supported by President of QCAANY systems engineer at Thomson Reuters; Karen Wharton, science educator, teacher trainer, and author of “Learning about Science Volumes I and II”, a textbook for adult learners in South Africa; Ms. Shindy Johnson, among other members of the association and other stakeholders.
All components of the Summer Maths Institute are completely free of cost and are sponsored by the QCANNY through magnanimous support from many other organisations.