Students show their ‘Imagination’ at VINLEC Science Fair (+Video)

A student of the Dr JP Eustace Memorial Secondary School is hopeful that one day, he can turn his 2023 science project into a profitable business.

“This is a great idea and I want to put it on the market as a selling product with markers and chemical papers,” the 16-year-old stated.

On Thursday, November 9, one day after being judged at the VINLEC National Science and Technology Fair, Dezshonnie Cumberbatch shared with SEARCHLIGHT the benefits of having access to invisible ink as well as the roots of his project.

“The fun fact about this, that actually caught my eyes, is that they used it in the fourth century in 1 BC in the revolutionary war to send messages to each other to kill enemies.”

The business-minded youngster already has a plan to sell his ‘invisible ink’.

Zaronique Forbes (left) & Yi-Hsien Chung (right) both of St Vincent Girls High School

“So you’ll get the indicator in one marker and the ink in one marker and you get the chemical paper, roughly about $60.00.”
Dezshonnie decided to enter the Science Fair after the idea was pitched to him by his teacher.

He displayed an example of his invisible ink, reading ‘Life is Good’ that was almost invisible to the eye, and required special lighting conditions to be discerned.

Dezshonnie explained that the materials used in his project are basic supplies that are easily available.

GHS duo seeks to eliminate reliance on coal Meanwhile, the focus of Zaronique Forbes and Yi-Hsien Chung is on eliminating reliance on coal for energy.

The fourth form students of the Girls’ High School (GHS) have designed a project to turn wind energy into hydro-electricity.
“There has been a growing global demand for clean energy sources which has splurged a spike in renewable wind technology such as wind turbines like we have here,” said Yi-Hsien Chung.

Adding to Chung’s point, Forbes said, “This is shown when the wind blows on the blades of the wind turbine, it spins its shaft which turns an electrical generator.”

Xia Glass of St Vincent Girls High School

She added that when the generator is on, it converts mechanical / kinetic energy into electrical energy.

Turning her attention to a man made waterfall, which is a part of their project, she explained, “The energy is then used to source the pump of the man made waterfall…There is a tube that is inserted into the bottle which helps continuous flow of the water.”

The water then goes through an irrigation system; this system filters out any bacteria and contaminants in the water. The water can then be used by consumers.

This is the first time Forbes and Chung have entered the Science Fair.

Chung added that she enjoyed the experience and informing everyone about the environment as, “We’re imagining for a cleaner future using wind instead of burning fossil fuel and releasing emissions into the environment. “

Xia wants to control flooding and save lives After observing the most recent flooding in Sandy Bay, Xia Glass has come up with an idea to control flooding and saving lives.

The 13-year-old student of the Girls’ High School has designed a project to determine the best method to control the flow of flood waters in the community.

The methods that were tested were construction of gabion baskets, planting of vegetation and construction of X blocks using large boulders and breakwaters.

One of the projects showing Habitat for some sea creatures

“We concluded that the best method was construction of gabion baskets because it’s the most inexpensive and effective method.”

She however noted that, “Planting of vegetation is very useful because certain plants and shrubs, like bamboo and neem, they quickly adapt to the soil, stabilizing it. Later, preventing flood and coastal erosion.”

The VINLEC Science Fair ran from Monday, November 6 to Friday, November 10 under the theme ‘Imagination’.

The Science Fair, which has both junior and senior categories aims to create opportunities for collaborations among students as well as teachers, and for students to focus more on becoming future scientists and other science related careers.

VINLEC Science Fair at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown

The results of the Science Fair will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony today, at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, where persons will be awarded based on the categories entered.