blink | bmobile partners with NIHERST on Science Initiative

Camille Campbell, Chief Marketing Officer (Ag) at TSTT, commended the National Institute of Higher Education, Science and Technology (NIHERST) for its commitment to STEM Education stating, “It is important to inspire the next generation of Caribbean thinkers and innovators and part of this is introducing them to different, lucrative career paths that have potential to impact the world. We can no longer rely on the comfort and security of the oil and gas industry so it’s therefore critical that we expose our future leaders to careers that are aligned to Science, Technology and Innovation”.

Participants of the week-long residential camp were introduced to a wide range of career options from mobile application development and structural and civil engineering to electrophysiology, medical physics, sports psychology and neuroscience.

The budding scientists and innovators were also given the opportunity to interact with top scientists such as Dr Colin Carew, Director and Founder of the new Innovation and Inclusion Initiative at the MIT Media Lab. Dr Carew delivered the keynote address at CYSF 2016 where he focused on the Caribbean as a World Class Epicenter of Technology and Innovation.

It is estimated that by 2020, there will be some 6.1 billion smartphone users worldwide. At CYSF 2016, leading app development company, NOVO Technology Inc were on hand to introduce participants to the exciting and ever expanding world of creating mobile apps. The interactive hour-long session, aptly titled “Welcome to the Appverse”, delved into the process of creation and app design and even introduced to the often neglected elements of economics, management and marketing.

John Outridge, ICT Specialist at NOVO Technology, emphasized the importance of keeping abreast of technology and encouraged students to consider app development and software engineering by stating, “With a 150 percent mobile penetration rate in Trinidad and Tobago, everything is mobile. People want things instantly and mobile apps give you just that and in the palm of your hands too”.

NOVO Media Corp’s General Manager, Larry Holder, urged the participants to strive to become entrepreneurs but cautioned them that success will not come overnight. Holder shared his success story saying, “I started NOVO 13 years ago with three people and we faced many challenges along the way. In the first two years, you probably won’t see any money and it may take up to four years to actually make a profit.

But it just takes someone to believe in you. TSTT took that chance with us and now we are one of the leading sms aggregators for them”.

He added that all it takes is one opportunity to change the course and if opportunities are not present, entrepreneurs should be willing to create their own.

“There are so many career options in technology and this forum put into focus that it is a good thing to get into,” said Barbadian student, Logan Hinds. And Trinidadian, Marie – Danielle Regis, agreed. She said, “I especially appreciated them giving us their views on what it takes to open a business. I wanted to do medicine but the session really opened my eyes to the many alternative viable career options.” The Caribbean Youth Science Forum culminated on August 7 at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies.