LEARNERS representing nursery, primary and secondary schools in Region 10, on Friday, proved their abilities to be innovative and their desire to pursue the path of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) at the Region 10 STEAM Fair that was held at the Wisburg Secondary School.

Under the supervision of their teachers, learners presented highly ingenious and unique projects befitting of science, mathematics, arts and engineering. They further wowed viewers with their bravery and eloquence in explaining and presenting their projects. Even the nursery children stunned the onlookers with their mathematics-oriented games and science projects.

The Pine Street Nursery School presented its game: ‘Fun with Numbers’, which was a collaboration of a number wheel, number dice and a numeral hopscotch game. Year Two presenters, Azariah Moore and Kaira Benjamin, explained to spectators that the game was an invention of their teachers and aimed to make mathematics fun for children, particularly those who do not like to count. They placed second in the nursery category.
Placing first was the Children’s Garden Nursery in the Science Category and the One Mile Nursery in the Mathematics Category.

In the Primary Category, the One Mile Primary School had one of the most innovative presentations, with an entire sitting room set made out of disposed newspapers. Their project, Cyperus Papyrus Techniques, proved to be one of the most eye-catching projects at the fair with a double couch and table along with other objects made strictly from newspaper. They copped the first position in the primary category.

The Amelia’s Ward Primary’s Lemon Aroma project proved that cleaning agents can be produced from locally-sourced ingredients such as lemon and lemon grass herb. They explained that, if used, the need of buying foreign products on the market will be limited.
At the secondary level, the New Silver City Secondary School created an entire bedroom set, including a bed, out of bamboo. It was deemed extremely creative.

The Mackenzie High School presented its Vessolar Society Project that highlighted the need to shift to renewable energy by using electrically charged vehicles. Other secondary schools that participated included the Linden Foundation Secondary School and the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School.

The Regional Science Fair was held under the theme “Envisioning the future through innovation and STEAM: Decade of Development.”

At the opening ceremony, Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell, congratulated the Region 10 Department of Education for hosting such a timely initiative. She said Linden is moving towards sustainable development and it is important that students come on the path of the green agenda.

“It is important for our community today to realise the importance of science and technology. Over the years, our youths in Linden have been able to benefit from these programmes,” she said. The mayor commended the students for presenting very unique ideas and to push for the projects to be accepted in local markets and be accepted on a national level.

“Of course we can take these new ideas and help develop our systems in the future. It will help us to move in the 21st century and not be left behind as a country. With oil comes a lot of things and it also brings the world to Guyana,” she said.

Also addressing the students was Regional Education Officer, Rabindra Singh. The winning projects are expected to be featured at the National STEAM Fair that will be held in Georgetown later in the year. Other projects saw culinary invention, learning games and creative projects made from recycled material.