The International Day of Women and Girls in Science advocates for greater participation of women and girls in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and celebrates those trailblazing women who have made indelible contributions to scientific development.
Trinidad and Tobago has produced many female pioneers who have made and continue to make waves in the world of STEM. Camille Wardrop Alleyne, who is the first person of Caribbean descent—male or female—to hold a senior management position at NASA; Dr Shirin Haque, the first woman to head the Department of Physics at UWI St Augustine, Dr Judith Gobin, the first female Professor of Science at UWI St Augustine and Dolly Nicholas the first and only woman to receive a national award for a scientific invention, are but a few of those torchbearers who have illuminated the path for others to follow.
Girls at our tertiary institutions tend to outnumber and outperform the boys in every area of STEM, except engineering, in stark contrast to UN statistics which indicate that although women make up about 50% of the world’s population, they comprise less than 30% of scientific and technological researchers and are regularly excluded from science-related fields as a result of long-standing biases and harmful gender stereotypes.
The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the important role of scientific and technological innovation in mitigating crises and providing viable solutions to pressing and complex challenges. Traditional ways of learning, working and doing business have been substituted or totally replaced by the use of technology as the need to keep safe is balanced with the need to keep nations and economies afloat. It would be prudent therefore to invest in this critical sector by encouraging the participation of women and girls, as greater diversity in STEM, results in a wider variety of expertise, opinions and talent that can influence and direct scientific innovation. For example, women have featured prominently in Covid-19 vaccine development and other global and national responses to the pandemic.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let us encourage our girls and women to pursue careers in STEM because the nation, and indeed the world, can only benefit from the addition of the female perspective.
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Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago hosted a Ceremony for the Presentation of Credentials today, July 23, 2024.Mr. Agostinho De Carvalho Dos Santos Van-Duném presented his Letters of Credence as Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.The ceremony also included the presentation of a gift of a Zungueira doll. Zungueira is the name given to women street vendors. These heroic women of Angola embody courage and resilience. Traveling kilometers daily, they market food, accessories and clothing to sustain their families. Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, wishes His Excellency Agostinho De Carvalho Dos Santos Van-Duném best wishes as Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
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#mondayinspirationA picture paints a thousand words.....
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The first President’s Pan Camp concluded with an impressive display of talent from our young pan campers, who mastered Mical Teja’s "DNA" in just two and a half days. It was a fitting choice and a remarkable achievement.Our facilitators were deeply moved witnessing these youngsters, who started as strangers and now depart as friends, showcasing their newfound skills.Please enjoy this clip from the debut performance of The President’s Pan Camp. Let's show these talented young individuals some appreciation!
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This session featured the topic "Google Gives Knowledge, but Wisdom Comes with Time," with the legendary Dr. Ray Holman and Tobago's own Keishaun Julien. This epic discussion brought together generations to share life experiences and insights, highlighting how these have shaped their individual journeys.
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Today marked the fourth day for the Pan Campers of the President's Pan Camp. They have been diligently learning music through rote learning, a method that involves memorization through repetition. This technique enhances their ability to quickly recall basic facts and helps develop a foundational understanding of the music. Additionally, the campers have had the incredible opportunity to engage with legends in the pan fraternity, content creators, pannists, international recording artistes, tuners, and producers of our national instrument. Here are some highlights from the week.
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