Green Leaf Award goes to Trinity College

It is an award periodically given by the EMA — (Environmental Management Authority) to individuals or organisations who in the opinion of the EMA have done anything whatever to preserve or improve the environment.

On Monday June 12, World Environment Day, the EMA used the occasion to present these awards in various categories during a function at the Central Bank Auditorium.

A group of 16 Trinity College Sixth Form students of the Geography/Environmental class were among those receiving The Green Leaf Award from the EMA, in the ‘Audio Visual’ category for producing a CD titled “The Northern Range,” in collaboration with the Cropper Foundation and Professor Julian Kenny on the preservation of the Northern Range. The group received a Certificate of Participation and a beautifully designed Plaque “in recognition of your contribution to environmental conservation and protection.” Copies of this CD have been made available to all schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

It all began when the College’s Geography /Environmental Science Teacher, Janice Richards, accepted an invitation for her students to attend a seminar on the northern range assessment which had come out of a study done by The Cropper Foundation. It was noted that the students whose school is located in the midst of the Northern Range, showed great interest in the Foundation’s findings. Professor Kenny suggested that the 16 students come together and use research he had done over the years, and produce the CD.

Over Easter 2005, using Professor Kenny’s photographs on various aspects of the Northern Range to carry out detailed research, and with financial help from the British High Commission, the students of Trinity worked on the CD, and by October aired the video, which brought them the audio visual Green Leaf Award, before specially invited guests.

And just as the year 2005 was the first time for CAPE exams, which have now replaced the Cambridge A’ levels, it was also a first for Trinity in a production of this kind. Says a very proud Richards: “As a teacher I think the CD gives a lot of information for students attempting Unit 2 of CAPE Geography, and can be used for studies in geography, environmental science and biology CAPE exams.”