Students of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Club at the Bartica Secondary are working on robotics projects to help create a green town.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) recently visited the club where it gained an understanding of the projects. Coach of the club, Onicka Chisholm said the four-month-old club currently engages in scratch coding and robotics.

She said the twelve members have been working to complete several green initiative projects to benefit their region and towards the STEM Guyana’s league competition in July. “This project will help to bring out the green in Bartica, especially since we are the model green town,” Chisholm said. “We have participated in a STEM challenge which deals with the effects of global warming…we have created two robots to solve garbage disposal issues in Guyana, and we are currently looking at a solar energy and hydro-project for our third challenge. There is also another original piece we are working on.”

While noting the enthusiasm by students towards the project, Chisholm explained that the students have also been working towards obtaining a spot on the STEM Guyana’s league team, to further engage in a robotics competition in Mexico this year.

Chisholm said, “in the long run this club and the competition will help the students to see technology in a different way, and it will show them how they can use technology to solve problems in Guyana and across the world.”

Student, Kenny Roberts said, “it is different from classwork and it is more practical. We do a lot of experiments and build more robots. I would encourage other students to join the club.”

In February 2018, 16 coaches from Bartica graduated from a week-long training session planned by STEM Guyana and the Ministry of Telecommunications. The certified coaches were expected to create clubs and prepare teams for competition in the Scratch and Robotics nationwide leagues.

The use of STEM programmes and initiatives is rapidly increasing, led by First Lady Sandra Granger through a number of robotics workshops countrywide for students.

Source: DPI